Wisdom and Sobriety and Gravity and Sincerity in Purity and Cleanness And keep free from Deceit and have no Fellowship with the unfruitful works of Darkness but rather reprove them And be Faithful to the Lord walk so as the World may be confounded and ashamed when they speak evil of you as Evil-Doers walking in Humbleness Lowliness and Uprightness before them it will take away all just Occasion of speaking Evil against the Truth And be bold and valiant for the Truth and press forward towards the Mark of the Price of the high Calling of God in Christ Jesus and let no Man take your Crown Dear Friends watch over one another in Love and stir up that which is pure in one another and exhort one another daily And the Lord keep you all in his Fear and in his Obedience now and evermore G. F. FRiends Fear not the Powers of Darkness but keep your Meetings and meet in that Epist 23. which keeps you over them and in the Power of God ye will have Unity And Dwell in Love and Vnity one with another and know one another in the Power of an Endless life which doth not change And know the Second Adam The first and second Adam the Lord from Heaven which is above the First Adam the Earthly where all Strife and Transgression is And all Friends every where be Faithful in the Life and Power of God and keep your Meetings above all the World in that which changes not that nothing but Christ may reign among you the Power of God and the Wisdom of God the Sanctification and Redemption that the Just over all may reign and the Seed of God may have the Dominion in you all that with that ye may all be ordered to the Glory of God Love thinks no Evil. and kept in the Bond of Peace and reign in the love of God which is out of the Iniquity and rejoiceth not in it which thinks no Evil. And have this Love shed abroad in all your Hearts and feel it abiding in you which Love of God edifies the Body And know the Word of God abiding in you The Word of God its Effects which was in the beginning and brings to the Beginning which Word being ingrafted it saves the Soul and hammers down and throws down and burns up that which wars against it G. F. TO all Friends every where Epist 24. Dwell in the Truth and walk in the Love of the Truth in Patience and every one in your Measure keep your Habitations and learn that good Lesson of Jesus Christ To be Low and Meek in heart giving no Occasion to the Adversary by Evil-doing Walk Vprightly But walk all honestly and uprightly for the Vpright and Meek in Heart know God and God delights in the Upright and Righteous And walking in Vprightness ye will be bold as Lions resisting the Wicked with your Spiritual Weapons not by bloody Hands as the Wicked are tearing and rending the Just that dwell in the Truth For the Lions want and hunger and rage but ye that fear the Lord shall want no good thing and they that wait upon the Lord he will give them their hearts Desire I witness the Words of the Lord to be true praised be his Name O Friends dwell in the Fear of the Lord and take heed of Presumption Presumption that your Minds run not out into Vanity and Lightness that the World may not take Occasion and the Truth suffer But every one keep your Habitation where God hath called you and take heed of Deceit and form nothing in your own Wills or Minds but grow up in the Inner Man putting off the Old Man with his Deeds as Trees of Righteousness which the Lord hath planted growing in Wisdom and Understanding to do the Will of God and not your own Wills He that doth the Will of God abideth in that which endureth for ever and seeth all Flesh to be as Grass and the Glory of the World to pass away Wo to the Proud Wo unto you proud Men who Compass the Earth to set your Nests on high all your Gods of Gold and Silver must perish and that Mind that holds them up must perish But all Friends mind that which is Eternal which gathers your Hearts together up to the Lord and lets you see that ye are written in one another's Heart Meet together every where growing up in the Spirit to the Lord the Fountain of Life the head of all things God blessed for ever Let not hard Words trouble you nor fair Speeches win you but dwell in the Power of Truth in the mighty God and have Salt in your selves to savour all Words and to stand against all the Wiles of the Devil in the mighty Power of God For God that raised up his own Seed in his Saints which Seed Christ is but one in all and spreads over all and throughout all and we now are thro' him come to have Dominion and Power over the Evil-One and to tread upon that which hath been too strong for us the Enemy of our Peace and the Enemy of our Unity with God and one with another Our Vnity with God and one with another So in that which is raised up in us which trampleth upon the Earthly dark Power have we Vnity with God and Fellowship with his Son and Vnity one with another so known to one another in that which none who are of the World knoweth So our Life is hid and our Happiness Joy and Delight hid from all who are ruled and governed by the Prince of the Air from under whose Dominion and Government we are Redeemed by the only Redeemer Christ Jesus not with Corruptible things neither is our Redemption of Man nor by man nor according to the Will of Man but Contrary to Man's Will And so our Unity and Fellowship with vain Man is loft and all his evil Ways are now turned into Enmity and all his Profession is now found to be Deceit and in all his fairest Pretences lodgeth Cruelty and the Bottom and Ground of all his Knowledge of God and Christ is found Sandy A Sandy Knowledge and cannot endure the Tempest For being brought off from that Foundation and having suffered the Loss of all which seemed beautiful upon the Sand which was there builded according to that Wisdom which was not Eternal but was Earthly upon which the Curse of God was and yet doth remain where it is standing we do declare against that Bottom and Foundation by the Power of God in that Light of Christ which discovers all false Foundations and makes manifest all Sandy Bottoms which Man hath builded upon For where the only true Seed takes Root Earthly Plants and Dwellings there all Man's Plants and Plantations are plucked up for there the Earth in which the Earthly Plants do grow is broken up plowed up and ripped up and all things made manifest which have lain hid in it For in
Vanity and have never so many flattering fair Words and good Speeches and trimmed and decked with the Sheeps cloathing yet they are in the Wolfs Nature and Whored from the Lamb and his Nature and so from the Seed Christ in whom all the Children of the Kingdom and the Elect are to walk that are of his Heavenly and Spiritual Generation and grow up in him as Trees of Righteousness whose Fruits are unto Holiness and whose End will be Everlasting Life And the End of that Spirit and Fruits before mentioned that are out of Christ and his peaceable Truth will be Destruction in the Lake of Fire And that is the Word of the Lord to you all therefore be warned what you join to and what you lay hands on suddenly For I remember before we were called Quakers as I was sitting in an House in Nottinghamshire about the Year 1648 the Word of the Lord came to me and said Some of those that should come to be convinced with the Light and Spirit of God and should come so far as Cain to hear God's Voice and as far as Balaam to hear God's Voice and to have some Openings and to come so far as Corah Dathan and Abiram these should be the Deceivers and the Troublers of the Church of Christ and seek to destroy the Faithful and to betray them Who formerly had some Experience to talk of but did not live in the Truth Which I and many others have seen come to pass and fulfilled For Christ said to his Disciples False Prophets and Anti-Christs That the false Prophets and the Anti-Christs which were inwardly the ravened Wolves which the Apostles and Believers should beware of should come to them to try them they had the Sheeps-cloathing and Outward Profession of Christianity but were Inwardly ravening Wolves to devour them Now these were Inwardly ravening from something And the Apostle John speaks of such as went out from us It seems they were one among them But saith he they were not of us for if they had been of us they would no doubt have continued with us but they went out from the true Church that they might be manifest that they were not of it And these were the Anti-christs and false Prophets that Christ said should come which John and the Apostles saw were come and exhorted the Church to beware of and to keep to the Vnction which they had from the Holy One. And this Vnction and Anointing as it abides within the Saints the true Church and they in it it will teach them all things and is Truth and by it they shall continue in the Son and the Father and so in the Holy Seed Rock and Foundation that cannot be shaken And the Apostle saith There was to be a falling away first before the Man of Sin was revealed the Son of Perdition who opposeth and exalteth himself c. And when the Apostle saw the Mystery of Iniquity already working and his coming is after the working of Satan with all Deceiveableness of Unrighteousness in them that perish because they receive not the Love of the Truth that they might be saved And such go into strong Delusions that they should believe a Lye and not the Truth And here you may see there is a falling away before the Son of Perdition or Judas be revealed and they that fall away receive not the Love of the Truth that they might be saved but believe Lyes that they shall be damned And the Lord will consume him with the Spirit of his Mouth and will destroy him with the Brightness of his coming the wicked One and Son of Perdition that is against the Righteous and is the Opposer and Betrayer of them Therefore all the Church of Christ are to stand stedfast To stand stedfast in Christ and be establish'd in Him in every good Word and Work who are from the beginning chosen for Salvation through Jesus Christ through the Sanctification of the Spirit and the belief of the Truth and are called by the Gospel the Power of God to the obtaining of the Glory of the Lord Jesus Christ in whom the glorious Rest and Peace is And you may see how the Church of Christ was troubled by such as went out from them and fell away from Truth and Inwardly ravened some went like unto the Swine into the Mire and some like the Doggs to the Vomit and some like Wolves that Inwardly ravened and yet kept the Sheeps-cloathing Some went in the Nature of Cain Sacrificers and yet were Destroyers of the Righteous and some went in the Nature or Spirit of Jannes and Jambres that withstood Moses and others in the Nature of Judas to Betray and others in the Nature of Corah Dathan and Abiram to Gain-say and Resist the Truth and others in the Nature of Jezabel And this Spirit and Nature troubled the Church in the Old Testament Troublers of the Church and troubled the Church in the New Testament and are troubling the Church of Christ in this Gospel-Day that is come and coming out of the Apostacy But God's Trumpet Spirit and Power was and is always sounded against it that all People may beware of this Evil Spirit and Nature and keep in the Seed Christ Jesus that bruises the Head of it in whom you have Love Rest Salvation Quietness and Peace Hallelujah And all dwell in Love then you dwell in God who is Love All dwell in God who is Love let that be all your Habitations which Love edifies the Body of Christ and builds you up in him and all strive to excel one another in Vertue in Patience Courteousness Kindness Tenderness Meekness and Humility in Temperance Modesty and Chastity and whatsoever things are Decent and Comely and of good Report Honest and Lovely that follow For these are the good Fruits of the Spirit of God and his Heavenly Seed which Fruits are acceptable to God and will make you all lovely and comely to him and unto one another in his Heavenly Seed in which as I said before you are blest and all Nations are blest which Seed Christ is your Sanctuary who destroys the Devil the Destroyer and so is over him and was before he was in whom the true Believers live and have Peace who Cloaths them with Salvation and with his Righteousness the sanctified One's fine Linnen So all walk worthy of the Mercies of God and his Blessings from Above and from Below to the Glory and Praise of God And they that dwell not in Love and Charity are like the sounding Brass and tinkling Cimbals as you may read 1 Cor. 13.1 8. This you may read amongst the Children of the Light and of the Day Dolston the 13th of the 10th Month 1683. G. F. To the Meeting of Friends in Truth that are Captives in Algiers NOw Epist 391. Dear Friends The Lord having drawn you by his Spirit to his Son Christ Jesus in whose Name ye come to be Gathered in whose Name ye have
A COLLECTION OF Many Select and Christian EPISTLES Letters and Testimonies Written on sundry Occasions by that Ancient Eminent Faithful Friend and Minister OF CHRIST JESUS George Fox The Second Volume What thou seest write in a Book and send it unto the Seven Churches Rev. 1.11 For we write none other things unto you than what you have read and acknowledged and I trust you shall acknowledge even unto the End 2 Cor. 1.11 LONDON Printed and Sold by T. Sowle in White-Hart-Court in Gracious-street and at the Bible in Leaden-Hall-street 1698. AN EPISTLE By way of PREFACE To all Truth 's Friends and Friendly Readers Greeting In the dear and tender Love of my Heavenly Father which by his dear Son and blessed Spirit he hath plentifully shed abroad in many Hearts in this glorious Gospel-Day Glory to his worthy Name and excellent Power for ever Dear Friends I Am concerned to recommend the serious reading and perusal of the ensuing Collection unto all who sincerely desire the Promotion of Christ's Kingdom and Prosperity of his Church and Sion in true Love Vnion and Order in and by Christ Jesus himself the Head and Foundation thereof And that none of you would think the perusal of these Epistles wearisom or tedious because the same Words and Things in many of them may seem frequently repeated there being numerous Evangelical Truths and variety of good and wholsom Matter as well as diversities of Episties containing much Christian Counsel to many various States and Conditions of enlightned and enlivened Souls travelling and breathing to God so that the frequent intermix'd Repetitions of the same necessary Truths may be the better allowed and born with in the Reading However the moderate and ingenious Reader will not be offended thereat It being a thing frequent in the Holy Scriptures to have the same Gospel-Truths often repeated which many dull and forgetful Persons have need to be often told of such Matters of so great Importance The Author's Epistles and Matters of most general Concern are here collected to avoid Prolixity and unnecessary Repetitions as much as could be The Simplicity and Plainness of the Author's Stile is not to be despised he being more in Life and Substance than in the Wisdom of Words or Eloquence of Speech And the Lord being pleased in his Day to make great Vse of him and to do great Things by him for his Name and Seed's sake of which there yet remains Clouds of Witnesses even to that Divine Power and hidden Wisdom of God in the Mystery of Christ which was with him and supported him and lifted up his Head thorow many great Fights of Afflictions and Trials I confess I have not read or heard all the Epistles in the ensuing Collection but many of them which I know to be very seasonable weighty and necessary and therefore have cause to believe so of the rest which I have not read But by our long and frequent Conversation Knowledge and Intimacy together with his living and revived Testimonies his godly Care and Zeal for Truth 's Honour and Prosperity I have deeply read and known the Author his unfeigned Love Innocency and Integrity in the blessed Living Truth whose Christian Care among many other things relating to the Churches of Christ the Union Good Order and Discipline thereof greatly was That no Offence in any thing might be given that the Ministry might not be blamed well-knowing what Trials and Proofs attended Christ's Ministers and Ministry in these latter Days in some degree as in the Primitive Christians Times namely that he with many others in his Day approved himself and themselves as the Ministers of Christ in much Patience in deep Afflictions in Necessities in Distresses and some in Stripes and cruel Beatings in Prisons in Tumults in Labours by Watchings and by Fastings by Purity by Knowledge by Long-suffering by Kindness by the Holy Ghost by Love unfeigned by the Word of Truth by the Power of God by the Armour of Righteousness on the Right-hand and on the Left by Honour and Dishonour by evil Report and good Report as deceivers and yet true c. 2 Cor. 6. In which Proofs of God's Ministers this his Ancient Servant had a deep share and the true Root of the Matter was in him far beyond his Expressions And though many false Predictions Prophesies and cruel Threats were early breathed out by Persecators and envious Spirits against Him and Vs his Friends and Brethren whom he unfeignedly loved and against His and Our Holy Profession Way and Testimony as if in a very short time all would come to nought and be laid waste yet they have all been disappointed and proved false and his Christian Living Testimony and Work further manifest to be of God and not of Men nor of the Will of Man For Truth that 's strongest of all hath still prevailed and must prevail And though the Memory of this our deceased Brother and faithful Servant of Jesus Christ be still greatly Envied and be most grosly Defamed by some implacable Adversaries and hardned Apostates who could not obtain their evil Ends and destractive Designs against him in his Life-time yet his Memory is truly Precious to many Thousands who truly Fear God and Love his Truth who have a true Inward Sense That such a Divine Power and Providence attended him in his Innocent Christian Testimony Ministry Labours and Sufferings that the Devil and all persecuting Agents could never stop nor frustrate his Testimony or Service in turning many to Righteousness even from Darkness unto Light and from the Power of Satan unto God In many of the ensuing Epistles he often mentions the Seed the Life the Power of God and the like whereby he intends no other than what the Holy Scriptures testifie of Christ which we know he truly loved and esteemed and was often conversant in reading of them and had an excellent Memory and spiritual Sence thereof given him of the Lord. By the pure holy Seed he meant and declared Christ the promised Seed wherein all the Promises of God are Yea and Amen And as Christ is the Word of God the Word of Life the Word of Faith he is that immortal and incorruptible Seed of which all true and spiritual Believers and Children of the Light are begotten to God and born again and which Seed or Word of Eternal Life abideth in him that is born of God and sinneth not because thereof 1 John 3. And as the Generation of God and Children of his Kingdom and of the Promise are called the good Seed and counted for the Seed being born of that Incorruptible Seed or Word of Life which endureth for ever 1 Peter 1.23 15. And being that blessed Seed and Holy Generation which was foretold Christ should see and for which the travel of his Soul was Isa 53. This our deceased Friend and Servant of Jesus Christ truly testified of him in all Respects both as come in the Flesh and in the Spirit both as Christ was and
when ye speak an evil Word and tells you that ye should not be proud nor wanton nor fashion your selves like unto the World for the fashion of this World passeth away And if ye hearken to that it will keep you in Humbleness of Mind and Lowliness of Heart and turn your Minds within to wait upon the Lord to be guided by it and bring you to lay aside all Sin and Evil and keep you faithful to the Lord and bring you to wait on him for Teaching till an Entrance thereof be made to your Souls There is your Teacher the Light obeying it there is your Condemnation disobeying it If ye hearken to the Light in you it will not suffer you to conform to the evil Ways Customs Fashions Delights and Vanities of the World and so lead you to Purity to Holiness to Vprightness even up to the Lord. Dear Hearts hearken to it to be guided by it For if ye love the Light ye love Christ if ye hate that ye hate Christ Therefore in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ consider of it and the Lord open your Understandings to know him G. F. ALL Dear Friends every where Epist 18. who have tasted of the Everlasting Power and are made Partakers of his Divine Nature Be faithful An Exhortation to Faithfulness and dwell in that which is Pure And take heed of the World 's evil Ways Words Worships Customs and Fashions neither let fair Speeches draw you out nor hard Speeches trouble you and make you afraid But fear the Lord God of Heaven and Earth who by his mighty Power upholds all things And be bold in the Power of Truth and valiant for it upon the Earth treading triumphing over and trampling all Deceit under Foot inward and outward having done it in your selves in particular ye have Power over the World in general And Meet together every-where and keep the Unity of the Spirit which is the Bond of Peace which Circumciseth Inwardly and puts off the Body of Sin and Baptiseth all into one Body with one Spirit And being written all in one another's Heart have all one Voice and the pure Language of Truth where in all plainness of Speech things may be spoken in Nakedness of Heart one unto another in the Eternal Unity in one Spirit which draws off and weans you from all things that are Created and External which fade and pass away up to God the Fountain of Life and Head of all things to whom be Glory Wisdom Riches and Honour God blessed for ever Who hath blessed us and given to us Eternal Life and this Life is in his Son and he that hath the Son hath the Father also And that which the World doth profess and make a Trade withal the Saints do enjoy and possess which the World doth not know but in the Letter And all Friends and Brethren in what ye know be faithful rejoycing and praising the Lord with all Thankfulness that the wise God should Call you and Elect you Oh! dwell in Love in your Hearts to God and one to another And the God of Love and Life keep you all in his Power and Love and Spirit to himself that ye may all be kept pure and stand pure and clean before him The Work and Harvest of the Lord is great My Prayers to God are for you that ye may be faithful and be kept faithful in the Work G. F. Dear and tender Friends MY Love is to you all in the Truth of God Epist 19. and my Prayers and Soul's Desire is to God To Friends in Truth that ye may be kept in the Simplicity of the Truth in Christ Jesus growing up in the Power of his Resurrection and to be made Conformable to his Death and to have Fellowship with him in his Sufferings and that all your Hearts may be knit together in Love and in one Spirit to God and be kept out of all the World 's evil Customs Fashions Words Works Manners Ordinances and Commandments which will all perish which the World holdeth up in the Carnal Mind The Carnal Eye and Mind and the Carnal Man doth act them For whatsoever is seen with a Carnal Eye is Carnal See if ye do find something in your Understandings made manifest which is Eternal to guide your Minds out of all External things which wither away and fade For the Cross is to the Carnal Mind your Carnal Minds going into the Carnal and Earthly things or your Eyes and Lusts into the Earth where Lightness Rashness Crosness Bitterness and Presumption is then the Tongae will run at random and is at liberty and he that hath not Power over his own Tongue his Religion is vain and the light Mind ruleth But the Light within which doth convince thee it will shew thee when the Mind goeth forth and shew thee the daily Cross which is to Crucifie that Carnal Mind For the Carnal Mind minds Carnal Things and the Cross is to the Will of Man for it shall never enter Therefore give not way to your Wills nor busie your selves nor Minds with needless and careless Words or such things for they will vail you and draw your Minds from God But keep within And when they shall say Christ is within Lo here or Lo there is Christ go not forth for Christ is within you And they are Seducers and Anti-Christs which draw your Minds out from the Teaching within you For the Measure is within and the Light of God is within and the Pearl is within you which is hid and the Word of God is within you and ye are the Temples of God and God hath said he will dwell in you and walk in you And then what need ye go to the Idols-Temples without you The true Church the Saints is in God but the Imitation of the Church is in the World without God The Seducers are in the World Anti-Christs and Deceivers are in the World and false Prophets are in the World and Covetousness is in the World and all Hypocrisie and all Heresie and Dissimulation and all Pride and looking for Honour is in the World and he that seeketh for it is of the Devil And all idle foolish Jesting and all light vain Talking which is not seemly nor convenient is in the World Therefore lay aside all Filthiness and Superfluity of naughtiness and fear God and give Glory to him and worship not the Beast for the Beast and the false Prophet must be cast into the Lake of Fire The true Figures and Types were outward and visible to the outward Eye and Mind but the Carnal Mind is to be taken away and destroyed For the Figures did Type forth the Substance when the Substance was come the Figures were taken away and Types were ended And the false Imitations of Christ and of God are in the World and the vain Worships of the World are the Worships of the Beast and are not of God For God is a Spirit and he that
worships him must worship him in Spirit and Truth The Beastly Nature in Man and Woman holdeth up the Beast and his Customs and Worships and the Plagues of God are to be poured upon the Beast and all them that worship the Beast and false Prophet And they that abide in the Truth worship not the Beast Inwardly nor Outwardly The Worship of the Beast denied but deny all the Beast's Worships and false Prophets and worship God in Spirit and Truth And they which do not abide in the Truth hold up the Beast's Worship and the false Prophets and they that do so shall have their Portion together Plagues will be poured upon such And ye that know God dwell in the Truth and tread upon the Deceit for God will be Glorified alone To whom be Glory and Honour for ever Amen G. F. TO all my Dear Brethren Epist 20. whom the God of Power hath enlightned with his Eternal Light and discovered unto you his Way of Truth and brought you out of the dark ways wherein ye have walked which dark ways all the World walks in But where the pure Light of God is witnessed it guides to himself The Light is but one which leads out of Darkness and the dark World into the World which is without End Therefore all Friends and Brethren in the Eternal Truth of GOd walk in it up to God and be not Sayers only nor Backsliders for the Backslider is a Sayer and not a Doer and there ariseth Ambition Pride and Presumption out of that Nature But dwell in the pure Light which God hath made manifest to you in your Understanding and turn your Minds to him and walk as Children of the Light The Backslider a Sayer and of the Day and be not Drunken in any thing nor run not to Extremes in any thing but be Moderate and Patient Wait for the Presence of the Great God and our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and be not so Childish as to be tossed with Mens Words without Life And run not out after others Liberties which they have got into their Notions for thou that dost so wilt not abide in the Truth and so thou may'st come to be shaken and shake others who look at Words But wait every one in particular in the Measure that God hath given you upon God in the Fear of God then your Hearts will be kept clean and this is the sure Way And wait all to have the Son made manifest in you and the Son alone to set you free in your selves in particular The Son makes free and all that are made free by the Son are one But the first Nature that would have Liberty must go into Captivity which they that live in their Carnal Reasoning seek Freedom for But here is Man deceived in his first Birth But ye all in whom the Immortal Seed is brought to Light who are raised up to sit in heavenly Places with Christ Jesus and are become Children of the Day walk as Children of the Day and as Children of the Light and Let your Light so shine before Men that they may glorifie your Father which is in Heaven All loving the Light ye love the one thing which gathers your Hearts together to the Fountain of Light and Life and walking in it ye have Unity one with another and the Blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth you from all Sin The Knowledge of the Letter The Knowledge of the Letter which you formerly got into your Notions and Comprehensions the dark Mind gave dark Meanings to it and so kept you in the Broad Way but now wait all to have the same Spirit manifested in your Understandings which was in them which gave forth the Scriptures who were come out of the Broad Way Holy Men of God who had escaped the Pollutions of the World And if every particular of you know not a Principle within which is of God to guide you to wait upon God ye are still in your own Knowledge which is bruitish and sensual But waiting all upon God in that which is of God ye are kept open to receive the Teachings of God And the pure Wisdom and knowledge is that True Wisdom and Knowledge which comes from above which is to know God and Jesus Christ the Way which is hidden from the World and to walk out of your own Ways and out of your own Thoughts And dwelling in that which is pure up to God it commands your own Reason to keep silent and to cast your own Thoughts out and dwelling in that which is pure it discovereth all this So dwelling in the Spirit it keepeth all your Hearts to God To whom be all Praise Honour and Glory for ever From Judge Fell 's in Lancastire ' the 31st of the 11th Month 1652. G. F. To Friends at Kendal TO that of God in you I do speak Epist 21. that ye may watch over the Weak and see how the Plants of the Lord do grow And walk in the Joy and Love of the Truth Watch over the Weak serving God with Joyfulness of Heart and to you this is the Word of the Lord. And keep all that is bad down and out with the Light which condemns all Ungodliness so keep all that out which is for Condemnation that ye may all be preserved clean and pure that out of Condemnation ye may be kept and walk in the living Light So God Almighty be with you all And I charge you to read this among the Brethren and these Words mind with the Light that no Loosness be amongst you but own and be obedient to the Commands of the Lord that ye may stand out of and above all the contrary Commands of Man And so Fare-well G. F. OH Friends Epist 22. keep close to the Light in you and do not look forth at Words that proceed from a vain and light Mind but at the Power of Words The Power of Words For the Words of God that proceed from him are Powerful and Mighty in Operation to the throwing down of all the strong Holds of the man of Sin The Lord is coming in Power to gather his Chosen ones to himself and to Judge and Condemn the wicked One for evermore He will plague the Beast and burn the Whore and plague and torment the Disobedient and Rebellious and Backsliders very sore Therefore ye that know the Voice of the Lord hearken to it and see how ye stand in his Fear and how ye are brought into the Obedience of the Truth And take heed of looking forth at Man but keep close to the Light in you and see that your Minds be kept close to that and guided by that and being guided by that it will keep you clear and pure to receive the Teaching of the Lord. Have Salt in your selves and let your Words be few and seasoned Words few and savoury that they may be savoury And watch over one another in Love and walk in
the Earth dwell all the noisom Creatures and the Evil Beasts which are hurtful to the Creation For in the Earth the Devil dwells and walks but the Earth being plowed up he is made manifest and the Seat of his Dwelling is broken up That Mind which doth speak of God but lives not dwells not nor abides in the Fear of God that Mind must suffer and pass under the Judgment of God for the Curse of God is upon that Mind For that Mind is Earthly and of the Earth upon which the Curse of God is And that Mind may talk of God and speak of God but not in Union with God nor from Enjoyment of God in the Spirit nor from having purchased the Knowledge of him through Death and Sufferings A Hear-say Knowledge but from Hear-say of him and from Custom and Tradition which the true Fear of God doth destroy that Mind which speaks of him but doth not live in his Fear And that Mind is raised up which doth abide in his Fear and this is Acceptable Sacrifice which is pure clean holy and without Spot Then that which knows God speaks of him which hath purchased the true Knowledge of him through Suffering and to such there is no Condemnation but Joy and Peace And this Mind sings true Praises to God the other in Hypocrisie and therefore the Wo is unto it And this Mind is stayed upon God the other is gadding after the Creatures committing Fornication with other Lovers and speaks of God but is not subject to God and must pass through Condemnation G. F. To Friends in the Truth FRiends Epist 25. the Love of God is to you the Springs are opening and the Plants are refreshing with the living Waters Now Friends walk in the Truth as ye have received it and wait in that which keeps you in the Yea and Nay Yea and Nay the pure Commusication in the pure Communication in the Good Manners In the pure Conversation over all the World ye will reign whose Conversation is in Heaven and here the World ye will Judge walking in the Life And ye which turn from the Light which Jesus Christ hath enlightned you withal here are the Corrupt Manners the evil Communication the filthy Conversation which with the Light is all to be condemned Ye which turn from the Light are in Esau's Nature and chusing the Earth there is Profaness Therefore take heed to the Light and wait to receive Power from God to stand against that which the Light discovers to be Evil. And ye which are turned from the Light which Jesus Christ hath enlightned you withal and do turn to the Hireling-Priests which are Changable from the Priest which never changes Judas his Way ye walk in Judas his Steps Wo will be your End ye had better never to have been born ye are Betrayers of the Just. Ye that turn from the Light ye turn from Christ as Judas did and ye that walk in the Light ye walk after Christ and he is your Way but ye that turn from it to the Hireling-Priests Judas is your Way which is Destruction And ye that turn from the Light turn from the Command of God Cain is your Way And ye that turn from the Spirit Cain Balaam Core Balaam is your Way and ye that get up into Presumption Core is your Way which leads into Self-Separation and this Fruit will wither which is natural Knowledge which is seen with the Light and is to be condemned with the Light which never withers which is the Condemnation of the World which all the Children of the Light walk in Which Light walking in it will bring you to receive Christ Christ the Way to Salvation from whence it comes here is the Way to Salvation and as many as receive him to them he gives Power to become the Sons of God And the Son of God is but one in all Male and Female and the Light of God is but one So all walk in it to receive the Son in which Light is the Unity which brings to Fellowship with the Father and the Son And the Oneness is in the Light as the Father and the Son is one and brings you to where he is out of the World from the World and not to be of the World Therefore walk in the Light which is all the World's Condemnation even them of the highest Religion who act contrary to the Light And to you this is given forth from the Word of the Living God And thou that lovest thy Soul love the Light to wait for Christ the Saviour of thy Soul And ye that hear the Word The Word which was in the Beginning wait in the Light which comes from the Word which leads up to the Word which was in the beginning which breaks the World to pieces that lies in Wickedness and burns it as with a Fire and divides asunder the Precious from the Vile This is the Word which makes all clean which is received into the Heart and this is the Word of Faith which we Preach And the World Preaches the Words without being out of the Life and in the bruitish Knowledge which is condemned of God and by all who are of God that have and are in the Life of the Holy Scriptures Therefore I charge you all in the Presence of the Living God to wait in the Light which comes from Christ that with it ye may receive the Life that with the Light and Life which is one ye may come to have the Scriptures opened to you which were given forth from the Light And so all the World who have not the Light guiding their Understandings nor the Life but are Strangers to it there are the Sects The Rise of Sects and Opinions there are the many Opinions there is the Heresie which makes a Profession of the Letter declared from the Light but are out of the Life with the Light all this is condemned and the Children of Light are in Unity in that which gave forth the Holy Scriptures And so to you all this Testimony is from the Word of God This is to be Read among all Friends every where for this was I moved to send among you G. F. Concerning Marriages FRiends All they who do act contrary to the Light which comes from Christ Jesus Epist 26. and it hate whose Deeds are evil and live in strife about Words and their Minds are in Earthly things defrauding and wronging one another they know when they do so with the Light which comes from Christ Jesus So this Light which lets them see and know when they act contrary to it with this Light are they Condemned The Light condemns the Evil. And all that do act contrary to the Light and do join together in Marriage contrary to the Light and are joined with that which is contrary to the Light this is their Condemnation the Light which leads to God But who are joined together with the Light
one shall see the Lord. And let your Conversation be as becometh the Gospel To Friends in Cumberland the Holy Power of God which is the Gospel of Christ the Holy One who suffered by the Vnholy Ones And keep in the Lowly Mind and the Humility of Christ that the Fruits of your good Conversation and Translation and Regeneration in your Lives may appear The Fruits of a good Conversation as a People redeemed from the Pleasures of the Flesh and the Spirit of the World and the beggarly Lusts and that ye may obtain the Promise of the Eternal God and the Power of the Truth through the Word in the Heart the hidden Man that ye may obtain Victory over that which wars against your Souls through which ye may be arrayed and adorned and by that ye may be preserved and kept from that which is not of the Father the Lust of the Flesh the Lust of the Eye and the Pride of Life in the Simplicity and Innocency of Christ Jesus over all the Subtilty and feigned Deceit through which ye may esteem nothing in Comparison of that which is of God and him above all through Christ the Light the Truth the Power of God manifested in you False Liberty And keep out of all false Liberties and that which would lead you out of the Fear of God and in that ye will be preserved in the Sense of the Power and the Truth of God in your own Hearts In that every one watch through which Knowledge and Virtue is ministred unto you and Peace from the God of Virtue and Peace And keep out of all that which tends to Strife and Whisperings and Backbitings and Tattlings which draws from the Witness Watch and Fear of God within which leavens into the Fleshly Lusts and Nature and then that Judges and yet is in the same thing for which he Judges others which Nature and Judgment all is for Judgment and Condemnation So be Wise and keep your First Love break not Wedlock with the Lord Jesus Christ keep your first Habitation keep your Garments clean for such as so do they are blessed that ye may shine as Lights to the World Be Examples in Virtue and be Examples in Virtue Righteousness and Holiness walking in the Truth in all Patience and Quietness looking at the Lord your Strength and Christ Jesus the Conqueror and beyond all the Hills and Mountains that ye may be a good Savour to the Lord having Salt in your selves Let your Lamps be burning and your Lights shining and then ye will see over all the Unsavouriness that is in Adam's Family in the Fall who live in Christ the Power of God that never fell and keep Marriage with him the Holy One the Just One the Light the Truth and Power of God who makes an End of all Vnholiness And so walk in the Righteousness that your Feet may be kept in the Way of Peace And keep both your Tongues and Hands and Bodies and Lips and Minds and Words out of all that which would defile and corrupt you and bring you under the Indignation and Wrath of God and his Hand to be turned against you So keep in the Fear of God and keep in his Truth which ye at first received for Truth never changes And walk in the Spirit and then the Lusts of the Flesh will not be fulfilled and then Strife is kept out that which would be high and get up through which comes Strife and Wars So keep your Fellowship in the Spirit in which is the Unity and Bond of Peace Fruits of the Spirit and the Fruits of the Spirit will appear Righteousness Holiness Goodness Peace Soberness and Gentleness Chastity and Virtue through which ye may have Fruit to feed the Hungry and to relieve the Sick and Poor For the Unfruitful walks not in the Spirit and so bears not Fruit and so the Curse comes and Briars and Misery So eye the Lord God in all things in the Spirit who is a Spirit in that ye may distinguish his things and the things that are of your selves and what is of Men and what is of God and what to keep alive and what must dye So be Obedient to the Spirit and to the good Power of God that hath quickened you and live in it that ye may dye no more for that gives you Life For they that are made alive and come to dye again and to be Twice Dead Twice Dead plucked up c. and then come to be plucked up by the Roots such lye dead upon the Earth and corrupt it So let not the World let not things visible draw your Minds away from the Lord. Do not mind the Body more than the Lord do not forsake the Lord but be of good Faith in the Truth of God and live in it then ye live in Christ Jesus who is your Way who is your Teacher who is your Prophet who is your Priest who is the Bishop of your Immortal Souls Christ that never fell nor never changed nor never will change And here ye come into the Seed the Top-stone The Seed the Top-stone that is atop of the World set and before the World was who will remain when the World is gone who was full of Grace and Truth and Virtue and Life by whom Grace comes that brings Salvation who is every one of your Teacher in your selves So know Christ the Head and Salvation in which there is Peace and no Condemnation for the Condemnation is upon them that are out of the Light And so live in Vnity in the Light before Darkness and Enmity was in which ye have Peace and Love to God to Christ and to one another G. F. An Epistle to the Travellers in the Lord's Way with a Testimony against the False Prophets and them that hold them up FRriends Epist 38. All are to receive your Spiritual Bread and Water from the Father of Life by which ye may be strengthened and watered from the Father of Life in your passing and travelling on in your Spiritual Journey heartily and comfortably that ye may come to your heavenly Rest The Spiritual Travel being come and coming out of the great City of Sodom towards the City of heavenly Jerusalem where ye shall abide Eternally for ever Reason not with Flesh and Blood that shall never enter take not Counsel of that which draws thee nearer to Carnal things and draws thee to Consult with Carnal Reason Carnal Reasoning and so draws thy Eye and Mind to Visible things and so brings thee to wander from going on thy Journey and if thou followest that thou goest to Death Hell and Destruction and to the Pit and the Snare and that gets Dominion over thee and comes to rule over thee which ought not But every one wait in the pure Spirit to guide you to God then ye shall see the Promise of God fulfilled in you and the Springs of Life opened to you and Refreshment
to God And the Light is but One and all being guided by it all are subject to One and are One in the Vnity of the Spirit And if your Minds turn from the Light and that Mind speak of the Light there gets up Pride and Presumption and the Will and then ye begin to strike your Fellow-Servants Therefore all Dear Friends and Brethren Be Servants to the Truth and do not strive for Mastery but serve one another in Love Wash one another's Feet take Christ for your Example Serve one another in Love that I may hear of no Strife among you But all walk in the Truth and in the Love of it up to God for there ye are my Joy and Crown in the Lord. Children would be striving but that which would have the Mastery must dye and shall not enter into the Kingdom of God Therefore mind not high things but fear and condescend to Men of Low Degree for the Fear of the Lord keeps the Heart clean and the pure in Heart sees God AND Friends spread your selves abroad that ye may be serviceable for the Lord and his Truth and get over the Head of the Wicked and trample all that which is Contrary to God under your Feet that ye may Answer that of God in every one And him who was promised to be the Covenant of God to the Gentiles The Covenant of God and the New Covenant to the Jews hold forth to them both that all may know him their Leader to God and the Prisoner to come forth unto him G. F. THis is the Word of the Lord to all Friends and Fellow-Labourers in the Truth who are subduing the Earth and its earthly Knowledge Epist 65. and its Carnal Wisdom and beating down and threshing down that in Hope to get forth the Wheat and to be made Partakers of your Hope I charge you all dwell in the Light which doth comprehend the World their evil Ways their Will Worships what they worship Will-Worship and what is their End in all their Actions So that ye may yoke the Oxen and bridle the Horses and tame the wild Heifers and bring them to Christ's Yoke that is to the Light bring every one unto it to see their Way to Salvation and with it every one may know their Condemnation who act contrary to it Wait all on the Lord that ye may be settled and stayed in the Lord and to grow up in the Light that gave forth the Scriptures that there may be no stumbling about the Words which came from the Light For no Creature can read the Scriptures to profit thereby but who come to the Light and Spirit that gave them forth LOVE the Truth more than all and go on in the mighty Power of God Good Soldiers of Christ as good Soldiers of Christ well fixed in his glorious Gospel and in his Word and Power that ye may know him the Life and Salvation and bring up others into it G. F. ALL Friends Epist 66. Meet together in the Light that with it ye may see the Father of Life amongst you in your Meetings And so the Lord God of Power be with you and keep you And the Lord God Almighty give you Dominion over the Beasts of the Field The Beasts of the Field and the Fowls of the Air the Fishes in the Sea and all creeping things And the Lord God Almighty be with you all Farewell AND all live in Peace in Love in Life and in the Power of the Lord God and keep your Meetings every one of you waiting in the Power of God upon him Vnity with God that in it ye may have Vnity with God the Father and the Son and one with another AND Dear Friends Let Wisdom guide you in Patience and do not strive with any in Meetings Strive not in Meetings but dwell in the Power of the Lord God that can bear and suffer all things And make no Strife among Friends but live in that which makes for Peace and Love and Life in which Edification is known G. F. To Friends concerning Marriages WHom God joyneth together Epist 67. are with the Light which is Eternal in the Vnity in the Covenant of Life and of Peace and this Marriage is honourable What Marriage is honorable and what is not and this Bed is not defiled For the Light leads from all Whoredom and Adultery which God will Judge For there is no Marriage honourable but what is in the Lord and that is in the Light with which Light the Covenant of Life is known and seen and the Faith in Jesus the Gift of God is received And they that forbid Marriage are out of the Light and in the Doctrine of Devils And they which are in the Light whom God doth Join together let no Man put them asunder for they that seek to do so are in that Nature which acts contrary to the Light And this Marriage which is honourable with the Children of the Light is seen and known who are in the Covenant of Light and with the Light are turned to the Lord Jesus Christ who leads from all the Works of Darkness And none who are in the Light are afraid of their Deeds being tried but they bring them to the Light to be tried whether their Works be wrought in God Motions of the Flesh Condemned Now who follow the Motions of the Flesh fulfilling the Desires of their Will and go into the Lust of the Flesh such are adulterated from the Light and their Marriage is not honourable and the Children of the Light cannot approve of them But whom God doth Join together they are led from the evil Motions of the Flesh and the Children of the Light do Approve of and Justifie them And who follow the Motions of the Flesh are in the Eagerness Lust Extremes Excess and the Hastiness and that Mind is afraid to declare its Work tho' afterwards is forced by Constraint And that the Children of Light cannot Justifie which is done in that Nature contrary to the Light Therefore the Joining together in the Light the Children of the Light do Honour and Justifie and the Light doth not hide from its own but the Darkness hides from the Light and is afraid to be reproved Therefore all ye Children of the Light let your Light so shine before Men that the Marriage which is Honourable may be witnessed and all that is Contrary to the Light condemned Therefore let all Proceedings in such things Proceedings in Marriage where they are Intended be declared to the Children of Light that therewith they may have Vnity and all the Motions and Works of the Flesh may be condemned and that the Pretence of the Spirits Moving may not be a Cloak or Cover for the beastly Lust but that all such Proceedings may be searched into by the Light and tried whether they stand in or out of the Covenant Let this be read amongst all Friends The God of
you this is the Counsel of God To go amongst Friends evey where G. F. Dear Friends in the Eternal Truth of God Epist 83. whose Minds by the Light of Jesus Christ are turned towards God Meet often together in the Fear of the Lord and to the Light take heed that with it all your Minds may be kept up to God from whence it comes And in all your Meetings wait Low in his Fear Wait Low Meetings that ye may come to know the Life and Power of Truth one in another And all ye whom the Lord hath made Over-seers over his Church in your several Places Over-seers of the Church be faithful to the Lord and watch over the Flock of Christ with all Dilignce ye which are Strong watch over the Weak and stir up that which is Pure one in another see that in order all your Meetings be kept Be faithful unto the Lord where he hath set you and ye shall not lose your Reward Servants be faithful unto your Masters Masters and Servants not with Eye-service serving them as Men-pleasers but in Singleness of Heart as unto the Lord that ye may come to undo the heavy Burdens Being faithful in your Places where the Lord hath set you there is your right Service And take heed of forward Minds and of running out before your Guide for that leads out into Loosness and such plead for Liberty and run out in their Wills and bring Dishonour to the Lord and the Unbridled Will gets at Liberty and an Exalted Spirit gets up and Pride and Haughtiness and high Words Pride And such are they which add to the Burden and do not take it off Therefore all wait Low in the Fear of the Lord and be not hasty nor rash but see the Way be made Clear and as the Lord doth move you so do and return with speed when ye have done to the Place where ye were abiding and be faithful there that the Truth of God be not evil spoken through you as they speak of Vagabonds and Wanderers that it may not be so amongst you Vagabonds and Wanderers For such are Vagabonds and Wanderers which run before their Guide And Masters rule over your Servants in Love with all Diligence and Meekess knowing that ye have one Master in Heaven And Friends in all Places where any do go abroad as they do pass by Examine them Whether they are going and what about And if they cannot give a good Account to exhort them to return back and abide faithful in their Places until they see their Way mad Clear So Farewell in the Lord. The Eternal God of Power and Wisdom direct and guide you to his Eternal Praise that his Name may be honoured and glorified in you and through you all Be Diligent Be diligent every one in your Places where the Lord hath set you for the Work of the Lord is great and God Almighty keep you to be faithful Labourers in his Work From one who is a Lover of your Souls and whose Care is over the Church of God that it may be kept in Order and that all that are guided by his Spirit may be lead into all good Order London the 15th of the 3d Month 1655. G. F. To Friends to sit under their own Vine MY Dear Friends Epist 84. Sit every one of you under your own Vine and there none shall make you afraid and in that ye will bring forth Fruit to God abundantly to his Praise And in the Vine as ye abide Heirs of Christ ye will all become Heirs of Christ and come all to know the Seed which is Heir of the Power of the World where there is no End and Heirs of the Kingdom and so possess that And live in the Seed The Seed the the Top-Stone the Top-Stone which was before Enmity was in which ye will feel Vnty and Vertue and Love and Peace in that keep your Meetings G. F. An Epistle to Friends that with the Light they may see their Salvation FRiends Epist 85. All to the Light which Jesus Christ hath enlightned you withal that heed that with the Light of Christ the Saviour of your Souls ye may all come to see and enjoy Rest and the New Covenant ye may all witness where ye need no man to teach you saying Know the Lord. The Light shews Sin and Evil. And this Light shews you Sin and the Evil of the World and the Lust of it and the vain Fashions of it that pass away and the Unrighteousnss and the Ungodliness of it for they are not in Covenant with God but are contrary to the Light and to be condemned with the Light Therefore to the Light I direct you that with it ye may see your selves then in it stand that with it ye may see Jesus from whence it comes And not to join with your vain Thoughts nor that which doth consult and set and frame Ways there is the Idol-maker The Founder of Images and the Image-maker and the Founder of the Images whom ye will see with the Light if ye to it take heed And so the Founder of the Image will be destroyed and with that ye will come to hear the Voice of the Son of God and who hears his Voice shall live Stephen Moses And Stephen who was stoned to Death witnessed the Substance and Moses Words fulfilled who said Like unto me will God raise up a Prophet him shall ye hear He heard this Prophet and denied the First Temple and Priests The First Temple denied and so to deny that which God had commanded was more than to deny these which God never commanded Therefore consider in your Life-time how much time ye have spent in Hearing of othem and what Assurance ye have of the Eternal Inheritance which never fades away G.F. To Friends in London THere is something drawing towards you see to it Epist 86. Take heed of the Earth and keep a-top of that which will cumber the Mind and Dwell in Love and Peace one with another Keep a top of the Earth G. F. FRiends In the Power of the Lord go forth Epist 87. and gather with it into the Fold and spread the Name and Truth of the Lord abroad and in his Service be Diligent Concerning Preaching the Truth to the Heathen and all that are out of the Truth and for his Truth be Valiant on the Earth and for his Name 's sake And dwell in that which will pierce the Hearts of the Heathen and will overturn their Heathenish Customs and take away their false Covers and in that Power of the Lord be diligent answering the Witness of God in all Consciences And dwell in Peace and Love amongst yourselves Pierce the Hearts of the Heathen Confound the Deceit and bring the Truth over the Heads of the Heathen to the answering the Witness of God in them all And that is the Word of the
God is sufficient in all Temptations to lead out of them and to keep over them G. F. FRiends Wait in the Light Epist 108. that with the Light every one of you may come to see Christ to be your Wisdom and your Righteousness and so come to see the Body his Church About 1656. of which he is the Head and in the Measure of Life waiting on the Father of Life ye may come to reign in the Life All that are here kept are in pure Joy and Love And in the Light wait Harlots and Idolaters seen that ye may see the Harlots and Idolaters c. which are to be fed with Judgment Spare not that which is for the Sword and for the Fire let all Fleshly-mindedness be troden under your Feet And standing in the Power ye will see the Seed slaying the Fat and chaining and binding the Vnruly The Fat and Vnruly and succouring all the Lambs and Babes This is the Word of the Lord to you G. F. FRiends Keep to Patience this is the Counsel of the Lord to you Epist 109. Do not Judge one another behind one anothers backs Concerning Judging nor speak Evil one of another for that is that which soweth the Enmity among Brethren Nor do not Judge one another before the World for that is that which is in the Extremes Passion and Hastiness and there ye do let in the World's Spirit to rejoyce over you and that is out of the Patience and Love and Wisdom and Fear of God and his Truth And every one dwell in the Seed and Life of God and in that know one another and Meeting together in that ye may see the Lord Jesus in the midst of you And Friends The Aggravating Part. go not into the Aggravating Part to strive with it lest ye do hurt to your Souls and run into the same Nature for Patience must get the Victory and answers to that of God in every one which will bring every one from the contrary So let your Moderation and Temperance and Patience be known to all for that which joins to the Aggravating Part sets up the Aggravating Part and breeds Confusion and reaches not to the Witness of God in every one And Friends keep out of the Worldly-Wise Part The Wise Part. for that will never let People joyn and unite together in Truth which enters into the Earth and the Apprehensions of Words but let Innocency be the Garment and Truth and Simplicity the Covering Then in the Innocency ye will have Vnity where there is no evil Thought but Love that thinks no Evil. Therefore Cover one anothers Nakedness let all things be done in Love and that will Edifie And let the Weight and Preciousness of Truth be in your Eye and esteemed above all things by you For here is my Grief when I hear any thing amongst Friends that hinders their Vnity and makes a Breach whereby the Wrong gets Ground who should live in the Seed which breaks the Bond of Iniquity Breaches and makes up all Breaches in which Seed shine answering the Witness of God in every one which bruises the Earthly Part under that brings forth Briars and Thorns and spreads over the World and all the contrary Therefore all ye which have known the Power of the Lord God and have tasted of the Seed of God Live in that in which ye come to have Vnity that that Part may be kept down And the Wrong Eye that looks out at one anothers Weaknesses that must be kept under even that where the Heat and the Burnings and the Enmity is the Seed of God a-top of all that must be set Cover Nakedness in which is the Vnity Therefore if there be any Nakedness in any or among any cover that and come all to the Seed of God in your own selves for in that is the Vertue to heal yea all Nations Slaughterings Wounds and Cuttings are the other Weapons in the other Part which is out of the Seed of God whose End is Peace in which is the Vnity which is the Top-stone over all the Enmity and a-top of it is laid and bruiseth it all down I am a Lover of your Souls Eternal Good Peace and Vnity in the Kingdom that stands in the Power which hath no End G. F. To the Prisoners at Exon. FRiends Epist 110. Mind that which keepeth you all Meek and Low to be guided with it Keep Meek and Low And all consider that which keepeth you in the Way of Peace that none of you may be pudling in your own carnal Wisdom which is to be confounded which is shut out of the Kingdom of God All wait to have Dominion over that that ye may know Peace and Unity and the Love of God that doth not change And do not strive one with another lest ye do hurt one another for it is not the hasty Spirit that doth get the Victory but the Lamb who must reign over the World and was before it was And the Mind which is forward The forward Mind Judge Judge and dwell in the peaceable Way and that ye may be Patterns in your Imprisonments to them which be out of the Image of the Son of God To the Prisoners in Exon Written whilst J. N. was there with many more in Prison G. F. A Warning from the Lord for Plainness of Speech to be used To go among Friends FRiends of God and Brethren Epist 111. This is a Warning to you all from the Lord God and Jesus Christ that all that ye speak it may be in Plainness of Speech Plainness of Speech according to that of God in all Consciences and that it may proceed from that of God in you the Light of Christ that all your Words be Words of Life to the Life and Death to the Death where it reigns above the Light And that all Words which are spoken be in Plainness of Speech that the Light of Christ in all Consciences which he hath enlightned every one withal may witness your Words to be the Words of Life So that dwelling in the Light to that of God ye may be made manifest in all Consciences which shall be their Condemnation that hate it Ye that dwell in the Light and walk in the Light use Plainness of Speech and plain Words single Words in the single Life pure Words from the pure Life seasoned Words seasoned with Grace which teacheth to deny all Ungodliness and Worldly Lusts They who live in Ungodliness and Worldly Lusts turn from the Grace of God into Wantonness who are light and vain whose Words are unsavoury not seasoned with Grace whose Words edifie not upon whom God will render Vengeance in Flames of Fire who shall be separated from his Presence and his Angels Therefore Friends in Plainness of Speech all dwell for dwelling in the Light it will bring you to Plainness and few Words to live in the Life The Life of the Scriptures which
of the Light must come Therefore all wait in the Measure of Life that with it your Hearts may be knit together And none to be hasty nor to will any thing there is not any thing received from God by him who willeth with his own Will For no Prophecy of the Scripture came by the Will of Man Peter The Will of Man that was not learned of Man but of Christ saw this And the Scripture is for the perfecting of the Man of God which is learned of God and came not by Man's Will So now mind your Growth and your Perfecting and your Stedfastness in the Light in which is the Unity So every one wait in the Light which comes from Christ the Head from whence Nourishment comes which nourishes the Body and all the Members from whence comes the Bread of Life which is from above and the Water of Life Therefore all wait in your Measure and walk after your Line which is the Light which comes from Christ The Line of Light which is your Life that every one of you may have Praise and Comfort in the same and every one of you may be kept in the Way of Righteousness and Peace up to the Lord who is Righteousness and Peace where the blessed Hope is seen with the Light that comes from him by whom the World was made That so the Covenant of Light Life and Peace ye may all come to witness and every one come to have Dominion and Rule over your own Spirits for the Spirit of Man lusteth to Envy if it be not subdued by the Spirit of the Living God Therefore wait and take heed lest any Nakedness appear and that which is not justified in the Sight of God Presumption And Presumption take heed of lest ye go from the Living God but in the Spirit dwell that over all that ye may reign and come to be recorded in the Book of Life which Life was before the World was And this brings you to see and read one another as Epistles written in one another's Hearts where in Vnity Love and Peace ye will come to dwell in the Life of the Spirit of the Living God The Saints taught of God in which the Saints had Vnity which brought them to be taught of the Living God and so they gave forth the Scrptures as they were moved by the Holy Ghost So no Prophecy in the Old Time came by the Will of Man but was learned of God So now ye waiting in the Spirit every one to be taught of God the Father of Spirits your Teacher is with you present and one in you all according to your Measures Which Spirit is given to every one of you to profit withal by which Holy Spirit the Scripture was given forth Which Scripture the World hath got who are sensual not having the Spirit and there they are fighting about the Outside and the Languages And there is the Sea Languages Sea and Beast which the Beast ariseth out of which the World wonders after and there is the Mother of Harlots with all her false Colours whose Eyes are out from the Light which comes from him by whom the World was made there ye may go and have a Name to live but are dead Now all be willing to wait in the Measure of that which is Eternal that no Fornication be found amongst you nor Deceit Fornication and Deceit that all may come to receive Wisdom from Christ who is the Wisdom of God That this Wisdom may be Justified in you all and ye all in the Light preserved and that which is contrary condemned So that ye may all be kept from Deadness and Slothfulness in the Fear of the Lord God and therein your Hearts kept clean And so the Lord God Almighty preserve you Friends Keep your Meetings every where waiting upon the Lord that to him ye may be a sweet Savour And watch over one another with the Measure of the Spirit of the Lord. Meetings The Lord God Almighty preserve you and keep you in his Will Wisdom Light Life and Power Let this be read among Friends G. F. FRiends Epist 133. Towards all Men walk in Wisdom and be gentle to all Men To keep in Love for that edifies for the Meek inherit the Earth and receive the Blessing And they that thirst after Righteousness shall inherit Righteousness and the Blessing And the Merciful do obtain Mercy and the Blessing And the pure in Heart shall see God Blessed are the pure in Heart and receive the Blessing And Blessed are they that mourn for they shall be comforted And Blessed are the Peace-makers for they are the Children of God And Blessed are they that are persecuted for Righteousness sake for theirs is the Kingdom of God And Blessed are ye when Men shall revile and persecute you and shall say all manner of Evil against you falsly for Christ's sake And it is Love that edifieth Faith and the Edifying is in the most Holy Faith which Faith is the Gift of God which giveth Victory over the World and in this is the Blessing which purifieth the Heart and this is it which bringeth to please God And that which edifieth is the living Faith and not the dead Faith and Love rejoiceth in the Truth and not in the Iniquity for that is not in Love So ye that are the Lord's Lot Mark and are his Inheritance and are in Covenant with God with him ye have Peace The Covenant with God which Covenant is given to all the World But they that hate the Light are out of Covenant with God and by the Light they are condemned and those which the Light doth condemn are out of the Covenant G. F. LIve in Peace Epist 134. all my Dear Babes of God one with another for Patience that obtains the Crown and hath the Victory And in Pureness live over the Deceit Patience obtains the Crown and answer the Witness of the Lord God in every one And keep in the Seed and Life of the Lord God that ye may feel the Blessing of the Lord God amongst you and upon you AND That which doth let you see your Sins in that stand and ye will see your Saviour The Saviour seen who was before the World was him by whom the World was made glorified with the Father before the World began he will be your Stay and Rest DEAR Friends dwell in the Seed of God and know it in you all that ye may know it to reign which is the Heir of Power and in that live and dwell and in it keep your Meetings And we must have the Patience to bear all manner of Evil done or spoken against us for Christ's sake and rejoyce at it G. F. For Francis Howgil and Edward Burrough About 1657. DEar Friends and Lambs Epist 135. Put on the Armour of Light and the Shield of Truth and the Breast-Plate of Righteousness that ye may stand
Access to God And dwell in Patience and Love to God and one towards another for the Lamb must have the Victory over them all the Wild Beasts in the Field or Wilderness who are in the Fall from God Aud tho' these Beasts Horns be never so long The Beast's Horns yet the Lamb shall conquer them who gets the Victory and overcomes and takes away the Sin And the Lamb hath Wisdom the Lamb hath Power follow him then ye shall have his Mind Wisdom and Patience and in that ye follow the Spirit of Truth and are led by that against which there is no Law in which there is Life and Peace and Fellowship with the Son and the Father and all the Saints and their Words Therefore live in the Truth and then ye live in Christ the Way that lives who was before the Vntruth was in which the many Ways in the Wilderness are The Way of Truth And living in the Truth ye live in the Love and Vnity yea in that which was before the Enmity was and Imperfection in which Truth is all Perfection of Love and Life and Light which Light Life and Truth is the Way to God in whom the Church is which Christ is the Head of And who come to this Church they come into God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ and who come to God they must come into the Light Life and Truth And that is the Way in which People are renewed into God's Image of Holiness and Righteousness again in which God is seen Which Way is out of the Ways of Man that is fallen from the Image of God's Righteousness and true Holiness in which Way are all the Gadders abroad from God out of the Life G. F. ALL Friends and Brethren In the Noble Seed of God live Epist 143. which hath the Promise of Life which is the Top-and Corner-Stone The Top-and Corner-Stone Christ over all set in whom is Life Eternal and Fulness for you all and Life Peace and Wisdom And the Seed Christ destroyeth the Devil and his Works which Seed Christ lives for ever Feel and know that in your selves which will never have an End and then ye will know that which doth remain and abide when the Devil and his Works are destroyed and gone The Seed remaineth Christ the Power of God which goeth over the Power of the Devil in which is the Saints Vnity that is Everlasting which bringeth to the Church The Saints Vnity that is in God And so all in the Power of the Lord God and the Seed live which is over all that which is not in his pure Life in which ye all have Vnity that never hath an End My Love is to you in the Seed in which there is Life G. F. FRiends Epist 144. Get not Knowledge in the unsanctified and unregenerated Part for that which is not sanctified in your own particulars Knowledge will not be to them that it is declared to Neither can ye feel your Words go from you with Joy and Life The unsanctified Part. that come from the unsanctified and unregenerated Part for that Part will glory and boast and vaunt it self and say This have I done and that have I spoken and not glory in the Lord. So this satisfies not and the Spirit in Prison is not refreshed by those things G. F. FRiends Where there is Strife among any of you Epist 145. mind the Light to Judge it down and Condemn it by which Light your Minds may be guided up to Christ where there is no Scrife to learn of him Strife Judged down and to Condemn all that with the Light which would give the World a Ground to reproach Truth and to see your Nakedness For that which is out of the Light will fall and confound it self So mind that which keeps your Peace and condemns that which leads into Weakness and that which will let in Prejudice from the Light goes All which is to be condemned with the Light which leads to Christ the Covenant of Peace And where there is Strife which leads out into many Words such will wither and bring themselves under Condemnation at last Many Words Such must be Silent and mind that which doth condemn them that the Life in them may arise wherein is no Strife For where Mens Spirits are high something is stirring that should be kept under take heed that get not up into Rule So first learn the Ministry of Condemnation in your selves that Life may arise before Ministry in the Spirit be known which preacheth Peace by Jesus Christ where there is no Strife Therefore wait to know the Time of Silence A time of Silence And all Friends Let your Patience and Moderation be known to all Men for nothing is attained to that is good by Strife for that is out of Christ in the forward Will which is to be condemned with the Light where is the Vnity which cometh from Christ and leadeth up to Christ the Covenant of Life And take heed All Friends of causing his Name to be blasphemed through you among the Heathen but mind and wait to receive the Love of God which bears all things and suffers all things and so comes to receive the Armour of Righteousness Love bears all things which quenches all the fiery Darts of Satan that the Patience that bears and suffers all things may be witnessed G. F. To Friends in Ireland FRiends Epist 146. Feel all of you the Power of the Lord God in your selves to guide your Minds up to God and to give you Dominion over all Weakness Dominion over Weakness and to strengthen and to heal you And look not out but every one feel the Power of God in your own particulars and let all your Faith stand in that then will ye have Vnity and in that ye will have Dominion and Victory and it will keep you in Order In which ye will have Virtue and in which ye will feel the Spirit in which ye will have Fellowship and Comfort And be Low and Still in the Life and Power and not hasty nor rash that ye may in the Life and Power answer that of God in every one Not Hasty nor Rash that crieth for Peace and Rest So dwell in the Love of God this I warn you and charge every one of you your Faith standing in this and in the Power of God then ye will feel the Presence of the Lord God among you G. F. To Friends in Wales FRiends Epist 147. Live in the Wisdom of the Lord for that is it which doth preserve you pure lively and gentle above that which is below And in the Increase of God live The hicrease of God and in his Virtue Power and Love that through it your Hearts may be established and filled with the same that Justice and Truth may in all things be amongst you and Christ Jesus known in the midst of you as a Prophet
in the Spirit every one in your Measures that ye have received and therein to be preserved and Christ the Life will open to you and the Spirit will give you an Understanding and a Distinction of the State of Asking The wavering State and not receiving and of seeking and not finding and the Praying in the wavering and in the doubting which is not in the Spirit of God But such ask in that Nature which doubts and would consume it on their Lusts Ask in Faith So ask in Faith that gives the Victory over the wavering doubting Nature And whatsoever ye ask believing it will be given unto you it is Christ's Promise John 14.13 14. For Christ saith Whatsoever ye ask in my Name that will I do that the Father may be glorified in the Son If ye shall ask any thidg in my Name I will do it If ye love me keep my Commandments So every one's Prayers are assured unto them and their Requests effectual in their Obedience and loving Christ and keeping his Commandments G. F. To Friends to know one another in the Light ALL Friends every where Meet together Epist 149. and in the Measure of God's Spirit wait that with it all your Minds may be guided up to God to receive Wisdom from God To Friends in the North. The first and second Adam that ye may all come to know how ye may walk up to him in his Wisdom that it may be justified of you and ye in it preserved up to God and he glorified And Friends Meet together and know one another in that which is Eternal which was before the World was For knowing one another only in the Letter and Flesh A Natural Knowledge differs you little from the Beasts of the Field for what they know they know naturally But all knowing one another in the Light which was before the World was this differs you from the Beasts of the Field and from the World's Knowledge and brings you to know one another in the Elect Seed which was before the World was And if ye turn from this Light ye grow strange and so neglecting Meetings ye grow cold and your Minds run into the Earth and grow weary and slothful and careless and heavy Neglect of Meetings and sottish and dull and dead Ye may speak then of things which were opened once from the Light though now ye be turned from it but with the Light in which is the Unity is all that condemned In which Light is the Fellowship with the Son from whence the Light comes which keeps in the Liveliness which keeps from Slothfulness and all those things before mentioned which are contrary to the Light which who turns from turns into Therefore in the Light wait and walk that ye may have Fellowship one with another I charge you all in the Presence of the Living God None boast that none boast your selves above your Measure of Light if ye do ye will be buffeted For such run into Presumption and so into Reproof Which Reproof that Spirit will not take patiently but gets up into Presumption which is to be condemned with the Light in which is the Vnity which keeps from Desperation and Presumption They which go from the Light the Enemy comes into them and the Envy and the Manslayer gets up within The Man-slayer and slays the Man and no such one hath Eternal Life abiding in him for he is turned from the Light which comes from Christ Jesus the Life All who do in the Light dwell which comes from Christ come to receive the Eternal Life The Love of God And here the Love of God is shed abroad in the heart and dwelling in Love ye dwell in God and from the Life the Eternal Love doth flow which Life comes from the Father of Life whose Love doth not change And so with the Light ye dwelling in it which leads to the Life ye will come to witness the Faith unfained and the Humility unfained and the Faith Faith which works by Love which purifies the Heart waiting in the Light which comes from Christ Jesus this is received from him For with the Light Man sees himself which Light comes from Christ who is the Author and Finisher of his Faith which Faith gives him the Victory over that which he sees to be contrary to the Light and to the Word And this is the One Faith and here the first Adam and the second Adam are known and seen Let this be read amongst Friends every where G. F. FRiends all every where In the Life and Power of God live and dwell and spread the Truth abroad Epist 150. Quench not the Spirit but live in Love and Vnity one with another To Friends to live in Love and Vnity together in the Power of God that with the Wisdom of God ye may all be ordered to God's Glory And live all in Patience one with another and in the Truth that ye may feel and see to the Beginning before the World and its Foundation was in the Faith which gives the Victory that nothing may reign but the Life and Power amongst you And live all as the Family of God in Love in Life in Truth in Power having your House established a-top of all the Mountains and Hills that ye may answer that of God in every Man and the Word of the Lord ye may witness to go forth among you and be among you So in this the Lord God Almighty preserve you and keep you The Son of God's Power And in the Son of God's Power live for all Power in Heaven and Earth is given to him who is to subdue all the Powers of Darkness and to make the Kingdoms of the World his Kingdom And none go beyond the Measure of the Spirit of God nor quench it for where it is quenched it cannot try things So if any have any thing upon them to speak in the Life of God stand up Speak in the Life and speak it if it be but Two or Three Words and sit down again and keep in the Life that ye may answer that of God in every Man upon the Earth To you this is the Word of the Lord God G. F. FRiends Epist 151. There was a Time when the Apostles preached Christ that died at Jerusalem Concerning several Ministrations of Paul's preaching Christ and they witnessed him forth and brought for Proof the Prophets Testimonies which prophesied of him And they that preached Christ's Sufferings at Jerusalem shewed the Fulfilling of the Prophet's and the Law and all that was written of him And after the Apostles preached Christ the Substance the End of the Types and Figures amongst them that had the Prophets Words Christ died at Jerusalem and the Law and the outward Temple and they shewed them out of the Prophets Words and out of the Law that that was the Christ that died at Jerusalem and suffered without the Gate
like it self Oh therefore mind the Holy Life the Chast Life That is the Bride's Cloathing by which she adorns her self for her Husband Christ Jesus Therefore in that which keeps your Peace live there is your Life and Dominion that Weeds may not grow nor Brambles but that it all may be cut down and weeded out For those grow through the Liberty of the Flesh and by that ye come to be darkned and lose your Discerning and Feeling The Beam in the Eye and there gets the Beam into the Eye by which ye come to Judge with that Judgment which is for Judgment which should be judged down by the Spirit of Truth and Peace And so Live in the same Peace with God and one with another and have Fellowship in the Chast Life and in the Spirit and Power of God And keep down that which lusts to Envy and Strife and Contention for that will not nor cannot bear true Judgment but will flatter and fawn and sow Dissension and so in the End will bring Dishonour both to God and his People That can never abide true Judgment or sound Doctrine for that Adulterates from God and joins in Marriage with that which is Adulterated from God And so the Vnchast follows the Whore and the Adulterer The Whore and Adulterer and goes to the Marriage-Supper of the Adulterer and the Whore but the Chast Virgin follows the Lamb and goes to the Marriage-Supper of the Lamb Therefore all live in the Chast Life by which ye may follow the Lamb of God to his Supper and Marriage And keep ye all out of that from whence Contentions and Strife and Wars arise which are the Fruits of them that live in the Lust which is seen with the Everlasting Power the Ground from whence Strife and Contention and Wars come The Ground of Strife the Vnchaste which live in the Lust which Lust will defile all that receive it Therefore all Friends every where your Fellowship is to be in the Gospel the Power of God and in the Spirit the Fruits of which is Peace in which ye all will be kept in Dominion Pure and Chaste to God and one towards another For all that come to the Sabbath of Rest must put off their Old Cloaths which they have worn in their Old Works Labours and Travels For Six Days the Jews were to labour but the Seventh Day was their Rest which is Perfection G. F. Concerning the Light FRiends Ye that be turned to the Light in it Wait Epist 155. in it Meet together that with it your Hearts may be joined together up to Christ the Head from whence the Light doth come The World's Gatherings with which ye may see all the World and all the Gatherings that are out of the Light which are in the Vanities of their Minds and in the Rebelliousness of their Hearts and Stubbornness of it from the Light But ye believing in the Light and receiving it ye receive and come into the Covenant with God and Peace with God and into that which gives the Knowledge of his Glory and of his Image And this Belief giveth the Victory over the World and brings unto God and into his Likeness and separates you from the World The World and its Likeness and its Likeness and Image and its Fashion which is out of the Light and its Knowledge and its Wisdom and its Honour and its Fear and its Love and its Rejoycing which are out of the Light in the Flesh and in the Iniquity where the Soul is in Death But in the Light rejoycing and walking ye receive the Love of God shed abroad into your Hearts which Love rejoyceth in the Truth mark in that which the Devil abode not in with that ye know and will know the Increase of God and know God and his Law put in your Minds and in your Hearts written where the Fear is placed where the Secrets of the Lord are revealed and the Light which is the Truth comes to be walked in Here is a Joy in the Lord where no Flesh glories In this waiting in the Light the World where there is no End it gives you to see World without End and the Power of the World which is to come ye will come to see and be Partakers of Which Power ye receiving who are in the Light it brings you to become the Sons of God and to be Heirs of the World where there is no End and of the Everlasting Inheritance which fadeth not away and the Riches which are durable where no Thief can come nor nothing to rust or canker for that is out of the Light that doth thieve rust or canker and in the Transgression Therefore ye Saints in the Light of the Most-High God whose Name is dreadful amongst you and his Power made manifest in Measure and his Glory appearing Walk worthy of the High Calling The High Calling Keep your Dominion keep your Place of Rest in the Power and Strength of the Almighty and Meet together in the Love Vnity and Peace Meet in the Love and know one another in this Love that changeth not which being received ye walk in that which condemns that which is changable This Love rejoiceth in the Truth and hath Dominion over him that abode not in the Truth but rejoyceth in that which the Devil abode not in And here the Spirit is received in which God is Worshipped the Father of Spirits He that believeth here believes in the Lord and shall never be confounded for he believes in that which doth Confound and Condemn those who are out of the Light and gone from the Word of God in the Heart and from the Power of God and from the Light of the Glorious Gospel which is the Power of God The God of the World hath blinded their Eyes that abide not in the Truth they are gone from the Light which is the Truth and all that are blinded by the God of the World The God of the World these are out of the Light and out of the Truth Therefore ye being in the Light and to it turned the Light of the glorious Gospel the Image of God is seen and the glorious Gospel received Therefore walk in the Light as the Children of the Light and know the Wisdom that is of her Children justified that ye may answer the Light in every one that comes into the World that hateth it And keep your Habitations that ye may every one feel your Spring in the Light which comes from the Lord and feel your Nourishment and Refreshment which waters the Plants and causeth them to grow up in the Lord from whom the pure living Springs come The Water the Witness And here is the Water which is the Witness in the Earth which doth wash and here comes the Spirit to be known the Witness which doth baptise and the Witness the Blood which doth cleanse which agrees with the Witness in Heaven So he that
believes hath the Witness in himself Mark and take Notice And so ye being in the Light every one in particular feed upon the Bread of Life The Bread of Life which comes from above which nourisheth up to Eternal Life wherein as every one grows up here every one gives Glory to the Father and to the Son and knows the Light which is the Way the Truth and the Life Every one of you that are to it turned ye are in the One Way Truth Light and Life feeding upon the One Bread which comes from above which whosoever doth eat of lives for ever and shall never dye Let this be read among all Friends every where in this Nation and elsewhere that to the Light are turned and in it are kept that in the Vnity they may all be kept And in it God Almighty preserve and keep you that ye may feel his Promises which is to the Seed and know the Seed to which the Blessing is and know the Flesh of Christ that ye may be Flesh of his Flesh And Friends Live at Peace among your selves waiting upon the Lord and the Lord God of Life and Peace be with you Let no Friends be discouraged but walk in the Truth and the Love of it and to it bend G. F. ALL Friends About 1658 I do Warn and Charge you in the Presence of the Living God in his Wisdom and Life keep that no Ill Savour be nor get up amongst you Epist 156. For ye are the Salt of the Earth to season and to make savoury to God To Friends to keep in that which is Savoury but if the Salt have lost its Savour it is henceforth good for nothing Therefore I do Warn you all Mind that which doth keep your Peace whereby ye all may grow in Love and know Christ in you all in whom is Peace Ye are the Light of the World to answer the Light in every one that with the Light they may see your good Works and by seeing them Good Works they may glorifie your Father which is in Heaven for all Deceit is Judged and Condemned by it And every one keep in the Measure of the Life of God and see that there be no Strife nor Presumption among you but all serve one another in Love and let that of God guide every one of you Serve in Love in which ye may have Vnity one with another and with God And in his Life wait to receive Power to bind and chain all down which is contrary to Truth And so in the Life and Power of God the Lord God Almighty preserve you to his Glory Amen THE Light is precious to him that believes in it and walks according to its Leading So while ye have the Light walk in the Light and live in the Light Christ the Truth The Light the Truth that ye may through Obedience to it be the Children of the Light and of the Day For the Light and the Truth is and was before Darkness and Deceit were G. F. FRiends By the Wisdom of God were all things made Epist 157. and by the Wisdom of God must all things be ordered again to God's Glory The Wisdom of God to order Transgression and Sin brings Death and Destruction but the Wisdom hid from the Eyes that be therein by which Wisdom all things were made and created was before Sin Death and Destruction were And so that is it which the Creatures and Creation of God must be ordered by that Wisdom which made them and doth not change which is hid from Death and Destruction and from that which is in the Transgression of Life and must not rule So Friends every where be Tender to those that have forsaken any thing for Truth Parents Masters And if that their Parents have put them out from them or their Masters put them away for Truth 's sake and them that are put out of their places for Truth 's sake such in the Truth receive and cherish that they may be kept in the Service of the Creation to God's Glory answering that of God in all For every one is to abide in their places and there to be faithful except they be put out or put away and be buffeted for no Fault and take it patiently that 's Thanks-worthy And do good unto all especially to them that are of the House-hold of Faith The House-hold of Faith and be as the Church of God guided in the Wisdom of the Most-High who causeth his Rain to fall upon the Just and upon the Vnjust And so be ye Merciful as your Heavenly Father is Merciful And know the Seed of God that is Heir of the Promise in every one of you and the Wisdom by which all things must be ordered to his Glory who upholds all things by his Word of Power By which Word of Wisdom all things were created and must be ordered again to the Glory of the Creator in which Man will be kept Clean unto God and honour God with his Substance and glorifie God in his Spirit Whereby every one's Conversation will come to be ordered aright and ye come to sit down in the heavenly Places in Christ Jesus The High Calling and to know the High Calling of God in Christ Jesus who calls out of Darkness into the Light out of Death into Life For he that calls is Holy and calls into Holiness without which none shall see the Lord. AND all Friends be faithful in the Seed and Life of the Lord God that is it which abideth in the Love of God for ever where every one hath his Bread which comes down from above That is the Birth which abideth in the House of the Lord God for ever The Birth which abideth and shall go no more forth which is greater than he that is in the World And in the Seed and Life keep your Meetings with God and one with another So in that the Lord God Almighty preserve you all to his Glory G. F. FRiends and Brethren every where Epist 158. Dwell in that which makes for Peace and Love for Blessed are the Peace-makers for theirs is the Kingdom To Friends to dwell in Peace and Love that stands in Righteousness Joy and Peace in the Holy Ghost and in Power Therefore seek the Peace in which is the Well-fare and Good of every one And take heed of Strife and Contention for that eats out the Good and dos not Edifie nor make for Peace for 't is Love that Edifies the Body Therefore keep in the Seed and know that which was afore Enmity was in which there 's both Peace and Life And all be careful to Watch over one another for one anothers Good and be Patient and keep low and down in the Power of the Lord God that there ye may come to enjoy the Kingdom of Peace and sit down with Abraham Isaac and Jacob in the same For Blessed are all ye that lie down in
the Power of the Lord and rise up in it and in Faith remain through which Power ye come to be preserved and united to the God of Life and Truth Words and Carriage And take heed of any Words or Carriage that do not tend to Edification and Building up in the Love and Life Therefore ye that have tasted of the Power of God and of his good Word and of his Light wait for Wisdom and in it walk that ye may be preserved in Vnity in the Light and Life and in Fellowship with God and one with another that to the Lord God ye may be a Good Savour and to him a Blessing in your Generation strengthening one another in the Faith in the Grace in the Word by which all things were made and created The Word of Patience And keeping the Word of Patience herein ye will see the Lord keeping you from all the Temptations which come to try them that dwell upon the Earth by which Word of God ye may all be preserved in the sweet and holy Life in which there is Unity in the Word which was before Enmity which Word doth fulfil the Words Therefore in that live that ye may all feel Life abundantly through the Light and Power that comes from the Word which was in the Beginning through which Immortal Word your Immortal Souls may be brought up to the Immortal God where is Joy Peace and Comfort So Strife and Contentions above all things live in that which stops Strife Contentions and Janglings and live in that by which ye come to Serve one another in Love even in the Love of God which thinks no evil nor envies not neither is it easily provoked Therefore live in that which is not easily provoked and thinks no evil which fulfils the Law which is Love out of a pure heart Prejudice And let not Prejudice boil in any of your hearts but let it be cast out by the Power of God in which is the Vnity and the Everlasting Kingdom that ye may all witness your being made Heirs of the same Kingdom of Peace and to be Inheritors of it sitting down in the same knowing your own Portion and increasing in the heavenly Riches And this is above all Strife that 's below and the Man of it which is born of the Egyptian Woman which genders to Bondage Therefore know the Seed the Second Man The Egyptian Woman the Heir of the Promise over all set and the Blessing and Presence of the Lord which was before Strife was Therefore know the Seed of Life and Peace to reign in you all which possesses the Kingdom where there is no End The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all to teach season and establish you which brings your Salvation G. F. DEar Friends All dwell in the Everlasting Seed of God Epist 159. Christ Jesus in whom ye have Health and Strength Life and Dominion and Power over all Weaknesses Weaknesses and Infirmities And keep your Minds in the Strength of the Almighty and not in Weakness nor in the Infirmities but in the Lord's Power which was before Weakness and Infirmities were and then in that Power ye will find Life and Refreshment from the God of Strength And so in the Power of God that is over all keep your Minds in the Life and Peace of God and in the Assurance of him and his Love and so in that dwell and live in the Dominion of God in his Love and Life and Strength And be of good Faith Be of good Faith and of a valiant Mind for God's Truth upon the Earth in the Power Life Truth and Seed in which ye have Dominion Peace Wisdom and the Blessing of God upon you and in you and in that dwell and know that blessed Seed your Crown and Life No more but my Love For the Comfort of the People of God and their Incouragement to be Faithful and to put their Trust in him who performeth all his Promises THE People that know their God they prosper and prevail and they that do understand shall Instruct many And though they may fall and go into Captivity and be spoiled now yet when they shall so fall Captivity they shall be helped and when they are helped many shall cleave unto them And some of Understanding may fall for to try and purge them and to make them white till the Time be out For there is a Time appointed to Liberty for the faithful Sufferers A Time of Liberty that come from and through the great Tribulations and Michael shall stand up for the Children of thy People and every one shall be delivered that shall be found written in the Lambs Book of Life G. F. ALL my Dear Friends Folly and Wickedness will have an End Epist 160. but the Word of the Lord will have no End but endureth for ever So feed upon the Milk of the Word ye Babes To Friends in Bristol that ye may live by that which comes from it which doth endure G. F. OH Friends Epist 161. Do not Dye from the Good through the Wantonness of flesbly Lusts neither be choked with the Cares of this Life nor fear the Shearers neither let the Heat scorch your green Blade but dwell under the Shadow of the Almighty who will shade you from the Heat and Cold. Neither be cumbred nor surfeited with the Riches of this World nor bound nor straitned with them Riches nor married to them but be free and loose from them and be married to the Lord. The Sufferings in all Ages of the Righteous and Just were because they could not join to the Nations vain Worships evil Customs Rudiments Traditions and carnal Inventions but joined to the Lord and not to them The Sufferings of the Righteous and therefore they suffered and kept single to the Lord God in following him and his Truth and living in it the Amen the Crown Life Vertue and Righteousness that floweth over all in which the Righteous have Peace G. F. FRiends Epist 162. Keep your Meetings in the Power of God and in his Wisdom by which all things were made and in the Love of God Meetings for Business that by that by may order all to his Glory And when Friends have finished their Bufiness sit down and continue a while quietly and Wait upon the Lord to feel him And go not beyond the Power The Power but keep in the Power by which God Almighty may be felt among you For the Power will bruise the Head of the Serpent and all false and contrary Heads this blessed Seed as he is the Head of the Church so he is also the Head of every Member of his Body And so by the Power of the Lord ye come to love Truth and love Jesus Christ and love Holiness and by the Power ye come to love God and praise him and bless him and magnifie him who lives for
evermore For the Power of the Lord will work through all if that ye follow it WHEN ye do Judge of Matters or when ye do Judge of Words or when ye do Judge of Persons Concerning Judging all these are distinct things A wise Man will not give both his Ears to one Party but reserve one for the other Party and will hear both and then Judge G. F. MY Dear Friends Epist 163. In the Life live in which is the Vnity and Peace one with another and Lowliness and Humbleness of Heart and Mind Wisdom received serving one another in the Fear of the Lord God by and in which Fear the Wisdom of God is received from above and by which all things were made and created and by which ye may all be ordered to his Glory And so this is the Word of the Lord God to you all Live in the Power of the Lord God in which is Peace Love Unity and Dominion in the Life and Power of God which was before Enmity was The Light and Life and in the Light which was before Darkness was and in the Life which was before Death was And so in that feel Vnity and Life in the Power of God And so the Seed of God feel over all that set which makes to suffer which was before it was and will remain when that is all gone And so feel the Top-Stone over all laid that his Life ye may feel over all and in that live G. F. MY Dear Friends Epist 164. Keep your Meetings in the Power of the Lord God To Friends To keep their Meetings in which ye may all feel Life Eternal among you And do not forsake the Assembling of your selves together but provoke one another to Love in which is Edification Life Peace Truth and Dominion in which ye may feel the Blessing of God covering you ye dwelling in the same And so Meet together in the Name of the Sons and Daughters of Adam in the Fall and will stand when they are all gone in which there is Life Peace and Wisdom Order and Edification in the Love and Life of Christ over all the brittle and foolish Priests and Professors in the World and in which Life and Power there is the perfect Fellowship that will stand for ever Perfect Fellowship when all other Fellowships are ended and gone And so ye that know the Life and Power and Light of Christ which was before Death and Darkness and the Power of the same was Be Faithful who are gathered together in this Life and Power and are Met in it in it keep your Meetings in the Life and Power of the Lord over all other Meetings in which ye may all feel one another in the Fellowship and Vnity that is Everlasting and never hath End And so in that the Lord God Almighty preserve you all to his Glory that to the Lord God ye may be a Blessing in your Generation and a good Savour to God and in the Hearts of all People That none may say ye are an unstay'd unestablihsed or a fickle People and have your Religion Truth and Worship to seek but that ye have it already and are established in the Life and Power of God Christ the Heal. and in his Worship Church and Religion which Christ is the Head and the Life of which destroyeth the Devil and his Works who is the Pasture of Life who was before Death was And so him feel over all that set which makes to suffer who was before it was and will remain when it is gone And so feel the Top-Stone over all laid and Christ to reign G. F. ALL Friends Be faithful in the Power of God and his Seed Epist 165. and mind the Power of God which was before the Power of Darkness and the Fall of Adam were In which Power of God is your Fellowship and in which Fellowship ye may see over the Jews Fellowship and the Gentiles and ye may see the Apostles Fellowship Fellowship in the Power and the Apostatised Christians Now the Gospel is preached and the true Fellowship come into again which the Apostles were in which was before the Apostatised Christians Fellowship was out of the Life and Power of God which the Apostles were in and the Church in the Primitive Times And the Gospel-Fellowship the Power of God is prefect in which is our Fellowship which was before any Imperfection was And they have no more Command to set up Temples Tithes Temples Tithes Oaths Swearing Oaths or Swearing among the Christians since the Apostles Days than the Gentiles had to set up Diana's Temple for the Temple-Worship Tithes and Oaths Christ came to end and to bring People out of them and to make them his Temples and to bring to Yea Yea and Nay Nay in their Communications And so before the Fall there were no Oaths in the Fall there were but in the Restoration there are to be no Oaths Tithes nor outward Temples G. F. To the Church of God in Scotland DEar Friends In the Power and Light is my Love to you all Epist 166. in which the Vertue Life Holiness and Righteousness is known To Friends in Scotland to live in the Truth which they first received and the Riches that never fade away Live in the Truth which ye first received that it may be your Crown and your Cloathing And dwell in Love and Peace and Vnity one with another in the Trath of God which the Devil is out of and keep your Meetings in the Name of Christ Jesus that never fell and then ye will see over all the Gatherings in the Fall in whom the Peace Life and the Blessing is And all know one another in him who is the Substance and him to be your Way and Teacher Priest and Prophet that never fell and then ye will see over all the false Ways Christ your Way Teacher Priest and Prophet Prophets Priests and Teachers in the Fall ye being in him that never fell your Priest and Prophet Be Faithful to God every one in your Measure of Light Life and Truth which Truth is over the whole World and all that is in it And so living in the Light and Truth ye may answer the Light and Truth in every Man and Woman and be a good Savour to God in the Hearts of all People And keeping your Habitations in the Truth and in the Light and Life then ye will see over Adam and Eve their Sons and Daughters Habitations in the Fall who cannot abide the Truth Light and Life in the inward Parts therefore they are not in Peace one with another Habitations in the Fall being not in the Habitation that Adam was in before he fell nor in Christ that neve fell in whom the Saints sit down in the Life Christ who was with the Father before the World began Adam lost his Habitation and the Jews lost their Habitations the one went into the Earth and
the other into Captivty where the Apostates are and so are become like untimely Figs or like unto the Corn upon the House-top Now this is the Word of the Lord God unto you all Keep your Habitations in the Light Life and Power which ye first received and felt in your selves that ye may be cloathed with the Blessing of the Lord which was before the Curse was And live in the Unity in the Light which was before Darkness was or the Power of it and in the Life which was before Death was and in the Truth which was before the Devil was and in the Power of God which was before the Power of Satan was All live in this that ye may be cloathed with that which is Immortal and attain to the Crown of Life and to know the Election before the World began He that is the First and the Last that is the Beginning and the Ending sit down in him not in Adam in the Fall but sit down in Christ that never fell and there that Life ye will come to know Sit down in Christ which was with the Father before the World began And so live in the Substance which is the Seed Christ who ends the Prophets first Conveant first Priesthood and all the Types and Figures and Shadows given after the Fall G. F. MY Dear Friends Epist 167. Be not carried away by good Words and fair Speeches Good Words and fair Speeches nor the Affectinate Part which is taken with them but every one have hold of the Truth in your selves and the Life and Light and Power of the Most-High by which ye may be staied upon Christ Bread the Staff of Life your Bread of Life he is the Staff of your Heavenly and Eternal Life Bread is the Staff of Life Now Friends who have denied the World Songs and Singing Songs and Singing sing ye in the Spirit and with Grace making Melody in your Hearts to the Lord. And ye having denied the World's formal Praying Praying pray ye always in the Spirit and watchy in it And ye that have denied the World's giving of Thanks and their saying of Grace and living out of it do ye in every thing give Thanks to the Lord through Jesus Christ And ye Giving Thanks that have denied the World's Praising God with their Lips whilst their Hearts are afar off do ye always praise the Lord night and day Saying Grace and from the Rising of the Sun to the Going down of the same praise ye the Lord. And ye that have denied the World's Fastings Praising Fastings and of their hanging down their Heads like a Bulrush for a day who smite with the Fist of Wickedness Keep ye the Fast of the Lord that breaks the Bond of Iniquity and lets the Oppressed go free that your Health may grow and your Light may shine as the Morning G. F. FRiends all every where who have tasted of the Love Epist 168. Mercy and Kindness of God and his Power ye are called to Holiness and Chastity Therefore keep out of inordinate Affections Inordinate Affections and inordinate fleshly Love and feigned Flattery and Desires which is below the Truth which will bring you to Infirmness And keep out of fond Affections and fond Love that draws out the fleshly Part the fleshly Eye and brings into Pride and Loosness and false Liberty and to abuse the Power of God Oh keep out of all Vncleanness whatever may be pretended and fleshly Desires for the Lust of the Eye the Lust of the Flesh and the Pride of Life are not of the Father but of the World And therefore keep down that which is not of the Father but of the World And take heed of dishonouring your Bodies and defiling your Minds but keep your Bodies clean from all Fornication Fornication and Adultery Adultery and Vncleanness for that which pretends otherwise and doth so defiles it and is out of the Truth and is contrary to the Law of God and contrary to Christ's Doctrine And therefore defile not your selves but live pure chast and holy as becometh the Saints for no Adulterer nor Fornicator hath any part in the Kingdome of God Such go from that of God in themselves and quench the Spirit of God and abuse his Power and go into fleshly Love and fained Desires and flattering Pretences covering it with a false Liberty and so are in the Bondage to the beggarly fleshly Lusts and whom they overcome they bring into the same Bondage and through their fained Flattery and dissembling Carriage rob and beguile and spoil Flattery to fulfil their insatiable ungodly Desires Wills and Lusts Therefore live in the Truth for all such things are out of the Truth and such as do the same whatsoever they be therefore all that go into Vncleanness under what fair Pretence soever are to be Judged G. F. TO all the Elect Chosen and Faithful Epist 165. who are of the Royal Seed of God living Stones Elect and Precious knit and built up together and united the Family and House-hold of God London the 11th of the 3d Month. and come to his Mountain that is established upon the top of all Mountains that walk in the Light of the Lord in Unity and Covenant with God in the Covenant of Life and Peace with him Who in this the Lamb's Day are the Gold tried in the Fire Who have been tried by Goods spoiling As Gold tried in the Fire by Bonds by Whippings by Mockings and Reproaches in the Day of the Lamb's Power and some have been tried unto Death and ye have proved to be the pure Gold that hath come out brighter and brighter Who have not feared the Waves of the Sea nor the Winds who fears not the storms nor the Weather whose Anchor holds which is the Hope the Mystery which Anchors the Soul which is Immortal to the Immortal God Among whom the Star or Jacob is seen and the Morning-Star is risen and the Sun of Righteousness shines and the Lamb's Voice is known the Charch in the Glory and Beauty is appeared and appearing The Mirriage of the Lamb. the Marriage of the Lamb and the Bride and the Wedding-day is known in which there is Unity and the Vigins sing Praises and follow the Lamb because of his sweet Ointment and the Virgins are upon Mount Zion And the Gospel is going forth unto all Nations Kindreds and Tongues and Life and Immortality is coming to Light thuough the Gospel which is the Power of God and the Mystery of the Fellowship is known The Mrstery of the Fellowship which is in the Power And for want of the Power the Gospel in which is the Fellowship hath Christendom been on Heaps and the Heathen Ignorant And now ye who know the Power of God ye know the Gospel and ye who are in the Power of God ye are in the Mystery of the Fellowship So Mark the Fellowship is a Mystery
his Eye who for our sakes hath reproved Powers and Thrones and Dominions and rebuked them We are the Preachers of Righteousness in the great City Sodom wherein Christ was crucified where the Life of the Prophets and the Apostles and Holy Men of God lies slain and Cursers Cursers Swearers Drunkards Swearers Drunkards Eaters and Drinkers that rise up to play in all Fulness Wantonness and Prophaness profess their Words and make merry over their Lives And the Witnesses since the Apostles Days have been slain the Woman in the Wilderness the Lamb and his Wife shall be known which is come up out of the Wilderness So in this great City Sodom and Gomorrah Sodom and Gomorrah the False Church and the Whore are where all the Abominations are that made all the Nations drunk of the Wine of the Wrath of her Fornication whereby the World is all on Heaps about Religion and Church-Worship and the several Ways in Sodom's Nature professing the Saints Words imitating Forms killing and slaying one another about professing the Saints Words but out of their Life Which shews that they are not of the Royal Seed The Royal Seed which saith Love Enemies that 's the Royal Seed and they that follow him are of the Royal Priesthood and holy People and Generation amongst whom is the Royal Law of Love whereby we cannot respect Mens Persons for he who doth is convinced of the Royal Law to be a Transgressor So every one of us that is come to the Seed of God that bruiseth the Serpent's Head that led Man from God who is the Prince of the World the Prince of Darkness and the Prince of the Air the Father of Lies a Murderer from the Beginning the Corrupter of Mankind the Author of the Separation from God and the Original of Sin the Beginning of it which led Man from his Dominion over the Handy-Works of God The Handy-Works of God which the Royal Seed Christ destroys and renews Man again in the Image of God and brings him again to his Dominion over the Handy-Works of God And this Hundreds of Thousands are now witnessing by which they come to be Kings and redeemed from the Earth and come to be made Kings upon the Earth in the Image of God over the Handy-Works of God in the Wisdom by which they were created So all Powers whatever that are a Terror to Evil-Doers that bear not the Sword in vain to us are a Praise that do well And all Kings upon the Earth that were Anointed by God a Figure of our Christ the King the Anointed he ends them all Revel 1.6 and makes Kings to reign upon the Earth amongst these Christ is King wich Thousands witness amongst these he is King and all other Kings made by Man and putting Man on Earthly Crowns Earthly Man will put them off again and un-King them if they cross them This is the State amongst them in whom Christ reigns not nor the true Magistrate obeyed which is to the Evil-Doers a Terror But since the Apostles Days all hath been in Confusion about Religion Church and Worship amongst them that have killed the Witnesses and since the true Church went into the Wilderness and the Witnesses have been slain and the Man-Child caught up to God So they that have slain the Witnesses and killed the Saints have been in all this Confusion The Witnesses rising and the Witnesses are rising and the Everlasting Gospel shall be preached again amongst them that have had the Words but have slain the Life of the Prophets and the Apostles unto all Nations Kindreds and Tongues of them that dwell upon the Earth So the great Professors of the World which were the Jews could not abide Jesus the King that he should reign and where he is now in the Male and in the Female he is King and that makes Kings among whom he is King All in the Name of the mighty King of Kings is to be done and then it is in the Power G. F. ALL Friends Take heed of running on in a Form Epist 173. lest ye do lose the Power but keep in the Power and Seed of God in which ye will live in the Substance And at any Disputes take heed Disputes many may be lifted up in the Victory and Conquest and after have a Joy in the Prophecies and Openings and after fall And if Bablers come and Janglers say They have a Bad Metting and so the murmuring Nature getteth up out of Patience and the Seed which beareth all things and suffereth all things which keepeth down that which causeth Lifting up Murmuring and Disputing which the Seed endeth and Prophecy and keepeth down all the other that is contrary and would live in the contrary that which keeps down that which doth change is the Peace and the Corner-Stone and the staiedness in the Seed and Life G. F. DEar Friends all every where Feel the Seed of God over all that Epist 174. which is in the Fall that is gotten up The Fall of Adam since Adam and Eve fell from Righteousness and the Image of God and in which Fall the Lamb hath been slain And so feel the Seed of God over all that which makes to suffer and will stand and remain when he that makes to suffer is gone And so feel Christ to reign and rule over all that which is in the Fall Feel Life over all and there ye may all feel the Life to flow over all which Life was with the Father before the World began and which Life will remain when Death and the Power of it is gone And in that Life all live and dwell and in it keep your Meetings AND feel the Word of Patience and the Word of Wisdom in which ye may find both Patience and Wisdom in this Day of Life Patience and Wisdom And feel my Love to all Friends in the Everlasting Seed of God G. F. To Friends to serve one another in Love in outward things MY Dear Friends Epist 175. in the Order and Wisdom of Life order all things to God's Glory and dwell in the Love of God together all serving one another in Love and in the Life of the Truth and ye that give to the Poor Give to the Poor lend to the Lord and he will give you again with Advantage And so be Fruitful in every good Work and be Subject to one another in the Fear of the Lord and do that which ye do in Love and Peace and in that keep in the Authority and Power of God in Kindness Passion and basty Spirits And keep down and be Master over all Passion and the hasty and cross Spirits and silence that which is suddain and let Love have the Preheminence in all and over all And provoke one another to Love and to good Works and be diligent in all your places that ye may be a good Savour in the Hearts of all and that the Truth may flow
thta which is pure which will judge all Vnrighteousness which must never enter into the Kingdom of God and with the Eternal Spirit of God and in his Power ye may be kept from all Fancies in your own Wills So God Almighty be among you to do his Will in his Love G. F. DEar Friends Epist 198. Keep over all that which tends to Strife in the Seed Christ in which is Peace and Life for that which tends to Strife Fain'd Flattery and yet is in a fained Flattery will corrupt you And therefore live in that which is Pure and Stedfast and is not Changable and in that know one another And lay hands on no Man suddenly for that which is fickle and changable will bring People into an unsettled State and bring them out of their own Conditions and bring into a Questioning State And therefore keep in the Seed and Light and Power of Christ in which ye may walk safely and not give away your Power but dwell in it in Love Vnity and Peace one with another And in it keep your Meetings and be quiet and live and dwell in the Power of Truth over all the Vnruly Spirits And be faithful that the Seed Christ Jesus may reign in you and among you For the Truth is over all and reigns And so be Valiant for it upon the Earth Lancaster Prison the 2d of the 5th Month 1660. G. F. 1. About 1661. FRiends The matter concerning not putting off the Hat in Prayer and when they give Thanks to God Epist 199. which hath been said by some it is Heathenish and Romish and set up in the time of Darkness and Ignorance Concerning the Hat and in the Curse and in the Fall and Cursed Then they and ye who have put off your Hats when ye have Prayed and given Thankes to God must be wrong according to their Judgment which is false For who have known the Power of God and the Motions of it which Power was before Hats and Coverings were are out of this Judgment For there was a Sect of People amongst the Corinthians that were jangling about Meats Drinks Days Marriages and whether they should pray covered and whether the Woman should pray and prophesie uncovered There was such a Strife before the Papists got up And therefore the Apostle set up a Comliness amongst the Churches and says It was a Dishonour for a Woman to Pray or Prophesie with her Head uncovered And also a Dishonour for a Man to Pray or Prophesie with his Head covered Now say they who keep the Hat on when they Pray This Covering of the Woman is the Spirit and Power which is her Covering and not the Hat then the Spirit and Power must be Covered when she Prays and Prophesies And how can she Pray and Prophesie when the Spirit and Power is Covered For that is her Covering and her Head say they And this must be uncovered in the Man when he Prays and Prophesies So shewing hereby a Contradiction in the Male and Female which shews forth that the Spirit and Power must be covered in the one and uncovered in the other 2. They say Christ is the Head of the Woman spoken of in the Corinthians and her Head must be covered when she prays and prophesies and is it not meant of an outward Hat Then Christ which is the Head he must be covered in the Woman when she prays and prophesies and when a Man prays and prophesies his Head must be uncovered This also shews a Contradiction For Prophecy is in the Spirit and Praying is in the Spirit and by Prophecy they see Christ And if Christ be covered then they must consider it by what the Woman covers him and whether or nay she can prophesie when he is covered And so it is that Mind which runs into outward things that stumbles and ever was and ever will be so And this Mind and Spirit which hath given this Judgment so upon Friends and amongst Friends not only in a Paper to be spread up and down but also in Disputes and Jangligns about it in which is such a Judgment contrary to Truth and the Apostles comely Order and Practice which was set up amongs them This Judgment hath not only judged us but also the Apostle They may as well say He set up a Form in the Curse Ignorance Heathenish and Romish who calls it a comely thing for a Man to pray uncovered if not Praying and Prophesying he dishonours his Head and a Comely thing for a Woman to pray or prophesie with her Head covered So there was a Comeliness and an Honour in it We never use to preach up such things who are come to the Power of God before Coverings or Hats were And many would not have believed that ever such things would have come forth amongst us but now they see our Comely Order and Practice is likened to a Heathenish and Romish Order and curst Some such the Apostle had to do withal when he set up his comely Order before the Romish Way was Therefore are we necessitated to speak a little to such things that Friends may keep in the Power of God which was before Hats and Coverings were For when we see People run into such things and make a Sect of it and cry They have Attained to a greater Glory than before they run into such outward things which the Hat is and if they have Attained to that they have but Attained to that which is since Adam fell For they that have attained to that State which Adam was in before the Fall it is without Hats or Coverings And they that are come to Christ and abide in him are in a State beyond Adam before he fell The State beyond Adam far before outward Coverings were for Christ was with the Father before the World began before Adam was made And when the Apostle spake to the Corinthians how that he would have them to know that God was the Head of Christ and Christ was the Head of the Man and the Man was the Head of the Woman and the Woman was made for the Man and not the Man for the Woman and he is the Image and Glory of God and she is the Glory of the Man This the Apostle spake to the Corinthians who were not come to the State of Adam and Eve before they fell amongst whom there was a Sect about the Man being covered and the Woman uncovered Amongst whom he sets up a Comely Order and Practice and lets them see how they should pray prophesie and practise So he meant there of outward things when he speaks of a Man uncovered and a Woman covered or else he should be shaven and shorn Now these as I said before were not come to the state of Adam and Eve before the Fall for who are come there are come to that which was before Coverings were This was a comly and decent thing and of good report amongst the Primitive Christians Therefore
that which is good just and righteous and serve one another in that in that ye live in the Life and in the Seed the Power and Righteousness that is everlasting which is of God and his Wisdom through which ye come to answer the good just and holy Principle of God in every one upon the Earth In which Power ye have Dominion in which ye come to live the Life which is well-pleasing to God a Life which shall stand when the World is ended And in this Life Power and Wisdom of God that is endless ye are a Terror to all A Terror to Defrauders that are in the Wisdom below ye are a Terror to all that are in the unrighteous Actions and Words And ye are a Terror to all that are in the unjust and unequal doings and all the Defrauders Cozeners Cheaters Over-reachers Lyars and Wrong-dealers In the Power of God and his Life in which ye have Justice ye have Truth ye have Equity ye have Righteousness and it cometh to be to you as natural you Words your Lives your Conversations your Presence and your Practices both judge and preach and ye will be a Terror to all them in the just Life and everlasting Righteousness Christ Jesus living in him and in his Wisdom and walking in him and speaking the Truth as it is in him in all things your Life and your Words are a Terror to all that speak not Truth in their Dealings and to all that act not truly and righteously in their Doings your Lives do judge them and are a Judge to them and through your Constancy Faithfulness and Life which is Everlasting ye bring many to Amendment For both Life Actions Words and Conversation preach all these preach to the unrighteous World being in the Everlasting Righteousness which over the World hath Dominion through which Life Power Seed of God and Wisdom ye reach and answer the good and just Principle of God in every one and it will make them at last confess to you though they may go on in the contrary for a time So in that Power Wisdom and Strength that gives you Dominion over all and to answer that of God in all the Love and Power of the Lord Jesus Christ preserve and keep you all in his Wisdom Life Seed and Dominion that to him ye may be a Blessing and a good Savour in the Hearts of all People And let all your Actions and Words be one with the Witness of God in all People Amen The Wicked and Unrighteous owe Envy and Hatred and with that they pay their Debt but the Righteous Just and Harmless who owe nothing to any Man but Love with that they pay their Debt But Drunkards Adulterers Swearers Rioters who eat and drink and rise up to play and live in Pleasures wantonly upon the Earth Fighters Quarrellers Envious Malicious Vnjust Vnrighteous all such Actions and Practices are judged out of the Power of God and out of his Kingdom AND all Friends every where that are Shop-keepers or Merchants or Factors or any other Trades keep low in the Power of God and do not go beyond your Capacity nor reach after things more than ye can justly perform and answer all Men but all in your places be just and true that ye may answer all Men within and without and Truth and Justice in your Returns that ye may keep your Words So say and so do which is the Royal Law of Liberty in all your Tradings else ye are a Dishonour to Christianity So say and so do therefore see your Business that what ye do and what ye say ye may perform that ye may not break your Words and Promises for if ye do ye go to Loss Neither are ye Masters of what ye take in hand for a Master should be a top of things and be in that which can command things And none to be Negligent in their Business but give an Account by Words or Writings how things are with them when others write to them so that none may Wrong one another in these outward things nor oppress one another but be serviceable one to another Things beyond Ability keeping their Words their going into things beyond their Ability makes them break their Words keeping within their Compass with that which they may answer others lest any should be lifted up For it is bad thing to be lifted up and to make a Noise and a Shew for a time with other Peoples Goods and cannot keep their Word their Promise their Day such may be lifted up for a time and Break and Fall and go out as a Stink and bring a great Dishonour to Christ and true Christians And therefore keeping your Word your Day and keeping your just Measure your just Weight that keeps down the Oppression And by keeping to that just Measure and Weight and to your Word and Day Just Measure just Weight by the Power of God and his Spirit in your own Hearts there the Blessing is doubled there ye come to be Rich and ye are a good Savour to God and in the Hearts of all People So every one strive to be Rich in the Life and in the Kingdom and Things of the World that hath no End for he that covets to be Rich in the things of this World falls into many Snares and hurtful Lusts And therefore let him that buys or sells or possesses or uses this World be as if he did not Let them be Masters over the World in the Power and Spirit of God and let them know that they owe no Man any thing but Love yet serve God in Truth and one another in their Generation For Friends if ye be not faithful in the Outward Treasure and Outward Mammon who will trust you with the True Treasure Or who can believe that ye have the True Treasure The True Treasure but that ye speak by hear-say of it So I say to you all See that ye are faithful in this Outward Mammon this Outward Treasure of the things of this Life of this World faithful to your Word faithful to your Days faithful to your Promises in all your Tradings Traffickings Bargainings true and just and righteous and honest in these outward Treasures or Mammon concerning the things of this World of this Life of these outward Riches just and faithful true and honest Men and Women in these outward things I say as Christ saith Who will trust you with the true and heavenly Treasure if not as before Therefore I say to be faithful in these Outwards that shews an honest Man and honest Women faithful in all your Dealings and Practices between Man and Man and Woman and Woman that sheweth an honest Heart and a faithful Man and Woman in outward things that answers the faithful Principle in all People So all Men and Women to be faithful in these outward things one to another that shews the good Heart to receive the true Treasure that ye may be faithful in it
upon the Lord and in it keep your Meetings where ye may feel the Chief Shepherd leading you into Pastures of Life And so Meetings the Blessing of the Lord be with you G. F. To all Friends Prisoners DEar Friends and Brethren Epist 204. The Seed of God feel all in your selves which is the Heir of the Power of God that ye may sit down in the Possession of the same 3d Month 22. inheriting the Power and the Promise and the Gospel The seed of God In which Power of God is the Fellowship being Heirs of the same and Members of that Fellowship which never hath an End which brings Life and Immortality to Light which Power of God was before that was which darkneth Life and Immortality from People Walk in the Truth So walk in the Truth then ye walk with the God of all Truth and walk in the Righteousness and then ye walk with the Righteous God in all Peace Walk in Holiness and then ye walk in that in which ye see God which they that do not see him not Therefore walk in the Power of God which goes over the Power of Darkness which was before it was which Power of God is the Gospel in which is the Mystery of the Fellowship a Mystery I say to all the Fellowships that are out of the Power of God Therefore the Seed of God know The Top-Stone laid which is the Top-Stone that it may be over all laid in you which bruiseth the Serpent's Head which is the fulfilling of the Prophets and Prphecies which Seed brings to the Beginning where are the Pastures of Life So in that Meet in the Seed in that wait in the Power of God in which ye have Life in that keep your Meetings which brings to feel that which was before the Power of Darkness was The Wisdom of God And wait to inherit the Wisdom of God that with that ye may be all ordered to God's Glory in his Life in which ye may feel Vnity with himself and one with another and his Presence and Blessings among you in the Power and Seed of God which was before Enmity was in which is the Vnity and the Holy Will and Dominion Which Power of God brings from all the barren Mountains where is Death to the Begtinning where is Life My Love is to all Friends in the Everlasting Seed of God that hath the Promise of Life and doth inherit the same in which is the Fellowship with God and one with another London the 22d of the 3d Month 1661. G. F. ALL Friends Epist 205. Live in God's Dominion and Power and Life which was Storms and Tempests before Storms and Tempests were in which ye may feel Life and Dominion Power and Victory the Lord's Power being lived in which was before Tempests were in which ye will have the Victory A Summer Religion There is a Summer-Religion which appears when the Sun shineth upon them and in the Summer-time all the venemous Creatures creep out of their Holes Corners and Dens and the Flies Wasps and Snakes but when the Winter is come and the Storms and Tempests come then the Summer-Religion is gone then the Venemous Viperous Creatures Religion and Works are gone The standing Religion But the Religion that is in the Power of God standeth which was before the Devil was and all his Works and Children And so that is the standing Religion that is in the Power of God which was before the Power of Darkness was And Friends ye that know the Light of Jesus Christ and have tasted of his Power by which ye come to be gathered into the Name of Jesus do not forsake the Assembling of your selves together but provoke one another and exhort one another to Love The Love of God and to Good Works and let not Powers nor Principalities nor Prisons Thrones nor Dominions spoiling your Goods Mockings Scoffings nor Reproachings and Pluckers off your Hair and Smiters separate you from the Love of God that ye have in Christ Jesus who conquered Death and the Devil the Power of it the Adversary the Wicked One the Enmity Christ is the Life the Light the Love of God to Mankind now ye coming to be gathered into him who destroys the Devil and his Works the Life that destroys Death and the Light Truth destroye Error which destroys Darkness and the Truth that destroys Error and all Falshood and the Power of God that destroys the Power of the Devil and being gathered into Christ and into his Name Meetings keep your Meetings in the Power of God and in his Light and Life whose Gathering is above all other Gatherings in the Earth and Christ's Name is above all other Names on the Earth And feel the Seed of God over all that set which makes to suffer which was before it was and will remain when it is gone From a Lover of your Souls and your Everlasting Good G. F. IN the Power of God that is Everlasting Epist 206. and doth remain in this your Day of Trial in it stand of which ye are Partakers and are come to be Heirs of the same and in it is your Peace and Kingdom A Day of Trial. And though ye have not a Foot of Ground to stand upon yet ye have the Power of God to skip and to leap in standing in that which is your Life that is Everlasting Who by the Power of God are gathered up to the Beginning to the Endless Life who have your Meetings in it that neither Death nor the Power of it can separate you from nor out of the Power of God for it was before Death or the Power of it was in that are your Living Meetings Meetings and Joynings and Building up the Spiritual Houshold of living Stones gathered by and through the Power of God In which Power of God is the Houshold of Faith which Faith gives them the Victory in which Power of God ye being are gathered over Jews Gentiles and the Apostate-Christians Meetings and Gatherings who are in Enmity and Confusion and out of the Power of God that put the Wheat for the Tares and so persecute the Elect which Election was before the World began of which ye are made Partakers Stand fast therefore in your Confidence in that which is without End in that in which the Endless Life is seen in the Power of God and Light which rules over Powers Thrones Principalities and Dominions The Power of God goes over them and ye living in it nothing can separate you from the Love of God which ye have in Christ the Seed which was before the World began glorified with the Father who hath all Kings and Kingdoms in his hand which is his Power in that let your Faith stand With which Immortal Power ye may all be cloathed which covers you and preserves you over the Mortal And Prisons Fetters Dungeons and Sufferings Prisons Fetters c. the
Bridegroom The Word of God cannot be bound which makes Rich which lives for Ever in which is the Life So do not quench the Spirit nor add to the Prophecy nor diminish that keeps you from the Plagues and to see your Names written in the Lamb's Book of Life There stands your Joy Everlasting through which ye see the White-Stone through which Light Power and Seed ye do overcome that which is gone forth from God So ye dwelling in the Son of God ye shall go no more forth but shall inherit all things So Farewell KEEP in the Power of the Lord God that goes over all the World Flight in the Winter that none of your Flight may be in the Winter And beware lest any of your Flight be on the Sabbath-Day which the signification of it is Rest but all in the Power of the Living God abide in which ye may feel Life Peace and Rest and an abiding Place a secret Chamber to turn into till the Indignation and Wrath of the Lord be past which is to come over all Transgressors And if the Judgment begin at the House of God first and the Righteous passeth the straight way to Salvation where will the Hypocrites and the Sinners appear Over whom the overflowing Scourge must come and pass Therefore in the Life Power and Love of God all dwell And the Apostle saith Forsake not the assembling of your selves as the manner of some is but edifie one another in the Light and the Life as the Day doth appear And to say That People must not Meet together to worship God they may as well say Ye must not be Christians For Persecutors were always blind Persecutors and they stopped their Ears to the Spirit of God in themselves formerly so were in the blind Zeal and turned against them who were in the true Zeal in the Spirit of God Let this be carefully Copied over and sent amongst Friends G. F. MY Dear Friends Epist 207. Look above all Sufferings that are outward at the Seed of God which was before that was which makes to suffer Suffernings for Tithes and the Seed of God Christ Jesus will stand when that which makes to suffer is gone And so in the Seed of God live and lie down in the same which is Christ the Life the Way to God the Father of Life The Tithes of the Jews and the Tithes of the Apostate-Christians must all be born Testimony aginst by them that be redeemed from the Earth and reigns above it in his Life and Power and Wisdom And so be of good Faith and never heed but make War in Righteousness with the Beast Dragon Whore and her Folowers for by the Lord many Walls and Troops have ye gone thorow and leaped over and the Lord hath given you Dominion over that which warred against you and by the Power of the Lord ye have Overcome and in the Power of the lord ye will Overcome all and in it will stand when all the contrary is gone And know your Portion and sit down in the Possession of it So every one of you to be in your Possessions and Inheritances and with the Shield of Faith and helmet of Salvation The Shrill of Faith and the Brest-Plate of Righteousness and the Sword of the Spirit the Word of God which was before Deceit was which will hammer and break and cut down all that which is contrary And being shod with the Preparation of the Gospel which is the Power of God which was before the Fall was In that Stand in the Power of God which was before the Devil weas and will remain when he is gone G. F. ALL ye Prisoners of the Lord for his Truth sake Epist 208. and for keeping the Testimony of Jesus Christ against all the Inventions Traditions Rudiments Will-Worships fained Humilities and Self-Righteousnesses that are in the Fall and are out of God's Power and Righteousness who have no Weapons but Carnal like themselves your Patience must overcome all the rough Spirits in the World and your Love must bear all things For Patience obtains the Crown which is Immortal which runs the Race So it is the Lamb must have the Victory over all the unclean airy Spirits and over him that is out of the Truth So be Meek and Low then ye follow the Example of Christ Patience obtains the Crown and come to bear the Image of the Just who suffered by the Vjust and put on his Righteousness who suffered by the Vnrighteous whose Back was struck Hair was pluck'd off and Face was spit upon and yet cried Father forgive them Here he kept his Dominion though a Sufferer who had the Victory which the Followers of the Lamb do in Measure attain to So put on Courage put on Patience Let your Loyalty be known for your King that hath conquered the Devil Death and Hell in walking in Righteousness Peace and Truth feeling the Power of God preaching and reaching the Witness of God in every one when Words are not uttered And let your Faith be in the Power that goes through all things and over all things and every one hearken to it So the Power of the mighty God then ye will know and his Arm how it works and the Hand how it carries you The Power and Arm of God which will bring you out of Tribulation and Thraldom and Spiritual Egypt into Peace And this is the Power of God in which live and dwell in which ye will feel him which was before Enmity was And be at Peace one with another then ye will live in the Prince of Princes Peace and in his Kingdom Dominion and Life in which is Vnity which was before Enmity was and which destroys it And so in the Power of the Lord God ye are made strong which goes over the Power of Arkness and was before all that was which is out of the Power of God And all People that are gone from the Witness of God in their own particulars they are all weak and feeble and staggering All Mens and Womens Strength is in the Power of God which goes over the Power of Darkness So feel all this in you to carry you through all and over all and in it preach and Work for God and let your Ear be lent to it and hearken to it in one another and by it feel the Seed raised up in one another which is Heir of the Power that ye may know each your Portion For all People that are gone from the Witness of God in their own particulars that are erred from it and hate the Light they are full of Darkness Sin and Iniquity and are far from Inspiration and Revelation Inspiration and Revelation while their Minds are erred from the Spirit of God in themselves that is hid from them So when their Minds are turned with the Light and Spirit of God towards God then with it they shall know something of Revelation and Inspiration as they are
earthly Spirits and their dark earthly Spirit and the Power of God was before they were and will remain when that they are gone and it reigns over them all And that is the Word of the Lord God to you all And for my part I had as leive see a Priest to stand up in a Meeting as one of these dark earthly Spirits with their Hats on their Heads when that Friends pray for they cannot deceive Friends For I have been more burthened with their dark subtle and Sophistical Spirit than with the Priests which had no more shew of Reverence to God in that than to a Horse whose outward seeming Righteousness hath deceived many but the Power of God which destroyeth the Deceiver undeceiveth and bringteth People to that which did first Convince them And they that kept on their Hats when Friends prayed after a while some of them ran to the Priests to be married and some to hear them in the Steeple-Houses then this dark earthly Spirit could bow and put off its Hat to its own the dark Spirit which kept on the Hat in the Assemblies of the Righteous in Opposition against the Spirit and Power of God A Fainedness of Love And so this Spirit hath led People into a Fainedness of Love and Liberty which the Power and Spirit of God cannot own but judge and stand over and reign over if they keep their Habitations in the Power and Life and Truth of God which reigneth If they that are and have been in this dark earthly Spirit had but had a regard to the Power of God and his Truth they would have been Tender Offence given and afraid of giving any Occasion of Offence both to them that are within and to them that are without to draw out their Minds to look at that which their earthly Spirit has promoted and so to lay Stumbling-blocks and set up an Idol and an Image to look at which draws Peoples Eyes from the Witness of God in themselves But the Power of God is gone over it and will break it down And so this Belial's Spirit which would be without Yoke cries to such as in Love exhort them and judge it Ye Lord over us And so this earthly dark Spirit which is gotten above the Witness of God in themselves which is not sensible of the moving Spirit and Power of God it sets up its own earthly Form which the Power of God never set up An earthly Spirit but judges And this earthly Spirit judges all that are gathered together in the Power and that are constrained by the Power and Love of God in a familiar way to take one another by the Hand through the dearness and nearness of the Love of God and the pure clean and holy Life and also are moved by the Power of the Lord God to put off their Hats in Prayer This dark Sophistical earthly Spirit thus hath judged these Practices of the People of God afore-mentioned to be but a Form which are done in the Power of God it being out of the Power it self and the Fellowship and Vnity of it And because they that are in it are gone from that which first convinced them into outward things and into their Form in the earthly Spirit it judges those that will not follow them that have lost the Power of God And thus many of them are darkned with a cankered rusty Spirit which will corrupt them and hath destroyed many And this is that Hardness of Heart that has brought the Plague of Hardness of Heart through which there has been Strangeness and not Vnity nor Familiarness nor Nighness in the Truth for how should it when they are gone from that which firt Convinced them To that all must come before they have Fellowship and true Vnity in the Power and Truth of God which if that had been minded it would have led to follow Whatsoever things are Comely whatsoever things are Decent whatsoever things are of good Report and such things as make for Peace But this Spirit has followed the contrary and therefore the Power of the Lord God and the Life and Truth is against it and over it is gone and reigns And ye with your earthly Spirit and earthly Form have given Occasion to the World to say That the People of God called Quakers are divided some with their Hats on and some with them off and so they are opposite one to the other And these are the Fruits of the earthly Spirit which would bring Darkness and Earth over all but the Power of God is over this dark and earthly Spirit and the World and them that are in it and looketh upon them and the World as one against the Truth and the Power of God And the People of God called Quakers The Vnity of the People of God are One and not divided in the Power of God and his Truth and in God's Power and Spirit they are in Vnity in the Truth and Power of an endless Life This I was moved of the Lord God to write G. F. To Friends that Labour in the Ministry that their Lives may Preach DEar Friends and Brethren amongst whom the Vine is manifest Epist 215. and who are by Faith grafting into it The Vine made manifest through and in which ye may bear Fruit to glorifie God be Wise in all things and Harmless that your Lives Conversations and Innocency may preach and reach to the Hearts of all your Opposers and Persecutors And be Faithful and Valiant for the Truth upon the Earth and Tender to one another in all Convenient outward things for that is the least Love And dwell in that which redeems you from the Earth the Power of God in which ye may know the Kingdom which is Everlasting and come to be Hairs of that that ye may sit down in your own Possession knowing the Seed of God which was before the Seed of the Serpent was knowing the Birth born of the Spirit The Birth of the Spirit which was before the Birth born of the Flesh was And so live in the Truth by which ye may see over that which stains corrupts cankers loads and burdens the Creation by which Power of God and Truth ye may answer the Spirit of God in all which the Wicked grieve vex and quench by their ungodly Lusts and filthy Conversation and unsavoury Words Fear not Sufferings which bring to wear the Crown Fear not him that can kill the Body only Through Sufferings the Crown but can't hurt the Soul for that that is Immortal goes over him Fear God and fear not him hat can spoil the Goods for the Earth is the Lord's and the Fulness of it But mind God's Power and let your Patience be Perfect and all your Words seasoned with Grace that they may edifie by which ye may season the Earth your Hearts being establish'd in the same over all the unsavory Words and Talkers and live in the Truth above them And
Likeness may be defaced which is gotten up in the Hearts of Men and People since the beginning in Transgression So bring them to the Great Sacrifice the Lord Jesus Christ The Great Sacrifice the Seed of the Woman who Offered up himself for the Sin of the World the Top-stone which is over all laid who is Restoring by his Power who hath all Power in Heaven and Earth who is Restoring all things into the place as they were in the beginning and Reconciling in one by his Power things in Heaven and things in Earth destroying that which made the Separation and broak Vnity which is the Enmity in Peoples Minds which the Light that doth enlighten every one that cometh into the World destroys through which all People come to have Peace with God and Fellowship who do believe in it So spread the Truth abroad and be Valiant for it upon the Earth Improve your Talent and be the wise Virgins with Oil in your Lamps The Talent and wise Virgins that ye may enter in with the Bridegroom Have Salt in your selves that ye may savour all things and keep your Consciences clean and pure unto God and all Men. Live in the Cross of Christ and rejoyce in it which is the Power of God and goes over all that which lives out from God and which is in the Transgression and its Fruits to which it is Death to this Cross the Power of God all must bend and bow And in the Power of God is the Fellowship of the Cross The Cross which keeps over all the Fellowships in the World and crucifies to them And so ye who are Heirs of the Power of a World that hath no end and a Kingdom that is Everlasting sit down in your Inheritances of the Power of the Kingdom of the Blessing of the Promise that are Heirs of the same that ye may increase in the Everlasting in the Blessing and heavenly Riches And though the Oppressors of the Earth will not let you have a Foot of Ground yet ye have the Power of God to stand in and so ye that are Heirs of that Oppressors and Christ Jesus whose the Earth is and all things therein and are in the Power of God separated from the Power of Darkness the Devil and are come into that which was before he was ye have nothing to lose for all yours is the Lora's For they that are separated by Sin and Transgression into the Earth drove there they strick fast and have much to lose whose Hearts are surfeited with the Earth and to that Glewed and all their Fellowship is out of the Cross of Christ the Power of God and are within the Power of Darkness and its Dominion over whom it hath the Supremacy which the Power of God goes over in which is the Son's Liberty and the Saints Fellowship that Lives for ever thorow which they have Eternal Life Let this be Copied over and sent abroad to the Isls unto New-England and Virginia G. F. ALL may Dear Friends and Brethren Epist 217. who of the mighty Power of God have tasted in which it hath brought you to the Measure of the Life of Truth Concerning Judging and to feel after God in it unto which ye are turned as a Way that is Living and has no End which is Christ Jesus who is the Way of Peace and destroys the Devil the Author of Strife All ye that are turned unto this living Way by the Power of the mighty God of Heaven and Earth Live in Peace one with another and Unity and do not Judge one another for that eats and wears out the Good and begets the Enmity and hinders growth in Truth Keep that down and live in Love and Peace that edifies And all every where unto you this is the Word of the Lord God Live in the Power of the mighty God of Heaven and Earth that goes over the unrighteous World The Power of the mighty God in which is the Strife and the Devil and his Works which Power of God was before they were in that ye will feel Vnity which was before Strife So dwell in that in which ye may have a Kingdom that hath no End and the Dominion that is above all Dominions upon the Earth In which Power of God ye may enlarge your Borders and spread Truth abroad both to Jews Christians and Heathens having the Power of God that goes over them all and was before they were With that Power of God ye will answer the Witness of God in all and bring them to that that with that they may have a part in the Kingdom of God and a share with you of the same in which ye will have Peace Life Joy Dominion and Prosperity And so it will be your Life to do good and to beget into Life up to God and in that Power that doth so Do good ye will not labour in vain But above all things take heed of Judging one another for in that ye may destroy one another and leave one another behind and drive one another back into the World and eat out the good of one another and so hinder Vnity hinder Growth in the Life and the Power of God in which ye should have Peace and Joy in one another and Love which edifies and overcomes and gets the Victory So go on in the Truth answering it in every one in the inward parts and in the Power of God which comprehends Deceit The standing Fellowship which was before it was in that is your Life and in that the Kingdom is felt that never hath an End and the Dominion over all Dominions in that stands your Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost which is the the Spirit of God that plungeth down that which made the Separation from God in that will be your Fellowship which will stand and remain when all the Fellowships of the Earth are gone In which Fellowship in the spirit ye will have Fellowship with God the Father of Spirits and all the Scripture given forth from the same Spirit and with all the Saints that gave them forth and with their Spirits through which Spirit of God ye will be brought and come to the Spirits of Just Men which are made perfect and to God the Judge of all In which as I said before ye will have an Everlasting Fellowship in which Spirit ye will have an Vnderstanding in which Spirit ye will come to worship God the Father of Spirits and in the Truth which the Devil and his Works are out of and all the Will-worshippers So in that ye will know the Royal Dominion and Royal Fellowship in which Spirit ye will have the Spirit of Wisdom in which ye will know how to pray to God who is a Spirit and to praise and glorifie the Everlasting God who lives for ever and ever Amen! And in that ye will come to know and see to the Beginning before the World began and that which
quencheth and grieveth and vexeth the Spirit of God and that prayeth and that preacheth and that praiseth and yet grieveth and vexeth and quencheth the Spirit of God such God the Father of Spirits accepts not that judges rend to pieces and tear one another about Inventions Now ye being led by the Spirit of God up to God the Father of Spirits in which ye have the Fellowship out of all that you will be kept and in that Spirit of God the Lord God Almighty preserve you and keep you and in that meet and dwell Meetings in which your Meetings may be preserved over all that which is in the World that are out of the Spirit of God who are in Confusion contending about the Words Therefore ye in the Spirit of God answer that of God in them all So in that dwell and live and let no man take your Crown Send Copies of this to all Friends that are convinced in New-England Barbadoes and all the Islands thereways G. F. DEar Friends and Brethren Let Patience possess your Souls Epist 218. and in the Seed of God dwell that over all the Top-Stone may be laid and set And the Kingdom of Peace dwell in which hath no End To Friends in Ireland in which ye will feel the Supreme Head And in the Power of the Lord keep your Meetings which was before the Waves were or Winds either So in that look over all and keep in the Faith by which ye will have Access to God over that which separates from God in that ye will have Vnity and will not fear the Amazements which are in the Sea Fear not Amazements because of the Winds and Storms and Blusterings who know the Election which was before the World began And live in Peace and Vnity in that and send over how things are among you I am in the North at Swarthmoor And Dear Friends and Brethren be not troubled but dwell in the Seed of God whichgoeth over all this and remains and stands when all this Blustering is ended and gone Therefore look at the Lord above all and his Arm For God had a Rid in secret to fetch down these Persecutors A Rod ia secret which have long reigned in their Wickedness until they were neither fit for God nor Man hardly So again God hath a Rod in Reserve to bring down these Spirits which have been a Rod. Therefore all dwell in the Power and Spirit of God which which ye will comprehend all that which is to change with that which doth not change and hath no End in that live and ye will have an Everlasting Unity And to you this is the Word of the Lord God G. F. ALL my Dear Friends Epist 219. Dwell in the Life and Love and Power and Wisdom of God and in Unity one with another and the Peace and Wisdom of God fill all your Hearts that nothing may Rule in you but Life which stands in the Lord God G. F. FRiends Epist 220. Truth is that which is Pure and is that which the Serpent is out of for there is no Serpent in the Truth and it admits of no Impurity And so there is no Serpent in the Way of Truth to bite and hurt any for the Way being the Truth is the same as it was in the Beginning though many things have risen against it Yet it remains the same Pure Truth and Holy Way So if any one have gone from it they are for Condemnation and their Works And when any thing is once condemned and judged let it not be raised up again but keep it in the Grave and raise not up the Dead out of the Grave any more they living in the Life and Light which doth Condemn and Judge it And all live in the Love of God which gives Dominion over all and Unites and Edifies all that abide in it If among Friends Reports to be stopp'd any Reports or Surmises be about any or any Back-bitings or Whisperings all such things must be stopp'd and search'd out for thus saith the Lord Thou shalt not raise a false Report among my People And that some of the faithful Friends of every Meeting whose Sincerity is for the Glory of God his Honour and his Holy Name into which they are all called may be chosen to search out such things and follow it till they find out the Author or Authors of it that it may not lie upon any nor in any but that all may be cleared and taken out of every Mind and all the Reports stopp'd and the things that are for Judgment let them be Judged and Condemned And furthermore That Friends take notice of all such Friends as go to Sea Sea-men Merchants Masters of Ships and Passengers abroad and at home that profess the Truth That if they have any ways dis-honoured the Lord God and brought an evil Report either in their Trading Lives or Conversations upon the Truth and the good Land Directions towards Seafering Persons and dishonoured the Lord God and his Name Truth and People that they may search into the bottom of it that so if they have done any thing worthy of Condemnation and Judgment it may be past upon them without any Respect of Persons And if the Report be false let their Innocency be manifest and the Reporter reproved And so that all that profess Truth may walk in the Truth and the Light of the Lord who are Children of Light who have their Name after the Living God And all to be circumspect diligent and careful in all these things that in no wise God may be dishonoured but in all things your Lives and Words may Preach that profess the Truth And all them that have gone from England and dishonoured God beyond Sea to write over Sea to search out and know the Ground of the Matter that all Obstructins that have hindred the Glory of God and the spreading of his Truth may be taken away that the Lord's Name may not be dishonoured nor his Way and Truth evil spoken of And so all Reports being searched into in all the Plantations concerning Friends there that if any one hath done any thing to dishonour Truth beyond Sea let them come to Judgment and Condmnation and give forth Papers of the same that the Papers may be sent abroad to take off the Reproach from the Innocent and so answer the Witness of God in them through their Repentance And if they will not write their own Condemnations then Friends must write and deny them and take it out of the Mouths of the World And all Friends that have dishonoured God and his Truth and People and Friends have been to Admonish them in a Gospel-Way and they still go on in their Wickedness and not Repent Friends may draw up a Paper at their Meeting when they are clear of them against them and their disorderly Walking and unruly Spirits and Loosness in general Words not mentioning the particulars except they be
notoriously known And Friends to do this with speed Cancerning the disorderly and to bring it to the Meetings and if any one be known to be an open Offender that then there may be an open Testimony against him in the particular shewing how that we have no Vnity nor Fellowship with such Workers of Darkness and how that they cast out themselves from amongst us being gone from the Life and Power of God in which our Fellowship is And that Copies of theh Paper may be read in Meetings and the Copies of the Papers to be sent to the Men's Meetings in the Countries where they live G. F. MY Dear Friends all every where the Power of the Lord God Epist 221. that first Convinced you and his Light and Truth all wait and walk in and keep your first Habitations in the Power of the Lord God and in his Light and Life and Spirit by which all your Minds may be stay'd and kept up to the Lord God in the unchangable Light Life Power and Spirit And so ye living in the unchangable Life and Light ye see Christ that does not change but ends all Changable things Types Figures and Shadows and destroys the Author of all evil Inventions and Traditions among all the Sons and Daughters of Adam in the Fall and so live all up in the Royal Seed in which ye have Life which Life was before Death walking in the Light which was before Darkness and in the Power of God which was before the Power of Darkness was which Power of God will keep you out of all feigned Spirits creeping in a pretence of Love and Innocency to draw your Minds out from the Power of God and your first Habitations into some outward things which will draw the Mind outward from the Power and so from your Habitation of Peace through which trouble will enter as it hath done upon some which now do see how they have gone from their Habitation Therefore in the Power of the Lord God which is Everlasting in which is the Fellowship Live which Power of God is perfect in which is the perfect Fellowship which was before Imperfection was In which Power of God is the Joy and Life and ye keeping in your Habitations of the Light Life and Power of God the Gospel by which you all see and discern your own Conditions with the Spirit of discerning laying hands on no Man suddenly Spirit of discerning but proving and trying all things seeing your own Conditions by the Power of the Lord and his Light by which ye may have the Spirit of discerning waiting and walking in the Truth that ye may adorn it walking in the Truth which was before Vntruth was And whatsoever is comely decent and of good report follow and walk in which is to the answering that of God in every one for living in the Power of the Lord God through which ye have every one a Habitation in God by the Power of God ye will come over Enmity and see before it was for its Habitation is in the Earth and some outward things but the Power of the Lord God and the Truth he is out of who is the Author of Enmity and being gone out of Truth seeks to bring others out of their Habitations the Power of God Therefore live in the Power of the Lord God and keep your Habitations in the Light and Spirit in your own particulars that by it all your Minds may be subjected to God in which you may all live in Peace Love and Vnity and the Royal Spirit and Seed of Unity and Dignity which keeps over the Spirit of Strife and was before it for the Strife among the Sons and Daughters of Adam in their Fall from Righteousness and Holiness and the Image of God is about these outward things Therefore mind the Power of God and the Righteousness and Holiness and your renewings into it which was before the Fall was and follow that which makes for Peace in the Truth and in the Life and Power of God which Peace will stand in the same dwelling in Love and Unity by which ye may all honour the Truth which will keep you over all the fallen Spirits that are striving and are busie about that which is in the Fall manifesting that they be fallen from the Power of God and gone from their first Habitation in which Power of God is the Peace in which the Kingdom stands Therefore all mind that and to be Heirs of that Kingdom that stands in Righteousness Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost And so feel the Seed of God over all that set that makes to suffer which was before that was and will stand and remain when that which makes to suffer is gone in which you may all feel the Life which was in the Father before the World began and feel Christ to reign amongst you who is the Prince of Peace and Life and this will keep you from being tossed and carried about with strange Doctrines for the Seed Christ was before they all were and will remain when they are all gone in a pretence of new discoveries and outward things to bring Peoples Minds from their Habitations of Life and Truth which comprehends all things and see all things Therefore mind the Spirit of Truth and the unfeigned Love and Faith that works by it over all the Feignedness that by the Shield of Faith the Sword of the Spirit that may be cut down that none may be deceived by that but keep the Vnity of the Faith that gives you the victory and access to God and the Unity of the spirit the Bond of Peace and the Fellowship of the Gospel which is the Power of God which Power of God was before the Power of Satan was in that Live and Meet and Walk in the Name of the Lord which is a strong Tower whose Name is the Power and in the Tower is the Safety over Wickedness and before it was siting under your own Vine and abiding in it then ye abide in Christ by whom the World was made who is the Light Life and Truth and the Power of God and as ye abide there ye bear Fruit to the Glory of God and through him ye come every one to have a Habitation in God who brings out of the Fall where the Curse is to the State that Man was in before he fell in whom the Saints sit down in whom are the Pastures of Life and riches Eternal Everlasting and the Blessing of the Lord that with that ye may be cloathed And so Farewell My Love to all Friends in the Everlasting Seed of God that never changes which was before Changings were and stands when all Changings are gone that ye may know Christ to reign amongst you the Prince of Life and the Prince of Peace and the Counseller hearing the Voice of the Light the Life the Power of God and Truth 's Voice which goes before you who will give you Life abundantly even that
Apostles and Saints who sate in the heavenly Places in Christ Jesus where many sit now in Christ the Seed the First the Last and Beginning and the Ending and who sits in him as I said before sees where all the Apostatized Christians have sate since the Apostles Days who have removed their Seat from the Apostles and have not sate in the Seat the Apostles and the Saints sate in for had they sate in the heavenly Places in Christ Jesus him that destroyed the Enmity the Devil and his Works they had all sate in Vnity and Peace And they see where Jews sit where Gentiles sit and where Adam and Eve sate before they fell and where they sate in the Fall with their Sons and Daughters and where the Apostles sate in the heavenly Places in Christ Jesus They that sit in Christ they sit in him the Apostles sate in who is the First and the Last the Beginning and the Ending they see the Top and Corner-Stone over all set in which the Life flourisheth over all which was before the Devil the Power of Death and the Power of Darkness was which Seed Christ bruiseth and destroyeth the Saints sit in whom they have the Pastures of Life that floweth over all Death and was before it was and the Power of it 8. So as New-born Babes desire the sincere Milk of the Word that you may grow thereby mark the Milk that comes from the Word which was in the Beginning by that Milk is the growth and not in the Traditions handle not them nor the Rudiments nor the vain Inventions of Men neither touch them not taste them not for they perish with the using of them so then they do not grow by them But they may say Thou deniest the Means because thou dost not handle the Doctrines the Commandments the Rudiments that perish with the using Now that is not the Means but that is the Means the Milk that comes from the Word by which thou must grow thy growth is not by that which perisheth but as I said by the Milk that comes from the Word which was in the Beginning before the false Doctrines Traditions Rudiments of Men false Churches false Ways false Teachings Worship and Religion was before all these was the Word of God was thou dost not grow by any of those if thou shouldst teach them all thy Life-time and spend thy Days thou art never the nearer neither dost thou grow by them nor by the Tongues which makes their Divines the beginning of which was Babel which builds up and throws down as you may see Did they not build up the Church-Faith and Directory and now throw them down again Here is Babylon and were they not offended because you would not touch their Ordinances and told you you denied the means Now doth not the Word of God live abide and endure for ever when they are all gone So feed upon the Milk of the Word that you may grow by that Milk that comes from the Word that was before their Tongues and when you are redeemed from the Tongues and see the Beginning of Tongues Babel thou that feekest for the Milk of the Word Milk of the Word thou must seek to before Bable and Babylon was for the Word was before Babel was and stands when Babylon is down So the Milk which cometh from the Word is it by which thou must grow up in the things of God and this keeps the Eye pure and nourisheth thee up in the Word of Wisdom Word of Life Word of Patience by the Milk that comes from it up into the Word of Wisdom for Wisdom is with the grey Hairs and so up into the Life up into a living abiding State for the Word liveth and abideth for ever and by the Milk that cometh from the Word which was in the Beginning before the Fall of Man was with all the Confusions false Ways Worships Churches the Word was before they all were and abides when they are all gone feed of the Word the Milk of it and be quiet with the Milk by which thou growest and art nourished up to Everlasting Life by which thy Fruits will be unto Holiness and the End Everlasting Life feeding upon the Milk that comes from the Word which was before Vnholiness was and stands and remains when all that is gone by these you are all nourished by this you all grow in a living and abiding State upo into the Word Christ whose Name is called the Word of God in whom is the sitting down so Heirs of Christ and of Salvation inherit Salvation and Heirs of the Power of an Endless Life and Heirs of a Kingdom that hath no End and of a Power of a World to come So know this to be your Portion every one that you may be Heirs of the Blessings and inherit them that with them you may be cloathed meeting in the Name in the ftrong Tower meeting in the Spirit in which you may pray unto and worship God and sing which is the publick Worship of God which hath been lost since the Apostles Days by and amongst the inward Raveners from the Spirit of God which have been got up into particular Worshipping and Praying which if they come to the Publick they must come to the Spirit of God which their Fore-fathers inwardly ravened from and to the Publick Praying in the Spirit So dwell in the Love of God and build up your selves in the most Holy Faith and keep the Unity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace and Worship God in the Spirit and Trath which the Devil is out of and in that meet in the Truth in the Power of God which wwas before the Devil was in which is the perfect Fellowship the Gospel-Fellowship which stands in the Power of God which was before the Devil was or the Fall of Man either where all Imperfection was and is which the Power of God expels away in which is the perfect Fellowship as I said before the Worship of God is a perfect Worship it is in the Truth in the Spirit so the Truth is that the Devil is out of and all Imperfection which Truth was before Imperfection was the Worship in the Truth never changeth which is of the God of all Truth who is a Spirit and this is the perfect standing Worship which will stand when all the Worships in the Fall is gone Devil Dragon Beast and Will-worship for Truth was before they all were for they are not perfect being out of Truth our of that which is perfect So all Friends be faithful and valiant for the Truth of God upon the Earth For there are Religions only for the Summer while the Sun shines amongst the Sons of Adam in the Fall but when the Storm comes their flight is in the Winter So this Day manifesteth every Birth of what sort it is and at that look it is not professing God nor Christ nor the Scriptures nor the Ordinances but mind the Birth he that is Born of
you that suffer in the Truth and by the contrary for the Truth 's sake the Spirit of Glory will rest upon you and if you be evil spoken of for its sake being faithful on your parts Christ is Glorified AND Friends your House being built upon the Rock Christ Jesus by whom the World was made the Storms the Floods Rock Christ the Tempests you fear not but all whose House is built on the Sands the Floods the Storms beats down and washes away as you may see before your Eyes So Friends that are come to the beginning see over Storms and Tempests and Floods and live on the Rock which was before they were on that you may rest safe and in peace And Friends Fear not him that can kill the Body I say fear him not that can spoil thy Goods be not afraid of them for when they have done that they can do more for the Life is over them all they cannot touch that So mind that which is over them all G. F. DEar Friends whom Death Epist 224. Bonds nor the outward Creatures can separate from the Love of God in Christ Jesus Live in Peace and Love one with another and keep above that Sraightned Spirit of Strife which is below and out of the Power and Truth and Life of God Dwell in Dominion in Love in Life and in Vnity one with another in the Power of God which was before the Power of Darkness was and in the Seed of God which was before Enmity was and that you may all know Christ's Reign And feed in the Pastures of Life and none stain your Virginity nor Holiness where lieth your Beauty And all that Minister abroad walk as Examples to them you Minister to And keep in Peace that you may not destroy them that you do minister to So in the Fear of God live and spread the Truth abroad and set the Truth over all and in it live in which you will have Unity So my Love is in the Seed of God which is Immortal to you all G. F. FRiends keep in the Power of the Lord Epist 225. which will bring you over all to the Fine Linnen the Righteousness of the Saints and your Bread of Life and the same Power of the Lord will bring all your Persecuters to Rags and Poverty When they have done their Work they will have their Wages when the Righteous and Wicked have done their Work each shall have their Wages and so do not think the Time long For each must have their Day to do their Work in when the Wicked's Sun is gone down their Day is ended and then they are Reconed withal and payed and then the People of God's Day approches wherein according to their Works they shall have the Rewards of Life Eternal THE Power of God is over all P. S. and they that keep in it it will carry them over all G. F. MY Dear Friends Epist 226. in the Everlasting Seed and Covenant of Life be valiant for the Truth upon the Earth and dwell in the Power of the Lord God and never heed that which makes to Suffer but the Power of the Lord which was before it was and all live in that and spread the Truth abroad and every one improve your Lord and Master's Money your Talent to the advantage of your Lord. And be of good Faith and Valiant for the Truth you who are gathered in the Name of Jesus keep your Meetings in his Name over all the Meetings which are gathered by the Sons of Adam in the Fall and look over all Prisons and out ward Boads which are in time and will have an end at the Power of God look which hath no end in which your Life is and Peace Crown and Dominion and think not the time long that the Rod of the Wicked should lie on your Backs but rejoyce in Tribulations and Persecutions which is for the Trial of your Faith that it may be found more precious than Gold that perisheth For remember that Christ the Word was Tried and Christ is the Tried Stone and all the Prophets Apostles and Martyrs were Tried for their Testimony to the precious Pearl Seed and Truth and what Sufferings they had in all Ages were for the same by the dark World which was not worthy of them who were as Pilgrims and Strangers in the Earth and many of them forsook their Native Land and Country And so live in that which glorifieth the Lord you who know the Kindness Love and Mercies of God and are made partakes of the Heavenly Riches and of the Inheritance that never fadeth away and are Heirs of the Kingdom that never hath an end and are partakers of the Promises and Blessings that was before the Curse was and know the New Covenant made manifest in your Hearts and the Law of God there written and the Anointing within you to teach you and then you need no Man to teach you but as it doth teach you So abide in him and learn of him in whom God is well pleased and none turn to them which God is not well pleased with For you who are Children of God are not to look for Salvation from the Hills neither to look at the Arm of Flesh nor to put Confidence in Man who are redeemed from under the Curse and the Fear of Man and are bought with a Price the Blood of Jesus Christ and so are not your own and cannot do your own Wills nor other Mens but are to glorifie your Father which is in Heaven And so dwell in the Love of God together and in Peace and Unity and Fellowship in the Seed and Life For there is your growth and therein ye grow in Grace and Faith together The Lord God Almighty preserve you all in his Everlasting Arm and Hand which is his Power over all to his Glory bearing one with another in the gentle Wisdom which is peaceable and from above For how Joyful a thing it is for Brethren to dwell together in Vnity and hereby it is known that you are the Desciples of Christ if you love one another and a Mark that you are passed from Death to Life if you Love one another And so the Lord God preserve your Minds and Souls and Hearts all Holy and Pure to his Glory and all live and sit down in Christ the Seed who is the Faithful Witness the Amen the First and Last the beginning and ending No more but my Love is to you all in the Everlasting Seed Christ Jesus that never fell And Dear Friends keep low for there is no danger G. F. SIng and Rejoyce ye Children of the Day and of the Light Epist 227. for the Lord is at work in this thick Night of Darkness that may felt And Truth doth flourish as the Rose and the Lilies do grow among the Thorns and the Plants a-top of the Hills and upon them the Lambs doth skip and play And never heed the Tempests nor the Storms
Floods nor Rains for the Seed Christ is over all and doth reigh And so be of good Faith and Valiant for the Truth For the Truth can live in the Goals And fear not the loss of the Fleece for it will grow again and follow the Lamb if it be under the Beast's Horns or under the Beast's Heels for the Lamb shall have the Victory over them all And so all live in the Seed Christ your Way that never fell and you do see over all the ways of Adam's and Eve's Sons and Daughters in the Fall And in the Seed Christ your Way you have Life and Peace and there you do see over all the ways of Adam in the Fall in which there is no Peace So in the Seed Christ stand and dwell in whom you have Life and Peace the Life that was with the Father before the World began The 9th Month 1663. G. F. DEar Friends who have tasted of that which is precious Epist 228. and have felt the Truth convincing of you and also felt the Power of the Lord God I feel something amongst some of you that is not right and how that such get up into the wise Part but are out of the Power and out of the Life and with that Judges and are beholding the Moats in others Eyes whilst the Beam is in their own Eyes Oh! Abuse not the Power in which is the Gospel-Fellowship which will keep all in Unity and grieve not the Spirit in which is the true Fellowship and the Bond of Peace Keep down High-mindedness despise not Prophesies and quench not the Spirit in the least for that is Flesh and not Spirit in your selves that doth so Judge not before the time that the Lord do come who brings to light all the hidden things of darkness in you run not into outward things that is the fleshly Mind that will run from one thing and so be restless and will not know what Seat to sit in after it hath been in one outward thing it will run into another and call it his growth in the Truth and fall a Judging others but that Jadgment is after the Flesh and there growth is in the Flesh for the Fruits of it is Strife Backbitings Whisperings and leads to Idleness Busie-Bodies from House to House Slandering Scandalizeing Vilisying and are in Lightness out of the Fear of God in Varience and sowing Dissention and these are the Seeds-Men of the Flesh and not of the Spirit and so feeds one another with that which burdens the Seed and quenches the Spirit and destroys the Love and Vnity which Love you should grow in So the Fruits of every Birth manifesteth it self the Fruits of the Spirit is Love and Peace and Truth and Plainness and Righteousness and Godliness But the Frutis of the Flesh are Backbitings Whisperings Lyings Slanderings Scandalizing And therefore mind what this Birth hath brought forth and shame it that hath cryed up outward things and what it hath run into and what it hath drawn you into that are in it and what it hath rent you from and whether you are not come to a loss and whether you are not gone into the Flesh and into the Air and lost your first Habitations of Tenderness and Compassion for every Birth knows its own and is grieved when it s own is Judged and that will never love plain Dealing and righteous Judgment which is honest and true but will have the false Prophets Cushion and Pillow and can neither endure sound Doctrine nor Judgment And therefore mind your first Habitation and first Love and that which did Convince you that you may all come into Life and Power to sit down in the Habitation of it in Love and Life and Vnity and let there not be a Backbiter nor Slanderous Tongue nor Lyar nor Whisperer Reproacher nor a Busie-body found amongst you for if there be it will leaven one another and bring Darkness and Death upon you Therefore as I said before Dwell in the Power of God in which you may keep Vnity Life Love and Peace and in which Power of God you may be drawn up out of Satan's Power into the Power of God in which is my Life and in it is my Habitation and Dwelling where I know the unspotted Garment hid from all the unclean Beasts Tongues Lips Hands and Eyes and Blessed are all you that keeps in the Power and have kept your first Habitation for you grow up as Calves in the Stall and such gad not abroad to change their ways for the Birth of the Flesh would have some outward thing to feed upon but the Birth of the Spirit reigns over it Farewell Lancaster Prison the 6th Day G. F. FRiends Epist 229. Let not your Knowledge be after the Flesh but in the Spirit Let not your Fellowship be in the Flesh but let it be in the Spirit So know Vnity in the Spirit and in the Gospel Let not your Affections be in the Flesh and on things below but let them be set on things that are above and on things that are heavenly above the things below Let not your Souls be subject to the Lower Power of Darkness which is out of the Truth lest you bring Destruction upon your own selves but let your Souls be subject to the Higher Power that is above the Lower Power of Darkness Let your Acquaintance and Familiarity be in the Spirit over that which would ensnare or entangle you and bring you not Bondage Let all your Minds be Heavenly and not Earthly Let all your Minds be Spiritual and kept above all that which is Carnal then they are kept out of Death in Life and in Peace For the Invisible is above all the Visible and the Immortal is above the Mortal and the Eternal is above the External and the Incorruptible is above the Corruptible As Life is above Death Life Light and Truth over the contraries and Truth is above Error and Falshood and Light is above Darkness and Righteousness is above Unrighteousness so the Goldy are above the Ungodly and Holy above the Prophane the Just is above the Unjust and the true Prophets and the true Ministers or Preachers and Apostles and the true Desciples are above all the False And the true Christ is above all the Anti-Christs and God is above the Devil and Virture is above Vice and the true Worship in the Spirit and in the Truth is above the false which is out of the Spirit and the Truth and the true Belief and Faith and Hope is above the false Belief which is Unbelief and the Living Faith is above the Dead Faith and the Hope that is the Anchor both sure and stedfast Anchors the Soul in the great Sea the World Sure Anchor when the Liviathan maketh a Storm among the Tongues Peoples Nations and Languages which are as Waters then the true Hope standeth and stayeth and is sure and stedfast and keeps the Soul up to God a-top of the Sea
that the Thorns choak it and the Cares of the World they are such Stony Hearts that the Seed hath not much Earth that when Tryals and Persecutions comes with its heats it is scorched by the heat of the Sun And therefore be ye all warned of these Natures both of the Stony and of the Thorny and of the High-way Ground and of the Fowles and of the Air. And Friends keep down feigned Flattery Keep in the Truth that brings to plain-heartedness that all may be the good Ground that you may abound in Goodness and Righteousness and Holiness for Peace is sown to the Righteous and Gladness to the upright in Heart and see that you walk in the Light and the Life that it may be your Life that you may have Treasure in your Vessels that you may enter in with the Bridegroom having the Oil in your own Lamps that you may inherit the Life that is above all the foolish Talkers which be out of the Peace the Second Adam in whom the Peace is and the Life for they that be in Strife about the Body of Christ are in Adam in the Fall and they are neither at Peace in themselves with God nor Christ nor them that be in Christ so whatever Men or People profess their End manifests them and crowns them with Death or Life So live in the Word which all ends in the Seed this keeps over all Pretences in the Substance and over the Airy Spirits that be out of the Life running up and down sowing Dissention Tatling and Back-biting and Whispering and setting one against another The Seed Christ is over that Spirit and he hath little room in their Hearts for they are abroad in the Fields Above the World lifting up themselves higher than the World but are worse to deceive the Simple but Truth and the Light and the Life is over all that in which all keep your Habitation for Adam lost his Habitation and so his Sons and Daughters who are in the Disobedience are in the Fall and the Jews lost their Habitation from the Love of God and so they lost their Authority and were mingled among the Heathen And the Apostate-Christians lost their Habitation from the Life and Power that the Apostles were in And so have brought all Christendom into Heaps and Sects about outward things being out of the Life and Word which was in the Beginning before the Apostacy and the Fall was So live in the Word in that you have Life and Dominion and Authority over all that which Adam and Eve's Sons and Daughters invented and also over all in the Fall In which Word you have Wisdom as I said before and there is a faithful Witness Christ whose Name is called the Word and he is the First and the Last the Beginning and the Ending the Amen And Friends keep over all the Bustlings and Wars and Strife and the Talkers of such things among the Sons of Adam in the Fall you that be in Christ Jesus that never fell in whom is the Peace who makes the First Adam's Sons and Daughters to break their Swords into Plough-Shares and their Spears into Pruning-Hooks that they shall not learn War any more for they that be there are in the foolish State but they that are in Christ are in the wise State and have Spiritual Weapons though accounted by the World foolish yea the Wisdom of God is so to the Wisdom of the World which is Foolishness And so you that the Lord hath blessed in outward things for his Truth keep over them and out of them serving the Lord who hath blessed you lest you be intangled So keep above them in the Righteous Life and Conversation that Righteousness may flow to all Men in all things Honesty and Truth and that which doth Justice and doing justly that may flourish for whose Conversation is ordered aright they shall see the Salvation of God keep out of all Heats and Passions and over the tempestuous Spirits the ground of which is Vncleanness all which are up and down and sudden which makes a Mountain of Wickedness and Vnholiness and keeps out of the Holy Mountain which they that walk in the Light of the Lord goes to and they are taught his Ways Take heed of a false Liberty in any thing to the Flesh but keep your first Love and Habitation in the Power and Truth of God for the lowly Mind the humble and meek and broken and contrite Spirit and Heart the Lord doth not despise but exalt Keep out of the many Words of the World and take heed of a liberty of going into them but keep in the Power of the Lord God over all which was before all and is over all that your Lives and Conversations may preach to all Men and adorn the Truth of God and speak in the Hearts of all Men. Forsake not the assembling of your selves together as the manner of some was in the beginning of the Apostacy which entred into the reasoning Part and so went from the Exhorting daily and the Building and the Fellowship and the Communion of the Saints in the Spirit and from the Flocks and the Garden of God which he waters with his Water of Life and feeds with his Bread of Life and sets open his broad Rivers of Living Water to drink And such as forsake the Assemblies of the Righteous some for fear of the Earth and Sufferings become quarrelling Spirits and so go out of the Path of the Flocks Footsteps and sits not down with the Flock at Noon-day in the heavenly Places in Christ Jesus for there the Flocks meet and there they have all a Fountain through which they are all of one Soul and Mind and Judgment and Heart and Spirit and comes to be gathered out of all the Separations and Sects and Fellowships and Gatherings and Meetings of Adam and Eve in the Fall and sits down in Christ Jesus that never fell where the Fulness is and the Life in whom there is no Shadow no Variableness nor Turning in him that is the Way But Oh the Poverty the Shadows the Variableness the Turnings the Worships and Traditions and the Sects that be in the World among the Sons of Adam in the Fall Oh the Riches that is in him that never fell the Peace and the Life that was with the Father before the World began the Amen And Friends take heed of the vain Inventions and Arts of the World keep out of their Rhimes and their Verses for they are the Arts of Men and stirs up the light part and lifts up that that pertains to it self that is stirred up that will turn in the end to the Strife or the Earth But you that lives in the Word of God that never fell changes nor alters do not but as you are moved by it and that will stand and remain in whom you may know a Dwelling Life over Death and before it was for the Serpent that got into Adam and Eve by Disobedience they
of Iron Christ's Rod shall and will devour all the Serpents and Lying Wonders of the Spiritual Egypt and Sodom yea and all the Serpents that be in all Nations for all Nations are to be ruled by it And Moses Song was sung when his Rod had devoured the Serpents and the outward Egyptians in the Sea So the Lamb's Song shall be known as all the Spiritual Egyptians Serpents are devoured by Christ's Rod and the Spiritual Egyptians being overthrown in the Sea the Jews in Spirit shall rejoyce and sing the Song of the Lamb. The Abomination made Desolation that 's spoken of by Daniel the Prophet which should come in after the daily Sacrifice was taken way and should continue One Thousand Two Hundred and Ninety Days this Abomination that hath made Desolate from the Truth Light Life and the Power of God true Religion and true Worship and true Church and Fellowship So the Beast that John saw and speaks of which must continue Forty Two Months and the Whore the false Church upon the Beast which Beast should be Worshipped Forty Two Months the time of his continuing and the Whore should sit in her Scarlet the false Church upon the Beast The true Church this time has been in the Wilderness a Thousand Two Hundred and Threescore Days which is now come out again and the Man-Child is come down from Heaven to Rule all with his Rod of Iron and the Lamb and the Saints shall have the Victory who make War in Righteousness and are going on Conquering and to Conquer And so you followers of the Lamb be faithful and valiant for the Truth upon the Earth and heed not your Native Soil but mind the Birth that 's born and brought forth from the Womb of Eternity that separates you from your Mother's Womb by which you believe in God and fear not Man what he can do unto you neither look at the Hills for Salvation for the Lord can make the Rocks a standing Pool and the Mountains Streams And therefore dwell in the Power of God which was before the Fall of Man was whose fallen Spirit persecutes those who are come to taste of the Power of Christ's Resurrection and Life and in this Power of God you will not be weary nor faint which was before the fallen Spirit was that doth assault you and in this Power you will have stability content comfort joy and peace and keep over that Spirit let it not have power over you that may receive the Truth in a Notion and may be a little Civilized by it that is ready to joyn with every gain-saying Core and is ready to wander after every strange thing that 's new and so will follow strange Flesh who are uncleansed by the Power of Truth and unestablished in it and such often hath their Religion to seek that lives in Questionings and Disputings in carnal Reasons out of the Power of God in which is the Fellowship the one thing which is Christ the Substance in which all Stability is felt which has little room in such Hearts G. F. ALL you Prisoners of the Lord for his Truths sake Epist 234. and for keeping the Testimony of Jesus Christ against all the evil Inventions Traditions Rudiments Will-Worships feigned Humilities and Self-Righteousness of them that be in the Fall who are out of God's Power and Righteousness who have no Weapons but Carnal like themselves Carnal Your Patience must overcome all these rough and hasty Spirits in the World and your Love must bear all things for Patience obtains the Crown which is Immortal which runs the Race So it is the Lamb must have the Victory over all the unclean airy Spirits and over him that is out of the Truth So be Meek and Low then you follow the Example of Christ and come to bear the Image of the Just who suffered by the Vnjast and put on his Righteousness who suffered by the Vnrighteous whose Back was struck and his Hair was pluck'd off and Face was spit upon and yet cried Father forgive them Here he kept his Dominion a Sufferer who had the Victory which the Followers of the Lamb do in Measure attain unto So put on Conrage put on Patience Let your Loyalty be known for your King that hath conquered the Devil Death and Hell in walking in Righteousness Peace and Truth feeling the Power of God teaching every one of you when that Words are not uttered And let your Faith be in the Power that goes through all things and over all things and every one hearken to it So the Power of the mighty God know the Arm and how it works and the Hand how it carries you which brings out of Tribulation and Thraldom and Spiritual Egypt into Peace And this is the Power of God in which you will feel to before Enmity was and be at Peace one with another then you live in the Prince of Peace his Kingdom and Dominion and Life in which is Vnity which was before Enmity was which destroys it And so in the Power of the Lord God you are made strong which goes over the Power of Darkness and was before it was which is out of the Power of God And all People that are from the Witness of God in their own particulars they are all weak and seeble and stagger All Men and Womens Strength is in the Power of God that goes over the Power of Darkness So feel all this to go through all and over all Preaching and working in you and let the Ear be lent to it and hearken to it in one another And by it feel the Seed raised up in one another which is Heir of the Power that you may know each your Portion For all People that be from the Witness of God in their own particulars that be erred from it and hate the Light they are full of Darkness Sin and Iniquity Inspiration and Revelation while their Minds are erred from the Spirit of God in themselves is hid from them So when their Minds are turned with the Light and Spirit of God towards God then with it they shall know something of Revelation and Inspiration as they are turned with that of God from the Evil and emptied of that then there will be some room in them for something of God to be revealed and inspired into them And therefore in that they will have Prophesies and seeing things to come being turned from the Evil that hath darkened them and separated them from God in which they will see the Covenant through which they will come to have Peace with God G. F. FRiends Epist 235. You who now come to suffer by a Land-Flood keep on the Rock for there is Safety though a Storm be in the Sea and the Flood be great and the Winds great and the Way rough and crooked the Seed Christ can make all plain And so think not the Winter and Cold Weather nor the Night long for the Lillies do grow and the Gardens do give a good
smell and there is a difference between the Carnal Mind and the Spiritual and the meetings of Adam in the Fall and them that be gathered into Christ the Resurrection and the Life and Power and Spirit And the Sun shines and the Light is clear and not dim that you may see your Way and Life though there is a Storm and Tempest in the Sea And so mind the Summer and singing of Birds and not the Winter and Night in which evil Beasts do yell And so blessed and happy are you that have the Oil in your Lamps and have risen at the Voice of the Bridegroom and have laid up in store against this Day that is come which now all the rich in Profession who thought they had something are come to Poverty your old Opposers And the Rock remaineth And therefore all and every one from the Highest to the Lowest let none take your Crown but be Faithful for the Lord's Ears are open to the Cries of his oppressed and afflicted Ones he heareth the Groans and Cries Day and Night of them And the Lord's Eye is open and he sees all the Actions of Men and Times and Seasons are in his Hands who is King of Kings and Lord of Lords the Strong and All-sufficient Omnipotent God Elshdy who destroyeth the Destroyer and ruineth him that would destroy and ruine all who by his Seed destroyeth him and his Works And so in the Seed sit down in whom ye have Life and Peace and he remaineth and changeth not who now reigneth and is over all and in him live that hath been slain-from the Foundation of the World and prisoned and pressed as a Cart with Sheaves and yet gave his Back and Cheeks to the Smiter and his Hairs to the Pluckers of them off And so in him the Second Adam you will not be weary nor faint nor think the time long of your Sufferings For all the Weariness and Faintings is in Adam in the Fall And so your Church being in God and your Worship in the Spirit and Power and Truth which the Devil is out of and your Fellowship in the Gospel the Power of God which was before the Devil was keep your Fellowship in the Power of God and look above all outward Sufferings and dwell in that which is above all and will stand when all other is gone And so dwell in the Love of God and in the Vnity of the Spirit one with another And in that the Lord God Almighty preserve you all yea over all that which is contrary to his Power to his Glory for ever Amen G. F. ALL my Dear Friends in the Everlasting Power Epist 236. Life and Truth live for you cannot live without it in the Winds and Storms And though the Hills and the Mountains are burnt and the Trees are become fruitless and that Winter hath devoured the former Fruits and you do see that Persecution hath choaked them and the Heat hath scorched them whereby the untimely Figs are fallen and the Corn is withered on the House-top and the Night is come and the Evil Beasts go out of their Den But Truth lives and the Power of God is over them all and Christ ruleth and there is Bread of Lafe and Water of Life in him and in his House though the Caterpillers and Locusts are agreed to eat up all the Green But as you are in the Truth you are in its Day and they in the Darkness are in the Day of Darkness And all who are in the Truth rejoyce through Christ in the God of Truth and never heed Prisons for they are but for a time and mind him who hath all Times and Seasons in his Hand And never heed the raging Waves of the Sea nor be troubled at his Tongue that speaks nothing but Tribulation Anguish and Bondage nor be troubled at the Cords of the Ungodly for the Cords of Love the Power of God are stronger And what doth he that sits in Heaven but laugh them to scorn And so be Valiant for the Truth upon the Earth for the Power is the Lords And so my Love to all Friends in the Everlasting Seed that never fell nor changeth G. F. MY Dear Friends and Brethren Epist 237. The Lord is with you all every where who suffer for his Name and Truths sake in all your Bonds and Afflictions be of good Comfort for the Lord is with you neither be dismay'd at your Sufferings for if you suffer Christ suffereth and if you be persecuted it is Christ that is persecuted and if you be not visited it is Christ that is not visited and if you be opprest it is He that is opprest And He will lay no more upon you than you are able to bear And the Angel of his Presence suffered with the Outward Jew and Christ suffereth with the Inward Jew in the Spirit And so hath a fellow-feeling with you all in all your Bonds and Afflictions and Christ who suffereth will overcome all his Enemies He reigns and they must be his Footstool to stand upon And so be of good Faith and be Valiant for the Turth upon the Earth G. F. MY Dear Friends and Brethren all every where Epist 238. Keep your Habitation and your First Love and do not go forth from your Rule of Faith and Life within in which you all have Vnity and Fellowship and the Lord will be your Comforter and Teacher And if you do not go forth from the Light Spirit and Truth within the Light you will feel to guide and lead you and instruct you And by it you may have Immortality put upon you And be not ashamed of Christ Jesus the Light and Life and Teacher nor of his Spirit to lead you For can they find no occasion against you but because you worship God in Spirit and obey Christ Jesus his Command And so as the old Cry was Away with such a Fellow from the Earth it is not fit for him to live so it is now But blessed are those that keep their Habitations clean and live in the Power of the Lord which was before the Curse was G. F. A General Epistle to all Friends ALL my Dear Friends and Brethren Epist 239. who are of the Royal Seed of God Patience obtains the Victory that runs the Race and obtains the Crown be married and joyned to the Seed Christ the Lamb slain form the Foundation of the World form its Foundation I say For as you are joyned to the Seed and married to that which hath been slain from the Foundation of the World which hath the Victory and doth overcome by this you come to the End of the World mark to its End And now all Friends look upon the Sufferings that have been since the Fall and since the World began And again look upon the Valiant Prisoners and such as stood with the Lord and for the Lord and followed and obeyed his Movings and Motions and Commands with the Victory they had how they
which types out the Life that is to say Christ who redeems up out of the Fall which Man was in before he fell and up into the State of Christ which shall never fall unto himself And in this Man seeth the Blessed State how all things were Good and Bless'd and how all the Works of God are perfect and he himself God's Work who set him in Dominion before he fell as he was in the Power Image and Righteousness of God And so Christ who brings Man out of the Fall whom all the Types Figures and Shadows and typical things figured forth all which he ends and is the Substance of all variable and changable things in whom all the true Christians have Life and live in his Life Now the Janglings of the Jews against the Christians was about their outward things in the First Covenant Law and First Priesthood that held up thess things in opposition to the Christians which God had commanded not seeing him whom the true Christians witnessed who restored them out of all the changeable things up into the State Man was in before he fell and before those Types Figures and changeable things were which since the Days of the Apostles and also in their Days things were getting up which the Apostles judged and setting up also by such whom the Apostles judged and denied and set forth Orders and Comliness among the Saints and preached up the Substance Christ in whom there is no Shadow Changing nor Variableness And that the Heat of some Spirits got up so high about their outward things that when they were not owned nor received their Sacrifices and their Will-Worships and their feigned Humility and their observing of Days and Times and for bidding Marriages setting up their Doctrines and Traditions which was not to be touched tasted nor standled they went enviously into Cain's ay and Balaam's and got great Men on their sides and admired their Persons because of their Advantage Such went from the Voice of God which brought them out of Egypt as Core did And all the envious Spirits rose against them that were in the Power of God in all Ages because they could not observe their outward things which they had set up to be observed which they that were in the universal Power of God which was before the Fall was could never do for their Freedom stands in that therefore is Cain wrathful against his Brother who is the Wanderer and Vagabond from God's Voice Way Life and Acceptation So ye may read all the State in the Fall from God's Power where the forcing and compelling to outward things hath been which hath kept People out of the Power and from coming up to the Beginning again and from the universal Fellowship in which Fall and Apostacy have they broken to pieces into many Sects Heads Heaps Names and Peoples Therefore ye all dearly beloved Friends that know the universal Power of God that goes over all the Apostacy and the Fall where the Curse and Wrath and Wo is to the Beginning you know the Redemption out of this State into the Beginning where all things are blest to you that live in Love and Life in which ye have the Everlasting Peace with God And so keep in the universal Eye and the Power of God which keeps you over all to the Beginning which is the pure Eye for the impure Eye is in the Fall out of God's Power for all the setting up outward things in the Apostacy and in the Fall doth but keep People from home and from going home that is to the State which Man was in before he fell up into that State home again which when come thither he is come both out of the Fall and also out of the Apostacy Now they that do so to wit set up outward things gathers People to themselves not unto God nor home again to their first Habitation for they who set up outward things lost their first Habitation to keep People in the Fall Adam and Eve lost their Habitation Cain lost his Habitation not doing well Balaam from his Prophecy and his Habitation not doing well And all they that went from the Apostles in Cain Core's and Balam's Way lost their Habitations and so came under a Chain of Darkness As likewise all they that are inwardly Ravened from the Spirit of God who are gone into outward things since the Apostles Days in the Apostacy have lost their Habitation and set up outward things to keep others out of their Habitations and then if they do not observe them they are wrathful against them like Cain And Core went from his Habitation from the Power that brought him out of Egypt and so such come under the Chain of Darkness who lose their Habitations and they that lost their Habitations lose their first Love Therefore to you all this is the Word of the Lord God who have tasted of his Power and believed in his Light and enjoyed his Light by which ye see his Seed keep your Habitations then ye keep your first Love then ye keep Vnity and Fellowship then ye keep Dominion And let Cain Balaam Core and all the Apostates and the Devils out of Truth and the Sons of Adam in the Fall Roar and Rage never so much ye in your Habitations and in your Houses coming up to the Beginning ye are safe and at peace In which ye feel the Power and Life and Seed of God that never alters nor changes in which ye have the Blessing and Promise of God and know the State where the curse is to them that goes from their Habitation and so lose their First Love In which ye in your Habitations and first Love abiding the Power of God and his Seed the Top-Stone is over all set And in the Wisdom of God ye come to answer that of God in every one and so come into Dominion and the Habitation in which ye hear the Voice of God and see the blessed State where all things are Bless'd as I said before before the Apostacy that Man was drove from God in which ye feel Life and Power and the Seed which remains when all that which is in the Fall and Apostacy is gone in which ye know the Kingdom of the Son of God that lasts for ever in which ye know the Worship of God in Spirit and Truth which the Devil is out of and the Fellowship of the Gospel which was before the Devil was and the Fellowship of the Cross which crucifies from the State of Adam and Eve with their Sons and Daughters in the Fall and in that be glad and rejoyce in which ye have Settlement and Stablishment and come to the Church in God Therefore ye in the universal Seed of God and Power of God which fathoms all things that never ends nor changeth in that all dwell and live that the Seed ye may feel over all set and the Top-Stone over all laid which is the First and the Last G. F. DEar Friends Keep your
Meetings in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ that never fell Epist 241. in which you may see over all the Meetings that are gathered by all the Sons of Adam that are out of the Power and Life You that are gathered in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ that never feel him will you feel in the midst of your Gatherings in the Light Life and Truth And so look over all the Wicked's Prisons at the Seed of God Christ which was before they were and will stand when they are all gone And so never heed the Wicked's Tempest Storm nor Hail nor his Arrows nor Instruments of Cruelty let nor the Back and the Hair the Cheek and the Shoulder be ever turned from him though many Weapons be formed against him and his followers yet they shall never Prosper for the Seed Christ shall reign over all and will stand when they are gone which was before they were And so be Faithful unto the Lord God and be Valiant for his Truth upon Earth Shewing that something will oppose it or else what need the word Valiant be spoken And so mind the Truth and not the Wicked's Persecutions and the Living Way which is Christ Jesus who never fell nor changeth in which you may see over all Adam's Sons and Daughters Ways in the Fall who do change being in the Way Christ Jesus that never fell who doth not change in this Way you have Life Eternal in which you see over all in the Fall in which is Death and so Christ being the Way he that forsakes his Way forsakes his Life and he that doth not come out of the Way of Adam that fell into the Way of Adam that never fell lives in Death So let all haste and run for their Lives into Adam that never fell out of Adam that fell for Adam's Ways that fell are the Ways of Death but Adam that never fell is the Way of Life In Adam in the Fall is Trouble and Unquietness but in Adam that never fell is Peace and Rest In Adam in the Fall is Shadows and Turnings but in Adam who is the Living Way is no Shadows nor Turnings So every one in Adam that never fell Christ Jesus who never changeth the same yesterday to day and for ever then you are in the Living Way in which you all have Life in Christ the Living Way which never fell And so He is the Way and he that forsakes the Way Christ forsakes his Life In this all may sound forth Who hath any thing against this Way Christ who nevr fell nor changed 'T was Adam changed and Eve changed and their Sons and Daughters in the Fall are in the falling changing changable Ways But who are in Christ that never fell sees over them all in the Fall that turns about with every Wind as it ariseth And so in your Way live all in Christ Jesus so will you feel Light Life and Power that Life which was with the Father before the World began In that all Feed and in that feel Power and that way never changeth with the Winds and Tempest and the cry is Haste haste out of Adam and Eve's evil Ways in the Death Fall and Changings and run run out of them into the Second Adam the Life and the Way that never fell nor changeth G. F. The Saints Weapons are Spiritual that the Blessing of God may come upon all Men. WE are not against any Man Epist 242. but desire that the Blessing of the Lord may come upon all Men and that which brings the Curse may be destroyed and in patience do we wait for that and with Spiritual Weapons against it do we wrestle and not against any Man or Woman's Person For amongst Us Christ is King who bringeth the Blessing and destroyeth that which brought the Curse And whoever dwells in Righteousness Man or Woman and loves Mercy and doth Justly and walks Humbly with God and hath the Humility which goes before the Honour we are not against But whosoever doth Unrighteously or doth not Justly nor Righteously nor walk Humbly before God and will have Honour before Humility God will overturn such by his Power And in that let your Faith be for we look not at Persons but at the Power of God and know the reign of Christ amongst us And as it is said God save the King or God bless the King we would not have him nor any Man destroyed but saved and so blessed And the saved Man will not suffer any thing to rule that destroys and so our Mind is and we would that all Men were saved and come to the knowledge of the Truth which the Persecutors are out of And all Friends dwell in the endless Power of the Lord in which the Supremacy is known and the Power which hath no end whose Dominion is over all Dominions and will stand when all other have an end and in that is the Patience felt which runneth the Race and obtaineth the Crown and that hath the Wisdom which is sweet and cool and pure whereby the living Truth hath the Supremacy and Dominion and in that keep your Meetings G. F. ALL my Dear Friends Epist 243. this is your Day to stand in him that stood stedfast and reign'd over old Adam and the Devil and all the Persecutors Old Adam did not stand but Christ the second Adam the heavenly Man stood and never fell Ye I say in him stand for now is your time to stand in the Life over Death and in the Light over Darkness and in the Seed that bruises the Serpent's Head in whom you all have Life Dominion and Peace The Lord is coming upon the Wicked in his Thundering Power for they are ripe For they are all corrupt with Blood and their Flesb is rotten and they are all fallen into the Pit being led by their Blind Guides into the Pit and Ditches where they are rot and stink being putrified with the heat of their Lusts G. F. To Friends in Barbadoes Virginia Maryland New-England and elsewhere OH Epist 244. You all that have tasted of the Power of the Lord God and of his Truth that is pure and doth not admit of any impurity nor change O! therefore the holy Truth mind which will let nothing that is unholy in you live For nothing that is unholy can enter into the Kingdom of God and none that are disobedient to Truth must enter into the Paradise of God for because of Disobedience was Man and Woman put out of Paradise And therefore all every where mind the pure Power of the Lord God and the Truth which first Convinced you and whatsoever is gotten up through the Carnal Reason and your Eyes going from the Power of God and that which doth Convince you let that be purged out of your Hearts if not it will lift up your Hearts to Consultations Subtilty Questionings Reasonings and Disputes Oh! I fell too much of that which hath gotten up into the wrong understanding
part through which wrong Liberty gets up which will bring a Plague into the Heart which is worse than an outward Plague O therefore consider the Life and the Power of God hath not the Supremacy in all your Hearts for I feel some Minds and some Bodies have let in that which hath defiled them and doth defile them O Cleanse cleanse cleanse and joyn to the pure Immortal Power for the Power of the Lord God will make room for it self either in cleansing or in vomiting or casting out them and that that doth not joyn to the Power of God Sodom that Whorish and Adulterous Spirit it must to the Fire and gainsaying Core into the Earth And it will throw down that which hath been lifted up The Beesom of the Lord is going forth to sweep the Candle of the Lord is lighted to search every corner of your Houses for the Just walks in the Path which is a shining Light which admits of no rubbish in it O come out of all these things which you have entertained in your Minds which you received not from them that came to minister unto you in the Beginning O dwell in the Power of the Lord God for to keep you low and take heed of getting up into Conceitedness and the Air and to set up that which pertains not to the Kingdom of God but to Strife which never the Apostles nor the Saints since in the Power of God set up for if you do the Power of God will sweep it and you all away And O you that come to be Vessels of Honour and Vessels of the Mercies of God have esteem of your Bodies for such as defile their Bodies are neither Vessels of Honour nor Vessels of the Mercies but of Wrath and are for the Wrath. Therefore keep out Strife keep out Fornication and the Adulterous Spirit keep out the Lusts of the Eye the Lusts of the Flesh and Pride of Life which is not of the Father that that which is of the Father may be received and have an entrance into every Vessel O be not lifted up with a vain Mind and let Balaam's Nature be slain that erreth from the Spirit and raiseth Stumbling-blocks and such as keep not their First Habitation in the Power of God and his Truth become Enemies to such as are Heirs of the Kingdom and the Power of an endless Life Therefore all Friends and People mind that which first convinced you that Power of God which first awakended you and arise and live in it that all your Eyes Minds and Hearts may be kept single and naked to God and to one another and uncloathed of all that which is contrary and is got up since For the Seed and the Life of Christ Jesus reigns and rules Glory to him for ever I have been uncapable to write or receive Writing along time or to speak or bear to be spoken to but have been as a Man buried alive for else I should have writ to you before now and therefore O Dear Friends give no occasion of stumbling keep tender for hardness of Heart is worse than an outward Plague for that brings Destruction many ways And so grieve not the Spirit in others nor in your selves And whatsoever is decent and comely follow honest and of a good report that makes for Peace and not for Strife under pretence of Love for that 's not of God For God who is Love is not the Author of Strife and Confusion but of Peace So I desire you to let Copies of this be sent into Virginia Maryland and New-England to be read amongst Friends in all their Meetings Things are pretty well here Friends being in Love and Unity and the Dread of the Lord God is amongst us who reigns and will reign G. F. An Epistle to be read in all the Assemblies of the Righteous ALL my Dear Friends every where Epist 245. live in the Noble Seed Christ Jesus the Saviour and the anointed One and the Righteous Holy One that your Minds Hearts Souls Spirits and Bodies may be Righteous living in the Righteousness of Christ Jesus in all Love Vertue Truth and Holiness without which none can see God For the Lord loveth the Righteous and the Righteous are in Peace and all Workers of Iniquity their Mouths shall be stopp'd The Throne of Iniquity must down and the Chamber of Imagery in every Heart for the Lord must have the Heart for it is to be his Offering and Sacrifice All Lips must be pure and Hands clean that confess the Lord Jesus Christ and all Tongues and Eyes single to God and one to another and all mind the Lord's Business in the Truth and be given up to him and in it serving the Lord God in newness of Life that all your Feet may be guided in the Way of Peace and to walk uprightly before the Lord in his Way which is Christ Jesus the Light which is Perfect This is the Way of the Just which is a shining Light and in this Way is the Living God well pleased with you And you that grow rich in the World in earthly things who have had a stirring in you formerly in the Service of God take heed lest your Minds run into your outward Businesses about outward things and therein be lifted up above the good and just Spirit and so leave the Service of the Lord and his Business in minding your own For outward Riches and the things of this World will pass away with the outward Riches therein for they have Wings but the Word of the Lord which lives and abides and endures for ever will remain Labour for the Riches of it for that will endure with you and seek the Kingdom of God which will never have an end that stands in Righteousness and in Holiness in which you have Joy and Peace in the Holy Ghost then all outward things will follow which is below So that in Righteousness Holiness and Truth as just Men and holy Men and Men fearing God and as righteous Men Sons and Servants and Children of God you may all live in all Righteousness Holiness Pureness Truth Justice and Equity in all manner of Life and Conversation so that your Conversations may shine as Lights of the World knowing that all Unrighteousness Uncleanness Unholiness Unjustice Untruth and Impurity is not of God but is out of the Kingdom of God and likewise all Cheaters and Cozeners who do enrich themselves by Falshood and all Drunkards Adulterers Whoremongers Fornicators Murderers Idolaters and Lyars these Works and Workers are out of the Kingdom of God and his Power and they are of their Father the Devil who is out of the Truth And therefore in the Truth live which the Devil and his Works are out of and that Truth makes you free In which Truth and Spirit is God worshipped All that do violence cursed Speakers and Swearers are out of the Truth and the Command of Christ Jesus and therefore live you in the Love of God in
Spirit the Living God who is a Spirit the God of all Truth he hath his Glory and Honour from the Spirit of the Lord in every Heart And so keep in the Spirit and Truth and Power of the Everlasting God who is from Everlasting to Everlasting that you may know him Lord of the Earth and of the Heaven and of the Heaven of Heavens Ruling and Reigning whose Eye is over all his Works that you may glorifie him in his Power and Spirit and serve him in the New Life which will keep you over all Mens Fables and Devices Whimsies and Imaginations out of all Janglings and vain Disputes of Men of corrupt Minds And so it is good for you all to live in him which is the same to day as he was yesterday Christ Jesus the Power of God and the Seed of Life and Word which was in the Beginning So no new thing but that which was and is to all Eternity Let your Fellowship be in that and your Vnity and Communion be in that for this is seen by the Eternal Eye the Eternal Vnity and the Eternal God So hear his Voice every one of you that speaks from Heaven whose Voice shakes the Earth and not the Earth only but the Heavens also The Heavn imports Joys So all the false Joys the lifted-up Joys or exalted Joys and Joys in vain glory and Joys in the world or any outward thing or creature and Men or Women His Voice that speaks from Heaven shakes the Earth and the Heavens and this must be shaken and removed both the Heavens and the Earth before that doth appear that can never be shaken the Noble Royal Seed Elect and Precious before the World began being Heirs of Him come to Inherit Him In Him you shall know that which cannot be shaken and there is the true Joy in that which is from Everlasting to Everlasting who is the Beginning and Ending Here is not any either lifted up or fallen down to dispair So I say hear his Voice harden not your Hearts for not hearing the Voice you harden your Hearts and then you provoke God to Wrath and sore Displeasure Let Him have your Ear that speaks from Heaven that you may come to observe his Counsel Teaching Instruction and Direction for all the Prophets and holy Men of God and the Apostles were attentive and obedient to this Heavenly Voice who Witnessed to the Truth who had a Witness in Heaven also And such declared forth the Glorious Truth which they had from the Instructions of the Almighty as you may read throughout the Scriptures what glorious Expressions and weighty Truths they declared whose Ears were attentive to Him that spoke from Heaven and how also they declared against them that stopped their Ears and closed their Eyes and hard ned their Hearts Their Ears not being attentive to the Heavenly Voice but to the Earthly and so if the Earthly and the Sin and Evil have the Ear it will fill it with that which is bad and harden the Heart and choak the Good therefore the Lord must have the Ear who is the Ruler of Heaven and Earth And as your Ears are attentive to the Lord's Voice that speaks from Heaven Iniquity's Mouth is stopped in you the Throne of Iniquity is thrown down in you that is the Wicked Spirit and Power where Iniquity fits and the Chambers of Imagery are thrown down in you where all Thoughts and Imaginations are As the Ear is attentive to the Voice of Him that speaketh from Heaven you will come to the Throne of the Lamb who hath the Power who hath the Victory and the Dominion that all may live there in the Everlasting Power of God that goes over all Deceit which was before Deceit and Darkness was and always feel a growing in the Power of the Lord God that is Universal and Everlasting that you may all be Heirs of the Power of an Endless Life and come to Inherit it and possess it and sit down in the Possession of the same that every one's Lot may fall in the Land of the Living where the Lord hath his Glory and his Honour for ever and ever O the Glory Glory of the Lord that spreads it over all And here you have his Savour and can taste your Meat in the Power of the Lord God feeding upon every Word that proceeds out of the Mouth of God having every one's Ear attentive to his Voice In this you grow up in the Life that is Eternal G. F. OH Dear Friends Epist 246. Mind every one your Habitation in the Power of the Lord God that first Convinced you and keep your Possession in it in the sense of God's Love and Mercy to your Souls for your Vnity and Fellowship lies in the spotless Power Truth and Life of the Everlasting God of Life and Power and herein to you the Springs of Life will be opened through which you may be daily Refreshed up to the God of Life Oh be tender of the spotless Truth and Life through which you may come to answer it in all Friends that they may have Vnity with you in the same Life and Power through which you may be a good Savour to God and a Blessing to him in your Generations serving the Lord God in the Newness of Life as a Chast Spouse and Bride to him in Body Soul and Spirit having an Esteem of your Bodies which are for the Lord and to be his Temple not for Adultery or Fornication nor Idolatry Oh therefore mind and keep in the holy Life and feel the Moving and Counselling Power and Spirit of the Almighty in you directing you into the Ways of Truth and Righteousness Peace and Holiness without which none shall see God Live in the Peaceable Life and love it eye that which makes for Peace for God is the Author of Peace and not of Confusion So live all in the precious Truth of God feeling it in its Operation through which Vnity and the Peaceable Life may be preserved amongst you in Righteousness and Peace for Wars and Strifes and Troubles and Fightings comes by Unrighteous Actions which is below Truth and Righteousness for Truth leads into the modest decent and comely Life which is Honourable and Esteemable to God and in the Hearts of all his People So live in the Truth and the Power of it that you may all come to be Heirs of the Power of an Endless Life and to Inherit and Possess the Endless Life the Power of a World that hath no end And so keep your Eyes to your Possessions and to the Life that hath no end and herein you will encrease in the Truth in the Righteousness and Holiness and the Power and Virtue of the Holy Life and so sit down in your Possessions that you may all serve the Lord in a pure Mind Soul and Spirit and none to defile your Bodies but have esteem of them as Vessels of Honour and Vessels fitted to receive the Treasures of the Lord. London
to be Help-meets together as long as they live And if any Man or Woman come out of another Country they must bring a Certificate from the Men and Womens Meeting to them where they take their Wife and Husband And no Man or Woman is to be permitted to proceed in Marriage if they be engaged or entangled with any other till they be cleared Dear Friends All Differences amongst Friends to be ended by some appointed out of the Meetings if there happen any Difference betwixt Friend and Friend let them speak to one anothe and if they will not hear let them take Two or Three of the Meeting they belong to that they may End it if they can And if they cannot End it then it may be laid before the Monthly Meeting And if it cannot be ended there then it may be brought to the Quarterly Meeting and there let it be put to half a Dozen Friends that they may End it that they may keep their Meetings quiet Or Friends to stand to the End made by Six or more they that are at Difference may chuse Three Friends and Friends may chuse Three more to them and let them stand to their Judgment For there is few that love Quietness and Peace will have their Names brought to a Monthly or Quarterly Meeting to have their Names sounded over the Country That they are in Strife but will rather endeavour to End it amongst themselves or at their own Meeting before that they come to the Monthly Meeting And if there be any Difference brought to the Monthly or Quarterly Meeting either Mens or Womens Friends to speak but one at a time after you have heard them one by one and let but one speak at a time know of them whether they will stand to your Judgment And if they will let half a Dozen Friends make a final End of it But if they will not stand to your Judgment they are not fit to bring it thither And if any Brother or Sister hear any Report of any Brother or Sister Reports to be stopp'd let him or her go to the Party and know the Truth of the Report and if true let the thing be Judged If false go then to the Reporter and let him or her be Judged And if any should report it at a second or third hand without going to the Party of whom the Report goes let such be brought to Judgment For thou shalt neither raise nor suffer a false Report to lie upon my People saith the Lord for they are to be Holy as he is Holy and Just as he is Just Now concerning Gospel-Order though the Doctrine of Jesus Christ requireth his People to admonish a Brother or Sister twice before they tell the Church yet that limiteth none so as that they shall use no longer forbearance before they tell the Church but that they shall not less than twice admonish their Brother or Sister before they tell the Church All disorderly Persons to be admonished And it is desired of all That before they publickly Complain they wait in the Power of God to feel if there is no more required of them to their Brother or Sister before they expose him or her to the Church Let this be weightily considered And further when the Church is told and the Party admonished by the Church again and again and he or they remain still unsensible and unreconciled let not final Judgment go forth against him or her till every one of the Meeting have cleared his or her Conscience that if any thing be upon any further to visit such a Transgressor they may clear themselves that if possibly the Party may be reached and saved And after all are clear of the Blood of such an one let the Judgment of Friends in the Power of God go forth against him or her as moved for the Lord's Honour and Glory's sake that no Reproach may come or rest upon God's Holy Name Truth and People And all such as behold their Brother or Sister in a Transgression Such as admonish others to do it in a Spirit of Meekness go not in a rough light or upbraiding Spirit to reprove or admonish him or her but in the Power of the Lord and Spirit of the Lamb and in the Wisdom and Love of the Truth which suffers thereby to admonish such an Offender So may the Soul of such a Brother or Sister be seasonably and effectually reached unto and overcome and they may have Cause to bless the Name of the Lord on their behalf and so a Blessing may be rewarded into the Bosom of that faithful and tender Brother or Sister that so admonished them And be it known unto all Friends casts out none but such as go from Truth casts out themselves we cast out none from among us for if they go from the Light and Spirit and Power in which our Vnity is they cast out themselves And it has been our Way to admonish them that they may come to that Spirit and Light of God which they are gone from and so come into the Vnity again For our Fellowship stands in the Light that the World hates and in the Spirit which the World grieves vexes and quenches and if they will not hear our Admonitions as before the Light condemns them and then goes the Testimony of Truth out against them And no Condemnation ought to go further than the Transgression is known No Condemnation to go further than the Transgression and if he or she returns and gives forth a Paper of Condemnation against him or her self which is more desirable than that we should do it this is a Testimony of his or her Repentance and Resurrection before God his People and the whole World as David Psal 57. when Nathan came to admonish him And that no Testimony by way of Condemnation Admonition to be before Condemnation be given forth against any Man or Woman whatever Crime they commit before Admonition and till such time as they have had Gospel-Order according to Christ's Doctrine And so keep the Church-Order of the Gospel Admonition to be in the gentle Wisdom of God according as the Lord Jesus Christ hath commanded that is If thy Brother offend thee speak to him betwixt thee and him and if he will not hear take two or three If he will not hear two or three then tell it to the Church c. And if any one do miscarry admonish them gently in the Wisdom of God so that you may preserve him and bring him to Condemnation and preserve him from farther Evils which it is well if such do not run into and it will be well for all to use the gentle Wisdom of God towards them in their Temptations and condemnable Actions and with using gentleness to bring them to condemn their Evil and to let their Condemnation go as far as the bad Action has gone and no farther to defile the Minds of Friends or others
Burying Places and that thereby a Testimony may stand against the Superstitious Idolizing of those places called holy Ground For Abraham bought a place to bury his Dead in and would not Bury them amongst the Egyptians and Canaanites And Jacob was brought out of Egypt and Joseph and they were buryed in their Grand-Father and Father's Burying-places And so Friends get decent Burying-places for your Dead and let them be decently and well fenced that you may shew a good Example to the World in all things And Dear Friends do all that you do in Peace and Love Do all in Peace and Love and in the Fear of God condescending one unto another in the Simplicity and Innocency of Life and Truth and in the Wisdom of God that that may be every ones Crown that nothing may be done in Strife to occasion Words for you are called to Peace and Holiness in which the Kingdom stands and to serve one another in Love And my Love is to all Friends in the Everlasting Seed of God in which is Life Purity Cleanness and Righteousness that shines over all And all Friends do that which ye do in the Power of God And in the Power of God and then you are the Lord's Free-men in Love and not Captives For all which is done out of the Power of God is in the Captivity So wait all in the Power of the Lord and in the Light in which you will feel Life and Peace and the Lord's Blessing So in that the Lord God Almighty preserve you and keep you over all that which is contrary and give you Victory and Dominion And in Peace and Love live in the Spirit and Power of God in which is the Vnity and the Fellowship in the Bond of Peace that Truth and Life may reign amongst you that in all things you may adorn and grace the Truth that never hath an end And the Lord God Almighty preserve you in his Seed His Prayer for the same Life and Wisdom and give you Discerning Victory and Dominion over all that which is contrary that you may feel Christ's Reign and Authority in which you may all act in his Power and Authority So in that God Almighty preserve you And draw up an Account of all that have died in Prison Of Prisoners in every County for Truth 's Testimony and lay them before the Magistrates and so to keep Friends clear from the Blood of all Men. And preserve a Lift of their Sufferings together with the Number that have died in Prison that their Blood may come upon them that have thirsted after it And Sufferings and that their Testimony may not be lost who have sealed it with their Blood but that it may be preserved And so keep a Record of them in your Quarterly Meeting Books So that the Memorial of the Innocent Sufferers for the Truth and the Name of Jesus may not be lost nor forgotten that his Name and Power that hath supported them may be exalted that hath carried them over Death and their Persecutors and the spoiling of their Goods So in the heavenly Seed Christ Jesus that reigns who is the Living Rock and Foundation and stands sure for all his Elect to build upon stand above all the Rocks and Foundations that are below and will have an end and in him the Lord God Almighty preserve you and keep you all Amen And all my Dear Friends every where Speaking in Steeple-houses who have been moved of the Lord God to speak in Steeple-Houses to the Priests or in Markets to the People or in Courts or Fairs or Assizes or Towns let an Account thereof be drawn up together in one Book with the substance of their Words that they spake in the Power of God This would be a Book that may stand to Generations that they may see their faithful Testimony and what Strength God did ordain out of the the Mouths of Babes and Sucklings And Friends that have been moved to go to the Professors Meetings that their Testimony there may not be lost together with all the Examples that have fallen upon the Persecutors And such Testimonies of Friends as are deceased Of Deceased Friends Testimonies let them be Recorded that so the Testimony of the Lord through his Servants may not be lost that he raised up in his People for the same they were carried on thro' great Tribulations and Sufferings and many laid down their Lives and had their Goods spoiled and they persecuted to Death to keep up their Testimony which the Lord moved them to speak by his Spirit to future Generations So that those Words that they were moved to speak forth by the Power may not be lost that the Power and Spirit of the Lord may be exalted So that an account may be taken of that which hath been spoken and done by the Motions of the Spirit of God from the first as above-mentioned And so be Diligent and those that can write help them that cannot This may be easily done And all they that be Publick Ministers if unknown that pass up and down the Countries What Ministers to have Certificates and to other Nations for them to have a Certificate from their Meeting where such Persons are known and all their Practices are looked into that will prevent any bad Spirits that may scandalize honest Men. For they that do minister to others must have a double Diligence in Vertue and Chastity and Patience and Carefulness and Watchfulness more than their Hearers lest they Judge them For Christ the heavenly Man is our Example and the Apostle saith Follow us as we do follow Christ For who esteems the beggarly Lusts before Vertue is not worthy of it and who preferreth his Ungodliness and his Unholiness and his Earthliness before that which is Heavenly is not worthy of the Heavenly nor of Godliness nor Righteousness c. And Dear Friends be Faithful you that know the Light the Truth and the Power of God and his Life in the Wisdom of God be Faithful by which Wisdom all things was made and created In Wisdom and by which Wisdom all things that are created must be ordered again to the Glory of the Creator And you that are come to know the Truth and the Power of it all come to know the Order of Life so that all things may be kept in that sweet Order and Government to the Glory of God and the Refreshment of all Order and a sweet Savour to God and in the Hearts of all People that through the Wisdom of God ye may adorn the Truth in all things for the preserving of Love Peace and Vnity amongst all And live in the peaceable Truth and keep in the heavenly Order of the Gospel and in the Government of the heavenly Man And Government of Christ the Increase of which there is no end and walk in the pure and underfiled Religion that keeps you from the spots of the
Christ the Lamb of God that taketh away the Sins of the World pointed his Disciples to him and shewed them Christ and they forsook him and went to Christ For John came for a Witness to bear Witness of him who was the true Light and that He that was to come after him was preferred before him for he was before him Yet when John was cast into Prison he questioned whether Christ was he or whether he should look for another and sends to Christ And Christ answers his Messengers and saith unto them the Blind receive their Sight Christ the Messiah and not another and the Poor receive the Gospel c. And as for these Papists and Protestants and Jews they question whether Christ the Light that lighteth every Man that cometh into the World be the Spiritual Divine Saving and Heavenly Light And further mark Christ's own Words John 12.46 He saith He is the Light of the World that teacheth you how to believe to wit All his Disciples as Christ hath taught them who saith Believe in the Light Now believing in the Light you believe in that which doth make manifest all things for that which doth make manifest is the Light The Light maketh manifest all things and therefore to beleive in the Light is to believe in that which doth make manifest Christ to be their Way their Teacher Priest and Mediator Interceeder Saviour and Redeemer And he that believeth in the Light he believes in that whcih makes manifest all false Ways and false Religions and false Worship and false Teachers and Antichrists For they that believe in the Light it manifests all true Ways and true Religions And so they are no true Believers True Believers believe in Christ as both outwardly and inwardly manifest neither Protestant nor Papists who only believe Christ is come from Scripture as the Jews believed Christ was to come from Scripture But I say they are no true Believers but as they also believe in the Light as Christ the Heavenly Man doth teach For the Jews they may teach their People to believe from the Scripture the Papists and Protestants may teach their Children to believe from the same but not believing in the Light they are no true Believers as Christ hath taught for Christ who is the Saviour he teacheth People how to believe and saith Believe in the Light Which is plain that they are no true Believers that do not believe in the Light neither Jews nor those that have got the name of Christians for Believing in the Light they become Children of the Light And so it is plain they are no Children of Light but who Believe in the Light nor Children of the Day For Children of Darkness may profess Scriptures the Devil may bring Scripture and Protestant and Turk and Papist and Jew may bring Scripture with a dark Spirit and hold them in the Unrighteousness but there is no true Believer in God nor in Christ Jesus but who Believes in the Light which the Scripture testifies of shewing there is no Salvation Redemption Justification Sanctification but to them who Believes in the Light that manifesteth all things nor seeing Christ who died and is risen for them And therefore the heavenly Man the second Adam the Lord Jesus Christ teacheth how to believe and saith Believe in the Light The second Adam the Lord Jesus teacheth how to believe while you have it and this Light will manifest him to be their Way their Truth and Life which Light comes from him who enlightneth every Man that cometh into the World that all through the Light might believe And so they that believe not in the Light as Christ hath taught are no true Ministers nor no true Messengers nor true Disciples nor no true Christians nor true Preachers of Christ Jesus who believeth not as he hath taught them but they that lay away Christ's teaching and teach one another to deny the Way that Christ hath taught to Believe in are keepers of People in Darkness out of the Light and call it Natural created and made and conscience and so with their Darkness and Blindness give the Light such names who with their Darkness cannot comprehend it for he that believes in the Light The Light distinguisheth Truth from Error it lets him see the Scriptures the Prophets Christ and the Apostles words and by it they do distinguish the true Prophets words from the false the holy Mens words from the unholy the sanctified from them that are not sanctified Christ's words from Anti-christ's the true Apostles words from the false So Christ the Light teacheth his People to believe in that which manifests all things and they that believe in the Light hath the Witness in themselves of Christ in whom they do believe they have the Witness in themselves that he is their Redeemer and Saviour and their Way their Truth and their Life for with the Light they see him they believing in the Light that doth make manifest and after they believe in the Light become Children of the Light they witness themselves that they are sealed for their Belief in the Light stands in Christ the Light who hath bought and purchased them and after that they are sealed by the Spirit of Promise having God's Mark or Stamp set upon them they can set to their Seal That God is true in all his Promises in all his Prophets concerning Christ Jesus who taught them to believe in the Light With the Light they see and come to know the three that bear Record in Heaven and the three that bear Record on Earth Three that bear Record on Earth the Spirit the Water and the Blood first the Spirit that beareth witness in the Earth which mortifies them which circumcises them which leads them into all Truth in which Spirit is their Fellowship and a Bond of Peace that keeps down that which troubles them by which Spirit the Believers are Baptized into one Body brought out of the many Bodies and so by the Spirit they are brought to the one Head The Spirit which is Christ Jesus tho' there are many Heads in the World by which Spirit they are sanctified by which Spirit they are instructed by which Spirit they worship God by which Spirit they are covered by which Spirit they pray and by which Spirit they sing praises to God who is a Spirit by which Spirit they have an understanding the Spirit of Wisdom and Knowledge which is to know God and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent which is Life Eternal 2dly They come to know the Water The Water which is a Witness in the Earth by which Water they are washed their Minds their Souls their Spirits and in their Bodies with this pure Water and this is a Witness in the Earth with the Light they that Believe in it it manifesteth these two Witnesses in the Earth and with the Light they see the Pope's counterfeit Holy Water which he hath set up since
thing to say have Patience let that Gift be exercised and speak to one another by your selves alone But exercise the Gift oft Patience for that was the way before any thing was spoken against any of the Church and that will shew the Spirit of Order and Government and the Spirit of Love and of Patience and Humility and keep down Passion and that part in your selves that cannot bear all things nor endure all things whereby the Love comes up that will endure all things and bear all things which edifies the Body and by which the Body is edified for the Spirit of the Prophets is subject to the Prophets this shews the true Spirit for that which cannot bear all things many times is forward in Judging that cannot bear all things nor endure all things and so goeth out of the true Love and Edification which breeds Confusion and Distraction and destroys more than ever it will beget to God And also goes out of the Church Order first speak to him alone for by that he may win his Brother Speaking publickly makes Strife some owning and some disowning and that Spirit must be shut out by the true Spirit that keeps Order and Unity and Fellowship and the true Love which edifies the Body And so every one which feels the Power stirring in them to Minister when they have done To live in the Power wherein they minister let them live in the Power and in the Truth and in the Grace that keeps in the seasoned Words and that keeps in a stablish'd and seasoned Life And so all may Minister as they have received the Grace so every one is a Steward of the Grace of God if he do not turn the Grace of God into Wantonness and so to Minister in that Love and Grace and Power that keeps all things in Subjection and Order and in Unity in the Life and in the Power and Light by which you may see that of God in every Man and answer to that which God hath shewed unto People For the true Labourers in the Vineyard do answer that of God the true Ministers brings People to that which is to instruct them viz. the Spirit of God True Ministers reacheth to the Witness of God in Mens hearts and so are Ministers of the Spirit and Ministers of the Grace they answer the Spirit and the Grace and Truth in all in which all that do Minister have Unity and through which they have Fellowship with God and Christ G. F. Not to be over-thoughtful of the things of this World FRiends Epist 268. Did not God provide for Man and Woman before he made them Did he not make all things in Six Days And the sixth Day he made Man in the Image of God in Righteousness and Holiness And therefore Christ who is the Son of God who comes to restore Man up again into the Image of God Not to be over-thoughtful and leads Man up into his Image in Righteousness and Holiness as he was in before he fell Doth he not reprove such as take thought and told them of their little Faith and that they could not add one Cubit to the Stature that God had made and it was the Practice of the Heathens and of the Gentiles to take thought So it 's clear before God made Man he took care for him but after Man was fallen from the Image of God and his Righteousness he took care and toiled though he cannot add one Cubit to his Stature in the Lord's Work For thou maist sow thy Seed in the Ground or Garden thou maist have much Cattel But trust in the Lord for all and other things but yet there is no increase but by the Lord neither of thy Seed nor of thy Cattle for is not the Earth the Lord's and the Fulness thereof Mark and doth he not give the increase who upholds all things by his Word and Power who is the Creator of all and provided for Man before he made him and set him in Dominion over all the Works of his Hands which Dominion Man lost Man lost Righteousness and Holiness in his disobeying the Command of God Christ restores Man into the Image of God which Christ comes to restore Man to and sets Man above all again as he was in the Beginning and up to his own State beyond Adam before he fell to him that never fell And so all that believe in the Light as Christ commanded in the Light they see they cannot add Cubit to the Stature and so they come to grow in the Faith in Christ and in God And so herein hath the Lord the Praise of his Works and all things praise him who hath created them all to his Honour and to his Glory and to his Praise and Man to glorifie him in Righteousness and Holiness in the Image of God and of Christ Jesus above all other Creatures in the Covenant of God in the Covenant of Light and Life in Christ Jesus Him by whom the World was made by him they praise and please God and in their pleasing God they Honour God and Christ G. F. Concerning the single Language ALL Friends Epist 269. that do believe in the Light as Christ hath commanded you and are become Children of Light keep to the proper Speech Proper Speech Thou to One and You to many that is Thee and Thou to a singular and You to many as you may see throughout the Scriptures it was the Language of God and Christ his Prophets and Apostles and all good Mens though it is the Practice of the First Birth and of the Flesh to say You when they should say Thou therefore take you heed of Flattery to please Men and of letting the World's Spirit over you though they have learn'd in their Grammar and Accidence and other teaching Books the Plural and Singular Language yet they speak Plural when they should speak Singular to One. G. F. FOR all that be gathered in the Name of Jesus Epist 270. and are mad a live by him and quickned by him they come to the Flock of Christ and know where they feed at Noon-Day they are gathered into the Name of Jesus Christ Salvation in no other Name than the Name of Jesus whose Name is above every Name and know that there is no Salvation under the whole Heaven but in the Name of Jesus in the Testimony that they have of Jesus which is the Spirit by which they see Jesus and see his Pastures of Life see his Springs of Life and his Rivers of Life and his Bread of Life and see the Foot-steps of the Flock the Testimony of Jesus the Spirit by which they see him and his Flock and they see the barren Mountains they have been upon and come off from And therefore all you that be gathered into the Name of Jesus and walk in the Path of the Just where the Footsteps of the Flock are quench not the Spirit in any and if any
and Apostles but are out of their Life as their Practice speaks And therefore it 's the Life that differs and the New way differs from the Old and the Religion that 's above from that which is below and the Worship Christ set up above 16 Hundred Years ago from all them that are made since amongst the Nominal Christians and the Fellowship of God in the Spirit and Gospel differs from all the Fellowships that have been made since the Apostles Days and the Liberty in Christ in the Gospel in the Spirit is far above the Liberty of old Adam in the Flesh in the Sin the Wages of which is Death here no false Liberty can be in the Spirit and in the Power of the Gospel and in Christ Jesus nor no false Freedom in the Truth for all false Freedom is out of the Truth and therefore keep over all those false Liberties and false Freedoms In old Adam and his Spirit and Power of God that 's holy and pure without Spot So no more but my Love in the Holy Seed that 's over all To be read in all Friends Meetings And send Copies of this to Maryland Virginia Barbadoes New-England c. G. F. FRiends Epist 282. in the Seed that bruises the Serpent's Head and destroyeth the Devil and his Works live and in the Light which is the Life In Christ the Seed who bruiseth the Serpents Head in the Word by which all things were made which Light and Life and Word doth hammer and cut down and condemn and judge all evil Words and Works and the Spirit of them that is out of the Light Life Seed and Word of Reconciliation in this I have Vnity with you and in this all true Believers are reconciled to God and one to another Is our Vnity and Fellowship and in it is the heavenly Wisdom in which is the holy and spiritual Fellowship preserved over that short brikle defaming and unconstant Spirit which must be kept down with the Spirit of God that doth not change which hath been crucified by the Wicked but the Seed of Life doth slay the Enmity and in Life and Power reigns over it Glory to the Lord God for ever Amen G. F. To Friends at Bristol in time of Suffering DEar Friends Epist 283. Now is the Time for you to stand therefore put on the whole Armour of God from the Crown of the Head unto the Soles of your Feet To publick Men to keep their Testimony that you may stand in the Possession of Life And you that have been Publick Men and formerly did travel abroad mind to keep up your Testimony both in the City and in the Countries that you may encourage Friends to keep up their Meetings as usual there-away so that none faint in the time of Trial but that all may be encouraged both small and great to stand faithful to the Lord God and his Power and Truth that their Heads may not sink in the Storms but may be kept up above the Waves So go into your Meeting-Places as at other times And keep up your Publick Testimony and visit Friends there-abouts now in this time of Storm for there is your Crown in the Vniversal Power and Spirit of God So let your Minds In the time of Persecution and Souls and Hearts be kept above all outward and visible things Few travel now the Countries It may be well to visit them lest any should faint Stir up one another in that which is Good and to faithfulness in the Truth this Day And let your Minds be kept above all visible things for God took Care for Man in the Beginning and set him above the Works of his Hands And therefore mind the heavenly Treasure that will never fade away and dwell in the Seed in which you may know your Election It 's hard for me to give forth in Writing what is before me because of my bodily weakness but I was desirous in some measure to ease my Mind desiring that you may stand fast and faithful to Truth Of my Travels and Weakness it 's like you have heard and of my Affliction both by them that are without and also by them that are within which are hard to be uttered and spoken My Love is to all faithful Friends The 2d of the 11th Mouth 1670. G. F. DEar Friends and Brethren See that all live in the peaceable and blessed Truth into which no Enmity can come Epist 284. for the blessed Seed Christ Jesus takes away the Curse They who receive Christ receive Power to become the Sons of God the Increase of whose Government there is no End who rules in Righteousness amongst the Righteous for ever And see that this Righteousness in which you all have Peace run down and flow as a Stream among you who are begotten again into a lively Hope and born again by the Immortal Seed of the Word of God which lives and abides for ever And you who have received Christ have received Power to become the Sons of God and to believe in the Light in Obedience to Christ's Command by which you become Children of the Light and Children of the Day Therefore this I say unto you Let no Man abuse this Power that is Everlasting and keep the Gospel-Order which was before any Impurity was and will be when it is gone So that in all your Men and Womens-Meetings see that Vertue flow and see that all your Words be gracious and see that Love flows which bears all things that Kindness Tenderness and Gentleness may be among you and that the Fruits of the good Spirit may abound That Love Kindness and Gentleness abound for nothing that is unclean must enter into God's Kingdom which stands in Righteousnss and in Holiness and in the Power of God and in the Joy of the Holy Ghost For all Joy that is out of the Holy Ghost will have an End And see in all your Men and Womens-Meetings that God be no ways dishonoured nor the pure and blessed Name of Christ in which you are gathered be blasphemed but in all things that God may be glorified exalted and honoured And to take Care that nothing be lacking among the Poor for you have the Light to see all Evil and the Power to withstand it And to take Care that nothing be lacking among the Poor and to see that nothing be lacking then all will be well among you in all your Men and Womens-Meetings And see that nothing be lacking neither within nor without for God is rich in both and abundance of his Riches you have received And so this is a Warning and a Charge to you all in the Presence of the Living God that you keep up the Testimony of Jesus against all that which is contrary to Jesus the heavenly Man that your Fruits may appear to his Glory and your Works to his Praise and that you may have Water in your own Cisterns and know those Clouds
God how soon they forgot him as in the Days of the old World and in the Days of Moses and in the Days of the Judges how they soon forgot God that had done great things for them and for sook God and his Way and Religion and Worship and followed such Gods as Men had made And in the Days of the Prophets how the People forsook the Lord God and in the Days of Christ and his Apostles how they were mostly gone astray from God though they kept an outward Profession of their Words yet denied Christ in his Light and Life and Power who was the End of the Law and the Prophets Many of old Time forsock the Truth and ran into Error And them that did receive Christ Jesus and believed in him in a few Ages after the Apostles how most of Christendom ran from the Life into Death and ran from the Light into Darkness and into Error from the Holy Sprit and into Babylon which is Confusion and from the Worship in the Spirit and in the Turth that Christ set up and follwed after the Worship of the Beast and the Dragon and went from the true Church after the Whore and from Christ the Way to God after the Ways that Men had made and from the Religion that is Pure from above after the Religions that Men have made And so now the Gospel is preached again Now the Gospel is preached again and the Living Way Christ to the Living God and his Religion and his Worship is set up and received of many and they come to the true Worship which is in God And all be Faithful All be faitbful and take heed of running back again where you were before lest you and your Children perish as others have done that forsook the Lord God for Mercies And therefore train up your Children in the Fear of God and in the Way of Christ and in his Worship and Religion that they may observe and keep in it when you are gone And walk in the Spirit and Truth And walk in the Spirit and keep in the Order of the Gospel in which God is worshipped and keep in the Order of the Gospel in the Power of God which was before the Devil was which Power of God will keep you Pure to God that nothing may get betwixt you and the Lord God And be obedient to the Law that God hath written in your Hearts and put in your Minds that you may be the Children of the New Covenant and that you may be the Royal Priesthood offering up to God the Spiritual Sacrifices And sitting under your Teacher the Grace of God which bringeth Salvation and seasoneth your Words and establisheth your Hearts And this Grace saveth and is sufficient saith God Almighty And you need no Man to teach you but as the same Anointing doth teach you to know all things which Anointing abideth in you And hearken all what the Righteosness of Faith saith speaking on this wise Rom. 10.6 7 8. The Word is nigh thee even in thy Heart and in thy Mouth to obey it and do it That thou need not say Who shall ascend to bring Christ from above or descend to bring Christ from the Grace c. for that is the Word of Faith which we do Preach G. F. To Friends in Carolina DEar Friends to whom is my Love in the blessed Seed Epist 288. which bruiseth the Head of the Serpent and is over all and changeth not which is the First and Last in whom you have Life and Peace with the God of Peace So you few that are that ways keep your Meetings Keep your Meetings in the Name of Jesus and meet together in the Name of Jesus whose Name is above every Name and Gathering is above every Gathering and there is no Salvation in any other Name but by the Name of Jesus and you Gathering in his Name where Salvation is he is your Prophet your Shepherd your Bishop your Priest in the midst of you to open to you and to santifie you and to feed you with Life and to quicken you with Life wait in his Power and Light that ye may be Children of the Light by believing in the Light which is the Life in Christ that you may be grafted into him the true Root and built upon him the true Foundation Who is the Foundation of his People who was the Foundation of the holy Prophets and Apostles and of all the holy Martyrs and is the Foundation of all his holy People now and is the Rock of Ages yea of the Ages of the Prophets and of the Ages of his Apostles and of the Ages of his People now and Martyrs who kept them above the Raging of the Seas and doth now which Rock the Wise Men builds upon the Rock that stands against all the Storms and Tempestuous Weather And therefore be valiant for God's Truth upon the Earth and his good Spirit and live in it by which you may profit in the things of God through which ye may answer the Witness of God in all and the Spirit which they grieve and quench which they are erred from through which he may be served and his Truth spread abroad So every one in your Measoures of the Spirit of God and Christ be faithful that in it you may increase and answer the Lord in a good Life and Conversation for all his Mercies And as every one hath received the Lord Jesus Christ so walk in him that you may serve the Lord in a New Life and worship him in the Spirit and Truth which the Devil is out of and by this Truth you may be made free by whith ye may be espoused and married to Christ Jesus for the Marriage of the Lamb is come and coming And therefore if you want Wisdom keep in the Truth that you may go to the Treasure of Life and of Salvation that you may be Heirs of the same and of Life and Possessors of it Yea I say Heirs of Life and Inherit that and that will be more to you than if all the World was your Portion and the Riches you lay up there will stand buy and be with uyou when time is gone and shall be no more For the Truth is the Truth and changeth not in which live and it will be your Peace and Joy everlasting And in the Seed Christ Jesus who bruises the Serpent's Head who was before the Devil was glorified with the Father before the World began and was from Ecverlasting to Everlasting the First and Last the Top and Corner-Stone in him live that you may inherit Life Everlasting and dwell in the Love of God in Christ Jesus that will edifie and build one another up and therein walk in all Holiness of Life and Conversation for that becomes God's House and dwell and live and walk in the Peaceable Truth that keeps you in Peace and in the Holy Fellowship of the Spirit the Bond of Peace by which
Spirit you may be led into all Truth up to God and Christ from him who is out of the Truth Amen saith my Soul G. F. DEar Friends every where Epist 289. be faithful to God who hath been faithful and true to you therefore be you true to God and faithful Witnesses to him To be faithful Witnesses of Christ in time of Persecution and to Christ Jesus that now ye may all have Riches and Treasure laid up in store against a time of want storms and tempests that you amy stand for if you do not stand now you are as bad as such Professors who stood only when the Sun shined and crept out when it was fine and fair Weather but when a Storm or Tempest came then they ran creeping into their Holes and Corners and sculked into by-corners and fled by bace-doors who were ashamed or their Religion and what they Professed but when the Sun did shine then they showed their Enmity to the Righteous And therefore be you of the Faith of Dvid and of his Spirit who said I was Young and now am old I never saw the Righteous for saken nor his Seed begging Bread and the Lord to encourage his People saith In all their Af-flicions he was Afflicted and the Angel of his Presence saved them and Christ tells you It 's he that Suffers and is Persecuted when his Children are persecuted And so it 's for the Lord's sake that the JusT suffer by the Unjust and you read how such as suffer the spoiling of their Goods and Scoffing and Mocking yet they were not to forsake the Assembling themselves together as the manner of some was for they that suffer with Christ shall reign with him for the Lord may try you who hath blessed you with outward things whether your minds do stand with him or in the outward things G. F. DEar Friends Epist 290. Live in Love for that is of God and doth edifie the Body of Christ and keep in the Truth of God which the Devil is out of To live in Love and Peace with God and one with another and walk in Righteousness and then you will walk in Peace with God and one with another and walk in Holiness for that becomes the House of God and in Holiness you will see the Holy God among you And so that you may keep the Vnity in the Spirit which is the Bond of Peace and dwell in Love one with another for all Eyes in upon you and some watches for Evil but do you answer the Good in all in your Words and Lives This is the Counsel of the Lord God to you all and that you may be the Salt of the Earth and the Light of the World and as a City set on a Hill that cannot be hid so that all that do profess Christ and God may shew forth Christ and Godliness in Life and Word G. F. To all the Womens Meetings that are Belivers in the Truth FRiends Keep your Womens Meetings in the Power of God EpisT 291. which the Devil in out of and take your Possession of that which your are Heirs of and keep the Gospel-Order Man and Woman helps meet in the Image of God For Man and Woman were helps meet in the Image of God and in Righteousness and Holiness in the Dominion before they fell but after the Fall in the Transgression the Man was to rule over his Wife but in the Restauration by Christ into the Image of God and his Righteousness and Holiness again in that they are helps meet Man and Woman as they were in before the Fall Sarah obeyed Abraham and called him Lord. Abraham did also obey the Voice of his Wife Sarah in casting out the Bond-Woman and her Son Dorcas a Woman was a Disciple So there was a Woman Disciple as well as Men Disciples and mind the Women that accompanied her And Wo-men are to take up the Cross daily and follow Christ daily as well as the Men and so to be taught of him their Prophet and fed of him their Shepherd and councelled of him their Councellor and sanctified by him who offered up himself once for all And there were Elder Women in the Truth as well as Elder Men in the Truth and these Women are to be teachers of good thins so they have an Office as well as the Men for they have a Stewardship and must give an Account of their Stewardship to the Lord as well as the Men. Deborah was a Judge Examples of amny good Women Miriam and Huldah were Prophetesses old Annah was a Prophetess and a Preacher of Christ to all them that looked for Redemption in Jerusalem Mary Magdalen and the other Mary were the first Preachers of Christ's Resurrection to the Disciples and the Disciples could not believe their Message and Testimony that they had from Jesus as some now adays cannot but they received the Command and being sent preach'd it So is every Woman and Man to do that sees him risen and have the Command and Message Daughters shall Prophesie as well as Sons So they are to be obedient that has the Spirit poured upon them Women are to Prophesie and Prophesie is not to be quenched Them that has the Testimony of Jesus are commanded to keep it whether Men or Women Priscilla and Aquilla were both Exhorters and Expounders or Instructers to Apollos So in the Church there were Women Instructers and Prophetesses and Daughters Prophetesses in the Church for Philip had four Virgins that were Prophetesses and there were Women Disciples in the Church and Women Elders in the Church as well as Men. So Women are to keep in the FGovernment of Christ and to be Obeyers of Christ and Women are to keep the ComelyOrder of the Gospel as well as Men and to see that all that have received Christ Jesus that they walk in Christ Jesus and to see that all that has received the Gospel do walk in the Gospel the Power of God which they are Heirs of for this is a Day for all to keep their Possession in the Gospel-Order who be Heirs with Christ of the increase of whose Government there is no end So the Foundation of our Womens Meetings is Christ to all them that be Heirs of him and of his Government And the ground of our Order of the Womens Meetings is the Gospel the Power of God which was before the Devil was and all that be Heirs of the Gospel which hath brought Life and Immortality to Light in them which shines over him that hath darkned them and was before he was I say they are Heirs of the Comely Order of the Gospel and therefore I say take your Possessions of it and walk as becomes the Gospel and keep the Comely Order of it and in it keep your Meetings And here is the Ground and Foundation of our Womens Meetings Now Mothers of Families that has the ordering of Children Maids and Servants may do a great deal of Good
is Holy and Righteous and to live in Peace who hath promised he will give Christ Jesus for a Covenant of Light and Peace to you who are called Gentiles and venant of Light by which you shall come to have Peace with the Lord God the King of the whole Earth This is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords in whose Hand is the Breath of all Mankind This is the God of the Spirits of all Falsh who hath made all Nations of Mankind of one Blood to dwell upon the Face of the Earth And God having divided the Sons and Daughters of Adam and scattered them up and down the Face of the Earth being in the Transgression and Sin led away with the God of the World the wicked One the Devil that abode not in the Truth who causes People to destroy one another and murder one another about Earthly things This is the Prince of Darkness that rules in all the Hearts of the Children of Disobedience disobedient to that which is Righteous in them which discovers the unrighteous Actions and Words drom the Righteous And Christ the Second Adam the Lord from Heaven saves Men from Sin Christ the Second Adam the Saviour of Men. who is Prince of Peace and of Life and the Covenant of God who brings Men to have Peace with God and one with another who destroys the Devil the Author of Strife This is Christ the Second Adam which brings the Sons and Daughters of Adam into Reconciliation with God again and destroys Sin and finishes it and makes Reconciliation for Sin and Iniquity G. F. To Friends in Barbadoes DEar Friends Epist 293. To whom is my Love in the Lord Jesus Christ by whom were all things made and by whom all things do consist and who filleth all things and doth uphold all by his Word and Power Christ the Head of his Church c. who is the First and Last the Holy Head of his Holy Church and the Door into the Holy Way for his Holy People to walk in and the setter up of a Holy Worship in the Holy Spirit and Truth to worship the Holy God in and the setter up of a Holy Religion to keep from the Spots of the World which Religion is pure in his Sight And this never came out of the Brain-beaten Stuff of Man nor of his Chamber of Imagery but for his People to walk in that they might sing forth his Praises in Righteousness And therefore all Friends in your Men and Womens-Meetings be faithful and see how you do grow in the Truth and Power of Godliness and are circumcised and witness your Renewings into the heavenly Image of him that created you and that you all may be fruitful in the Knowledge and Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ who is the Orderer of all things and wear his Livery and fine Linnen the Righteousness of Christ and hold forth his Ensign and his Standard and all to be filled with his Grace and Love and peaceable Truth and be over all outward Earthly things so that none be Carnally but Spiritually minded And walk as becomes the glorious Order of the Gospel having the Water of Life in your Cisterns and the Bread of Life in your Tabernacles and Fruits on your Trees to the Praise of God Amen And all your Family Meetings do not neglect among your Whites and Negroes but do your Diligence and Duty to God and them To keep Family Meetings which you will not neglect if you keep in the Faith of Abraham and of the blessed Seed which inheriteth the Crown And be at Peace among your selves that each one shew that you are in Christ the Prince of Peace and that doth shew that you are the Disciples of Christ and Learners and Followers of him So possess him who is Life Eternal Aman. And your Love and Kindness toward us the Lord redouble it of his Mercy into your Bosoms We are all pretty well We have had great Travail by Land and Sea and Rivers and Bays and Creeks in New-England Jersey Delaware Maryland Virginia Carolina where we have had great Service among Friends and Governors and others and Men and Womens-Meetings and with the Indians and their Kings and Emperoar O blessed be the Lord God Almighty who is over all and over all giveth Dominion And Glory be to his Great Name for ever Amen And his Truth is of a good Savour in the Hearts of People and spreads So no more but my Love Read this in your Men and Womens-Meetings G. F. Maryland the 24th of the 12th Month. 1672. FRiends The Truth is above all will stand over all them that hate it who labour in vain against it Epist 294. and will bring their old House on their own Heads to their great Trouble Truth above all and in the Winter and cold Weather when that their HoUse is down and their Religion is frozen and their Rivers are dried up and their Husks are gone and the Swine begin to cry about the Plantations and the Vermin runneth up and down amongst their old Rubbish and their Sparks and Candles are gone out and Hail and Storms lighteth upon the Head of the Wicked then Wo will be to God and Magog and to all the Wicked who have no Covering In Christ you have Peace in the World you have Trouble No Peace with God can be enjoyed but in the Covenant of Light which it Trouble Amen G. F. FRiends at the first Convincement there is not so much danger Epist 295. for the Spirit of God keeps in the Fear of the Lord and under Judgment Our Knowledge must be in the Spirit then after getting Acquaintance or Knowledge and a Familiarity and a Liberty but not in the Holy Spirit there is great danger and therefore your Knowledge and Familiarity must be in the invisible Spirit for the Flesh Fadeth and withereth as the Grass So that Knowledge and Familiarity is as Grass that withers but the Word of the Lord endureth for ever And the right knowledge of one another is this To know one another in that Word which was in the beginning before Man fell For Man liveth not by Bread alone but by every Word that proceedeth out of the Mouth of God This is the fresh and heavenly Food from above and above all the Husks that the Swineherd feedeth his Swine with in the unrepented State G. F. FRiends All keep your Meetings in the Power of the Lord God that hath gathered you Epist 296. and none to quenth the Spirit nor despise Prophesying Quench not the Spirit c. and so keep up your Testimony in publick and private Let not the Mouths of Babes and Sucklings be stopp'd nor the Seed in Males or Females but all be valian for the Truth upon the Earth Concerning your Womens-Meetings encourage all the Women of Families that are convinced and minds Vertue and loves the Truth and walks in it that they may come up into God's
Service that they may be serviceable in their Generation and in the Creation and come into the Practice of the pure Religion which you have received from God from above that every one may know their Duty in it and their Service in the Power and Wisdom of God for now the Practick Part is called for People must not be alwayes talking and hearing but they must come into Obedience to the Great Power of the Great God of Heaven and Earth And so that none may stand out of the Vineyard idle and out of Service None to be idle in the Vineyard and out their Duty for such will talk and talle and judge with evil Thoughts of what they in the Vineyard say and do And therefore the Power of God must call all into their Duty into their Service into their Places into Vertue and Righteousness and into the Wisdom of God For all that be out of their Duty in their Service though they have the knowledge of it yet are not so serviceable in the Creation nor in their Generation for the Power of God must go over and is over all such by which Power all must be acted in which true Obedience is known And therefore train up your young Women to know their Duty in this thing the Elder women train up the Tounger Women c. that they may be in their Services and Places which they are to do in the Power and Wisdom of God by which you are kept open to the Lord to receive of his Gifts and Graces and of his Life through which you are to minister one to another And all keeping in it then there is none to lett or stop its flowing but through it you all are to be watered as a Garden of Plants by which they are nourished and so all be faithful and diligent in the Lord's Business and make all the sober Women professing Truth in the Country about you acquainted with this thing and when you have them together at the Monthly Meeting read this among them So no more but my Love G. F. DEar Friends Epist 297. Keep in the Power of the Lord for if you do lose that To keep in the Power of the Lord. you lose the Kingdom which stands in Power and Peace and Righteousness and Joy in the Holy Ghost for out of the Kingdom is Strife and no Peace and therefore keep in the Power and Life and Love which you did first receive that you all may be Heirs of the Kingdom and fit under your Teacher the Grace of God which will bring your Salvation that you may witness that you have a Teacher from God that doth bring your Salvation which Salvation is your Walls and Bulwarks that he may be glorified and ye may have your Comfort in your Salvation And keep your Mens and Womens Meetings both being Heirs of Life and of the Gospel-Order and of Christ and his Government though you may have some Opposers but this is a Day of possessing of Christ and his Government and of the Gospel-Order and therefore do not lose your Authority Men nor Women in the Gospel nor in Christ though some may slight it For the Foundation of our Mens and Womens-Meetings is Christ Jesus who bruiseth the Serpent's Head who is the Head of all false Orders and Foundations and the Gospel which is the Power of God which bringeth Life and Immortality to Light shines over him that did darken you which Power of God he is out of And therefore all in the Power and Spirit encourage both Men and Women in their Duty in the Order of the Gospel of Christ in whom you have Dominion and in him who changeth not My Love is to you all G. F. DEar Friends to whom is my Love in that which changeth not Epist 298. the Royal Seed that bruiseth the Serpent's Head in whom you have Life and Peace in that live and walk that you may bear Fruit to the Glory of God and answer that of God in every one And live in the Peace that passeth Knowledge and Understanding and in this troublesome time of Wars and Strife mind the Power or God and his Kingdom that standeth in Righteousness and Joy in the Holy Ghost that is over all and never will have an end and that will keep you over all these times of Trouble fresh in the Life and Power My Troubles have been great in the Service of the Lord and the Convincement of People is great in America and the Islands in those parts Blessed be the Lord God over all for ever Amen whose Power and Life and Truth is over all and he in his Power gave Dominion over all by Sea and by Land And People and Friends are well setled beyond the Sea and Meetings are precious beyond words So in haste my Love to all Friends in all those parts as tho' I named them and live in Love for that doth edifie you Bristol the 1st of the 6th Month 1673. G. F. To Friends at Jamaica FRiends We do hear that some professing Truth amongst you Epist 299. do not keep to your Meetings so diligently as they ought to do nor yet meet but few of you together on the First Days And the reason is That upon the First Days some of you write and make up your Accompts so as you cannot have time to go to and frequent the Meetings Truly Friends this is an ill Savour to come over here into England and shews that you mind your own Business more than the Lord's and the things of this Life more than the things that appertain to the Life that is without End which should be sought for first if you desire to be bless'd and to presper And if you do not you will grow loose and wither and not have the Blessing of God with you you cannot expect it And therefore you that go under the Name of the Friends of God and of Truth keep diligently your Meetings on the First Day together that the Lord's Power may stir among you for if you do not keep your Meetings upon the First Day of each Week you are worse than the World that meet in their Steeple-Houses or Places of Worship who prefer your own Business before the Lords The Lord I say will not in so doing prosper you in it And therefore I say once more in the Name of Christ Jesus keep your Meetings who are gathered in it And let there be Meetings on the Week Days and also Mens Meetings to see that nothing be lacking among you once in a Fornight and likewise a Womens Meeting though there be but a few For you that have seen the Order of Truth in England and other Places how can you go out of the Practice of it without growing wild and withering That so Men and Women in their distinct Places may be Helps meet in Government in the Seed of Life and in the Widom of God by which all things was made and in the
Heart and Mouth to obey it and do it by which Word I am born again of the Immortal Seed which lives and abides and endures for ever by which Word I have Milk to give freely to Babes and Sucklings So the Possessors have Breasts and the Possessors Breasts are not dry Glory to the Lord for ever So no more but Love and God Almighty preserve you in his Wisdom that is pure and gentle from above by which you may be all ordered and order all that you have under your Hands to his Glory And keep in the Unity of the Holy Spirit which is the Bond of Peace of the Prince of Princes Peace which is every one of your Duty to keep this heavenly Peace of the Prince of Princes which none can take away from you for you are bound with the Spirit to keep it so that your Praise may be in the Gospel that you may admonish and exhort all that does profess the Truth of the Gospel that they may walk in the Truth and as becomes the Gospel and that every one that does profess Christ Jesus and has received him may walk in him in the new and living Way out of the old Way G. F. TO all Friends that live in the Truth Epist 302. and by it are become God's Free-men and Women and by the Truth and Power of God are brought out of the Worlds vain Fashions and Customs in their Feastings and Revelings and Banquetings and Wakes and other vain Feastings where they spoil the Creatures and dishonour the Lord God more those Times and Days which they call Holy Days and Feast Days than any other Times and Days and therefore you that are brought out of such things and do see the Vanity and Folly of them and likewise you that are brought out of all the extravagant Feastings of Compannies in Corporations and of making of Feasts when the Masters of Companies are Chose and Cunstables and Head-Burroughs you see their Vanity and their Folly and Madness in their destroying of the Creatures to the Reproach of Christianity and the Dishonour of God and the Blaspheming of his Name and many times through the abusing of themselves by excess are more like Beasts than Men in these things and doings and therefore as you do see the Folly and Vanity of all such Doings in their voluptuous and vain Feastings and cannot observe their evil Customs then that vain Spirit is in a great Rage and Fury because you have and do break off Fellowship with them in all this their vain Customs And therefore you that are redeemed from these things by Christ and from the Feasting of the Rich and all other their Vanities and voluptuous Dishonouring of God therein I say to you mind and practise Christ's words as you may read in Lake 13.14 Christ saith When thou makest a Dinner call not thy Friends nor thy Brethren neither Kinfolks nor thy Rich Neighbours lest they also bid thee again and a Recompence be made thee but when thou doest make a Feast call the Poor the Maimed the Lame and the Blind and thou shalt be blessed for they cannot recompence thee again but thou shalt be recompenced at the Resurrection of the Just So here you may see how Christ ordereth thee to make a Feast or a Dinner and to whom contrary to the World and tho' it be a cross to them yet it is to be obeyed and observed and practised for it is the heavenly Man's Doctrine and Command and Will and he that doth it shall know his Doctrine and this will judge the World in their vain Feasts Dinners and Suppers which they make for the Rich for which they have selfe Reward but Christ's command being obeyed denieth self and hath the Lord's Recompence and all that call him Lord should do as the Lord commandeth and they that are his Disciples and do love him will keep his Commands for saith Christ If you love them that love you what thank have you For Sinners also loves those that love them And if you do good to them that do good to you what thank have you For Sinners also do even the same So give and it shall be given unto you Good Measure pressed down shaken together and running over into your Bosoms and the Lord is kind to the unthankful and therefore be ye Merciful as your heavenly Father is Merciful Luke 6. And therefore as you have forsaken all the World 's vain Feastings and Dinners and Suppers if so give the Blind the Lame the Maimed the Widow the Fatherless and the Poor a Feast or a Dinner and obey Christ the heavenly Man's Doctrine tho' it do cross old earthly Adam's Will and Practices and though he be angry never heed him but obey the Lord. G. F. DEar Friends Epist 303. all be Faithful in the Eternal Power of God that is over all I say keep in this Power of God that you may answer that of God in all and not that which is contrary for the Kingdom standeth in Power and in Righteousness and Joy in the Holy Ghost So that which doth not live in the Power and Righteousness and Joy in the Holy Ghost cometh not into the Kingdom So this Kingdom and Power and Righteousness and Holy Ghost in which is the Joy is over all and this Kingdom standeth not in Word but in Power So know one another in the Power and in the Spirit of God who is a Spirit know and confess Christ in his Death and Sufferings and in his Resurrection So no more but my Love in him Worcester Prison the 21st of the âth Month 1673. G. F. To Friends in Virginia DEar Friends to whom is my Love Epist 304. I am glad to hear of the Increase of Truth amongst you and the Lord prosper his Work and increase People in his Knowledge who will fulfil his Promise That the Knowledge of the Lord shall cover the Earth as the Waters covers the Sea in the New Covenant though in the Old Covenant the Word was to Jacob and the Statutes to Israel the like was not to other Nations but the New Covenant is to all Nations Jews and Gentiles For I will give him for a Covenant of Light to the Gentiles and he shall be my Salvation to the ends of the Earth therefore he saith Look unto me all ye ends of the Earth and be ye saved And there is no Salvation by any other Name under Heaven but by the Name of Jesus which signifies a Saviour And in his Name keep your Mens and Womens and all your other Meetings that you may feel Him in the midst of you exercising his Offices as he is a Prophet which God has raised up to open to you and as he is a Shepherd who has laid down his Life for you to feed you so hear his Voice and as he is a Councellor and a Commander follow Him and his Counsel and as he is a Bishop to oversee you with his heavenly Power and Spirit
Moon that shall be turned into Darkness before the Notable Day of the Lord come and where this Notable Day of the Lord is seen and by whom it is seen they see the Glorious Son of God the Son of Righteousness by whom was all things who is over all things who is the Head of his People and dwells in them who is present with them and who was and will be to all Eternity of whose Kingdom there is no end who is God over all blessed for ever Kinston the 1st of the 7th Month 1674. G. F. MY Dear Friends in England Epist 308. and all parts of the World the Gospel which is the Power of God which you have received from the Beginning Given forth in the time of his Sickness in Worcester Prison 1674. keep in it and the Fellowship of it in which there is neither Sect nor Schism but an Everlasting Fellowship and an Everlasting Order which Gospel brings Life and Immortality to Light in every one of your Hearts and lets you see over him that hath darkned you Now every Man and Woman here will have a Testimony in their own Hearts Friends to have their Fellowship in the Truth of this Order and Fellowship being Heirs and Inheritors of it by which you will see over all the Jalse Orders and Fellowships that are or may be fet up or made Therefore it is good for every one to keep their Habitation For those that went in Cain's Way as the Apostles speaks of they envied the Apostles that kept the Fellowship And Corah's Way and Balaam's Way these were them that had been great Professors that envied the Apostles For mark it was the Way of such as were of Cain Corah and Balaam's Spirit to oppose the Power who were against Abel and Moses and the Apostles and so there began the Apostacy and there came up the many Orders amongst them in the Apostacy So that at last the Gospel-Order was lost amongst them And keep the Cospel-Order and the Government of Christ and his Worship and the Beast was then set up And therefore now the Gospel-Order is to be set up again and the Government of Christ Jesus by them that be Heirs of him and of his Government who is First and Last the Beginning and the End of the increase of whose Government there is no End Now I say you that be Heirs of Christ possess him and walk in him and as you have received him so walk all in Peace and Love and live in his Worship in the Spirit and Truth which the Devil is out of And at your General Assemblies of the Ministry at London or elsewhere examine as it was at the first whether all the Ministers that goes forth into the Countries The Ministers to watch over one another do walk as becomes the Gospel For that you know was one End of that Meeting to prevent and take away Scandal And to examine whether all do keep in the Government of Christ Jesus that preach him and in the Order of the Gospel and to exhort them that doth not For the Foundation is already laid which is Christ and his Government is set up of the increase of which there is no end So had all these called Christians kept in his Order and Government they had not troubled themselves and others with so many Disorders if he had been Head of their Church so if you keep in the Gospel-Order and Government of Christ Jesus you will keep out of the Apostacy which they have been in and the many false Orders That more go from Gospel-Order to the Apost acy and Governments that they went into and made one against another when they went from the true as you may see in the Scriptures of Truth that it was some high Cain and Corah-like Spirits that did so for Cain was able to build a City And Corah that opposed the Chief Leader Moses was of the Princes of the People And so these opposed with their many Orders the true Order And Balaam that was able to teach a Nation and Prophesie before a King and made the Children of Israel to stumble by his bad Counsel These were Men of Esteem these are them the World went after these came to ride upon the People and such as these opposed Abel Moses and Christ the Leader and Governor and his Apostles and set up the many Orders and Governments in their Churches and broke all into Sects And therefore Friends if you keep under Christ the Governor who governs his Church in Righteousness and who is a Prophet and Preacher and keep in his Gospel-Order none of these can deceive you let them come with never so fair Pretences For Christ bruises the Serpent's Head who is the Head of all false Teachers and false Orders that are not in his Power and is the First and Last and therefore keep in his Power and in the Vnity of his Spirit which is the Bond of Peace Mark the Pure Holy Eternal invisible Spirit of God is the Bond of Peace Therefore forfeit not your Bond of the Prince of Princes for if you do you lose your Life and go into Death and into an evil Spirit and break the Prince of Princes Peace so that you lose your Peace with him Christ Jesus And therefore it concerns all that profess themselves to be Ministers to be humble else they are no Learners of Christ not to be harsh nor high minded but walk as Examples amongst God's Flock and not to be Lords over God's Inheritance but let him be Lord whose Right it is c. And you have known the manner of my Life G. F's great Labour in the Gospel the best part of Thirty Years since I went forth and forsook all things I sought not my self I sought you and his Glory that sent me and when I turned you to him that is able to save you I left you to him And my Travels hath been great in Hungers and Colds when there was few for the first Six or Seven Years that I often lay in Woods and Commons in the Night that many times it was as a by-word That I would not come into Houses and lie in their Beds and the Prisons have been made my Home a great part of my time and in danger of my Life and in Jeopardy daily And amongst you I have made my self of no Reputation to keep the Truth up in Reputation as you all very well know it that be in the Fear of God With the low I made my self low and with the weak and feeble I was as one with them and condescended to all Conditions for the Lord had fitted me so before he sent me forth and so I passed through great Sufferings in my Body as you have been sensible And few at the first took Care for the establishing Men and Womens Meetings tho' they were generally owned when they understood them but the Everlasting God that sent me forth by his Everlasting
Power first to declare his Everlasting Gospel and then after People had received the Gospel I was moved to go through the Nation to advise them to set up the Mens Meetings and the Womens many of which were set up G. F. Advice effectual for the establishing good Order in the Church and I was moved to write to other Places for them to do the like that kept the Power And this was the End that all that had received the Gospel might be Possessors of it and of the Gospel-Order which is Heavenly and that all that had received Christ Jesus might so walk in him and possess his Government in the Church who are Members of him the heavenly Head and so Men and Women being Heirs of Christ they are Heirs of him and of his Government So that Men and Women may be both Possessors of this Government and Men and Women being Heirs of this Gospel might inherit it Then Men and Women are Heirs of the Order of the Gospel which is from Heaven and not by Man nor of Man which is an Everlasting Order which is from the Power of God for the Gospel is called the Everlasting Gospel So that all now in the Restoration by Christ Jesus into the Image of God may be helps meet in Holiness and Righteousness as Adam and Eve were in before they fell for in the Church of Christ where he is Head there is his Gospel and his Order and his Government there is his Power felt in every ones Heart and there is these Offices of Admonishing Rebuking Exhorting Reproving amongst them that are convinced and converted by them that are in the Power for there are several States So they that would not have People to be Admonished that goes under the Name of Truth and yet goes into Sin and Wickedness those are out of the Gospel-Order and Goverment of Christ Jesus and of a loose Mind themselves and would be up themselves and Lords But that Spirit is for Judgment for it is out of the Power of God and out of the Spirit in which is the Fellowship G. F. FRiends Epist 309. Seek the Peace of all Men which Peace is in Christ which is a Peace that the World cannot take away and blessed are the Peace-Makers To seek Peace that makes Peace among the Brethren and People these shall have a Blessing from the Lord the King of Peace but Wo be unto them that cause Strise and Offence And all walk in the Righteousness of Christ the Lord over your own Righteousness and do and act and speak in his Righteousness then you act and do and speak and walk in that in which you have Peace and then God will delight in you and you will be loved of him for he loveth the Righteous And let it be below any of God's People to raise an evil Report on his People Nat to receive false Reports or any others or to give both their Ears to any one's Report of his People or Matter till they have heard both Parties so that Righteousness and Truth and Judgment may be kept up and not fall And in your Men and Womens Meetings you are in and about the Lord's Business and not your own and therefore let the Lord be in your Eyes that all of you his Presence and Power and Wisdom and Judgment may receive to do and act and speak in And this keeps all in his Fear to be careful of their Words and Doings and keeps all Solid and Vertuous and Sober and then whatsoever is of a good Report and is Decent and Comely and whatsoever is Vertuous and tends to Vertue and is Lovely that to follow after and cherish And here your Eyes are kept open to see that nothing be lacking and that you stand in that which shall never fall in the Power and Spirit and Seed Christ who is the sure Foundation and the Rock of Ages G. F. FRiends In every thing give Thanks to the Lord Epist 310. for from him every good thing you do receive for the Apostle saith 1 Thess 5.18 In every thing give thanks To be Thankful for every good thing For this is the Will of God in Jesus Christ concerning you and they that do not obey this Doctrine do not do the Will of God in Christ Jesus And the Apostle saith Every Creature of God is good and nothing to be refased if it be received with thanksgiving c. 1 Tim. 4.4 And David saith At midnight I will rise to give thee thanks because of thy righteous Judgments Psalm 119.62 And David saith O give thanks unto the Lord for it is good because his Mercies endureth for ever Psal 118.1 So the Lord is worthy of all the Thanks and Praises through Jesus Christ who created all by Jesus Christ to his Glory and Honour for evermore G. F. For the Men and Womens Meetings in Barbadoes DEar Friends Let all things be done in Love Epist 311. and in the Spirit of Christ which is the Spirt of the Lamb that must have the Victory To keep in Love for Patience runneth the Race and hath the Crown And keep down rough Esau's Spirit for that will not let the Jew inward pass the King's High-way And therefore quench nothing that is good but keep in the Love of God that is shed in your Hearts and every one keep to your own Springs and at your own Breast and feel your own Bread in your own House from Heaven And strive not for Mastery but let Christ be the Master who is the Wisdom of God and your Wisdom and Righteousness and Sanctification and Justification And dwell in Humility and you to dwell in Humility and Love that will bear all things and that is not easily provoked and envieth not If your Love is not in this Love it is not the Love of God Though you may be convinced of the Truth but they are happy that do obey the Truth of what they are convinced and if they do not they will lose the Days of their Innocency and Simplicity And know the Birth that is Free-born which can give the Cheek to the Smiter for there is a Birth of the Mortal Seed and there is a Birth of the Immortal Seed by the Word of God that liveth and abideth for ever which latter hath a Habitation that is for ever And take heed Friends in laying open one anothers Weakness Not to expose the Weaknesses of one another but if any one has any thing to say let them speak to the Person concern'd and if they will not hear take two or three more before they are brought into Publick This is the Order of the Head Christ to his Body his Church And if any Report be upon any let them speak to the Parties that are concerned for the Report may be false And the Lord saith Thou shalt not raise a false Report upon my People So in this you will have a Care one of another for
to your Order as I said before of the Gospel the Power of God For the Jew outward was to offer the first Fruits of the Earth according to the Order of Aaron but according to the Order of the Gospel you both Men and Women are to offer the first Fruits of the Spirit to God who is a Spirit over all blessed for ever And shew how the Lord has blest you in your Spiritual Fruits and how you have been Captives in Spiritual Egypt and how you were redeemed Much more I might Write concerning these things but they are hard to be uttered or to be born for there has so much Strife and Foolishness entred into the Minds of People and a want of the stilness and quietness in the pure Spirit of God in which things are revealed that hath been vailed in which things are opened that hath been hid and uncovered that hath been covered But wait all in the Dilligence in the holy Life by which the holy things are seen and received in which the holy Vnity and Fellowship is So no more but my Love G. F. To all my dear Friends Elect and Precious in America STand fast in the Faith which Christ Jesus is the Author of Epist 314. by his heavenly Ensign To stand fast in the Faith in your heavenly Armor and your Feet shod with the Preparation of the Heavenly Gospel of Peace and your Heads preserved with the Helmet of Salvation and your Hearts fenced with the Breast-plate of Righteousness and so stand feeling and seeing God's Banner of Love over your Heads manifesting that you are the good Ground that God's Seed hath taken Root downward in and springs upward in and brings forth Fruits in some Sixty and some Hundred fold in this Life to the Praise and Glory of God always beholding the Sun of Righteousness that never sets ruling the supernatural Day of which you are Children and the Persecutors Sun the heat of it which rises and sets again cannot scorch your Blade which it may do that Seed that grows on the Stony Ground And therefore be valiant for God's Truth upon the Earth and fear him And be Valiant for God's Truth that can break their Fetters their Goals and their Bonds in sunder and can make your Fleece to grow again after the Wolves have torn the Wooll from your Backs for the Rod of the Wicked shall not be always upon the Backs of the Righteous And therefore mind Christ who is the first and last who bruises the Head of him who is the Head of all Persecutors to wit the Devil And consider how all the Faithful in all Ages suffered from Righteous Abel to Just Lot and the Children of Isreal by Pharaoh and the true Prophets by the false and Christ and the Apostles by the vagabond Professing Jews out of the Possession and what rejoycing it was to them to suffer for the Lord Jesus and how it was given unto them not only to Believe but also to Suffer so it was the Gift of God to them not only to Believe but to Suffer and to bear them up in their Sufferings And consider how all the Martyrs and Saints have suffered since the Apostles days by the Heathens and false Christians and so there is no new thing under the Sun And therefore keep your Meetings in the Name of Jesus And keep your Meetings in the Name of Jesus whose Name is above every Name in whose Name you have Salvation and be valiant for God's Truth upon the Earth and sound his Name abroad and keep in the Truth and give no just Occasion to the Adversary for the Lamb must have the Victory and keep in the Lords Power that is over all and in his peaceable Truth in which you will seek the Good and Eternal Welfare and Salvation of all People And the Prophet Isaiah speaking of Christ says In all their Afflictions he was afflicted and the Angel of his Presence saved them so all Friends feel the Lord in all your Afflictions And the Apostle saith We our selves glory in you to wit in the Churches of God for your Patience and Faith in all your Persecutions and and Tribulations that you indure So here you may see the Saints are one anothers Joy in the Lord who doth uphold them in all their Persecutions Tribulations and Sufferings and therefore look over the Devil that is out of Truth that makes to suffer to Christ who bruises his Head and in Christ who is First and Last in him have you Rest Life and Peace And you see by Faith Examples of Faith Moses chose rather to suffer Afflictions with the People of God than to enjoy the Pleasures of Sin for a Season So by Faith he esteemed the Reproaches of Christ greater Riches than the Treasures in Egypt And by Faith Moses forsook Egypt not fearing the Wrath of the King for he indured as seeing him who is invisible and so by Faith God's People now forsake Spiritual Egypt And by Faith the Mouths of the Lions were stopp'd and by Faith they indured Tortures not accepting Deliverance that they might obtain a better Resurrection and by Faith they underwent all the cruel Mockings Scornings Bonds and Imprisonments and by Faith they underwent Stoning and Sawing asunder and were tempted and slain with the Sword and they wandered about in Sheep skins and Goats-skins being destitute afflicted and tormented of whom the World was not worthy c. Now all these lived in the one Faith by which they saw him who was invisible which is the Faith of God's Elect now which Christ Jesus is the Author and Finisher of which Faith upholds his People now as it did them against the Persecutors in Days and Ages past And hold fast the Hope which anchors the Soul which is sure and stedfast that you may float above the Word's Sea for your Anchor holds sure and stedfast in the bottom let the Winds Storms and raging Waves rise never so high And your Star is fix'd by which you may steer to the Eternal Land of Rest and Kingdom of God So no more but my Love to you all Swarthmore in Lancashire the 12th of the 12th Month 1675. G. F. To Friends in Barbadoes DEar Friends To whom is my Love in the Holy Truth Epist 315. my desire is that you may all be valiant for it against all Deceit that the Camp of God may be kept clean Faithful in their Testimenies and all may be faithful in your Testimonies of Light and Life against all those things which have come up in this Night of Apostacy from the Light Life and Power of God So look at the Lord and his Eternal Power which hath brought you out of the Night of Apostacy to his Eternal Praise and his Power hath preserved you to this Day The Lord with his glorious Power was with us in all our Assemblies at this Yearly Meeting he hath the Dominion and over all evil Spirits gave Dominion to his
People Glory to his Name for ever Amen Great Persecutions are in most Counties in England and may are imprisoned in many Places and their Goods spoiled and we had a very large Yearly Meeting here and very Peaceable and Quiet And the Lord's Power and Presence was richly manifest in our Meetings and the Lord wonderfully supports Friends in all their Trials and Sufferings and Friends generally are in much Love and Vnity one with another Now Friends we desire that at your Quarterly Meeting you may write over an Epistle to the Yearly Meeting in London of the Affairs of the Church of Christ and the Prosperity and the spreading of his Truth there for we had a large Epistle from the Half Year Meeting in Ireland which declares that Friends were all in Vnity there and likewise and Account was given from Scotland that Friends were in Vnity there Account from divers parts of Friends Love c. and likewise an Epistle was read in our Yearly Meeting here from the Yearly Meeting in Holland which gives an Account that Friends are in Love and Vnity there and in Freezland Germany and other places but at Embden and Dantzick they are under great Persecution and we have lately a new Meeting set up beyond Holland who have been under much Suffexings and Persecutions but they stand faithful so the Lord. And at Algier in the Turks Country Friends there have set up a Meeting amongst themselves which are Captives about Twenty Friends A Meeting of Captive Friends at Algier and some other of the Captives have been Convinced at that Meeting And one Thomas Tilby a Captive Friend hath a Testimony for God and speaks there among them and their Patroons or Masters lets them meet and one of their Masters spoke to a Friend as he was going to a Meeting and thought he had been going to a publick Tipling House and he stop'd him and ask'd him whether he was going and he told him to Worship the Great God and he said it was well and let him go and some of the Turks said They had some among them of their People that would not buy Stolen Goods I have written a large Epistle to them to incourage them and that they might Preach the Gospel abroad in those Parts both in their Words Lives and Conversations and this Meeting there among the Turds may be of great service And now Friends all be careful of God's Glory and seek the good one of another and strive all to be of one Mind and Heart and that the Peace and gentle Wisdom of God may order you all And be curteous and kind and tender-hearted one to another and so the Lord God Almighty in his Holy Spirit preserve you all in Vnity and Fellowship one with another Amen And Friends you may send a Copy of this to the Caribbe Islands to be read in their Quarterly Meetings and you may read it in your own G. F. DEar Friends Epist 316. All that feels the Life and Power and Spirit of the Living God who are made alive by Christ Jesus the living heavenly and spiritual Man and sp are come to feed upon the Heavenly and Spiritual Things which Christ your Shepherd directs you to according to your Capacity Age and Growth and so to know him that God has sent to Feed you above all the Feeders that Men have sent To look to Jesus Therefore look unto him who with his Net which is his Power hath gathered you out of this great Sea the World And now do not build like the Fools upon the Sand of the Sea-shore but upon the Rock and Foundation which is Christ the Life that will stand over Death Tempests Winds and Storms and so looking unto Jesus that is your Saviour that has saved you out of the Flood you may walk upon the World's Sea looking unto him that will finish it and so in truth you can say Faith is your Victory this is your Victory even your Faith that Jesus has been the Author of the heavenly and spiritual Man And Faith comes by hearing of the Word by which all things was made and created and by which all things are upheld which lives and abides and indures for ever which Word was in the beginning with God and God was the Word which Word became Flesh and dwelt among us who beheld his Glory the Glory as of the only begotten Son of God who is risen whom you come now to hear and see and not only so but come to be made partakers of his Glory and of his Resurrection from the Dead So blessed are they They are blessed who have a part in the first Resurrection and you that comes to have part in the first Resurrection that on you the second Death may have no power and such as doth they know a dying to Sin here and putting off the Body of Sin and Death and a crucifying the Old Man with his Affections and Lusts and a putting him off and to be dead from the Rudiments of the World And so they that die with Christ shall live with him and they that are risen with Christ can never touch taste nor handle the Doctrines Commandments and dead Rudiments of Men of the World but let such put on the New Man which after the Image of God is created in Righteousness and Holiness and such comes to live in Christ and walk in him and have their part or lott in the first Resurrection in Christ Jesus and the second Death hath no power over them but they live in him that hath Power over Death Hell and the Grave and over the Devil and the Power of Death Christ Jesus who was before he was the First and Last but they that will not believe in Christ the Resurrection and the Life are for Condemnation with the Devil Hell and Death which is to be cast into the Lake of Fire and over such the second Death hath Power And therefore all that comes out of Death and partake of the first Resurrection and know that they have been Dead in Sins and Trespasses and are quickned by Christ Jesus and know a living here in Christ and a dying here with Christ while upon the Earth for John spake it whilst he was upon the Earth the second Death shall have no power over them and they that does not the second Death hath power over them which as I said before must be cast into the Lake of Fire that burns with Brimstone and such has not the Blessing as they in the first Resurrection but the Curse Wo and Misery And therefore all you who are the first Fruits to God in the Resurrection by Jesus Christ and who know him the Resurrection and the Life and are translated from Darkness to Light and into the Kingdom of his dear Son that stands in Righteousness and Holiness and Joy in the Holy Ghost that you may shew forth righteous and holy Fruits so that you may glorifie God the Father of our
so that his Name may be glorified and he honoured in your bringing forth much heavenly Spiritual Fruit from the heavenly Seed that Christ the heavenly Seeds-Man hath sown in your Hearts that so an Hundred fold of Holiness Righteousness Godliness Vertue and Piety from this heavenly Seed you may bring forth and increase in this Life-time and in the World to come reap Life Everlasting And give no occasion to your Adversaries neither in your Lives nor Words but that you may all serve God in the New Life shewing forth that you are new Men and that you are renewed in the Image of God and that you are born again of the Immortal heavenly Seed by the eternal Everlasting Word that lives and abides and endures for ever And that you do feed upon the heavenly Milk and Bread from above and that your Conversation is in Heaven and that you are cloathed with the fine heavenly Linnen which is the Righteousness of Saints which is Christ's the Heavenly and Spiritual Man's Livery by which his Servants are known by his Badge of Righteousness and distinguished from all the Servants of Old Adam Egypt Sodom and Babylon with their Badge of Vnrighteousness And so be valiant for God's Truth upon the Earth And be valiant for the Truth c. and spread it abroad preach Christ and his Kingdom his Light his Grace his Truth to Men that all should walk in it and his dreadful Day upon all the Talkers of God Christ his Prophets and Apostles Words that do not walk in the same Power Spirit and Life Grace and Truth as they walked in I say Preach this to the Magistrates and amongst the Heathen-men and shew your seles to be quickned by Christ who have been dead in Sins and Trespasses but that you are now made alive by him and so shew forth his Light Life and Truth and that you are awakened to Righteousness and therefore shew it forth to them that are asleep in the Vnrighteousness So that the Lord's Glory and righteous Power Truth Light and Life may flow over all to his Glory over all for ever Amen And much I could write to you concerning these things but I have not been very well but blessEd be the Lord God his Everlasting Seed is over all which reigns from Everlasting to Everlasting and my Life is in it And therefore stand and live in the Lord's Name and Power which is against all manner of Vnrighteousness and in the Light which is against Darkness and all the Works thereof and in the Life which is against Death and over Death and all the Actors of it and in the Truth that is over all Evil and against all the Doers thereof within and without And so that in the Light Life Power and Truth of God and in his Holy Spirit you may live in Fellowship and in the Vnity of the Spirit which is your Bond of Peace yea even of the Prince of Princes Peace which the World cannot take away from you Swarthmore the 5th of the 9th Month. G. F. An Encouragement to all the Faithful Womens-Meetings in the WORLD who assemble together in the Fear of God for the Service of the Truth Wherein they may see how the Holy Men encouraged the Holy Women both in the Time of the Law and in the Time of the Gospel though Selfish and Vnholy Men may seek to Discourage them But go on in the Name and Power of Christ and Prosper FRiends Epist 320. You may read in the old World how one FAmily after another till Noah's time served the Lord God And then from Noah Abraham Isaac and Jacob and their Wives and after Moses and Aaron had brought the Children of Israel out of Egypt and that they were come to be a great People Moses said I would all the Lord's People were Prophets Numb 11.29 And when a young Man said unto Moses Eldad and Medad do Prophesie in the Camp Moses desired that all the Lord's People were Prophets and he would have had Moses to forbid them But Moses ansered and said unto him again Would to God all the Lord's People were Prophets and that the Lord would put his Spirit upon them So Moses here who was Captain Governour and Judge over Israel was far from restraining any from Prophesying in the Camp but reproved his Envy that would have had him forbid them and did moreover encourage them by saying I would to God all the Lord's People were Prophets And surely all the Lord's People are made up of both Men and Women And the Lord having given his Law to the Children of Israel which was Holy Just and Good the Lord said I have poured out my Spirit upon the House of Israel So that by this Spirit they might understand his Law which was Spiritual Ezek. 39.29 Now in the time of the Law there were the Assemblies of the Women for all the Women that were wise of Hearth did work with their Hands about those holy Things which God had commanded And all the Women those Hearts stirred them up in Wisdom Assemblies of the Women under the Law these Women wrought about those holy Things that belonged to the Tabernacle and Sanctuary as you may see in Exod. 35. And likewise the Assemblies of the Women in the 38th Chap. and of the Womens assEmbling at the Door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation and in the Margent it 's said They assembled by Troops Now here you may see That the Women were in the Work and Service of God as well as the Men and they had their Assemblies For God had poured out of his Spirit upon the House of Israel to give them an Understanding both Men and Women to do that and make those things which God had commanded which were called holy things which were but Figares and Shadows of the Substance Christ Jesus the Holy One. Now Moses and Aaron and the Seventy Elders did not say to those Assemblies of the Women We can do our Work our selves and you are more fitter to be at home to wash the Dishes or such-like Expressions but they did encourage them in Work and Sevice of God in those things which God had commanded them in the time of the Law For God having pured his Spirit upon the House of Israel God give his Spirit to the House of Israel under the Law to give them an Understading to do those things which God had commanded them by which Spirit their Hearts were stirred up to do God's Work both Males and Females And in the time of the Law the Women were to offer up Sacrifices and Offerings as well as the Men upon God's Altar as you may see Hannah when she brought Samuel and offered him up to the Lord she brought him to the House of the Lord in Shiloh and when she brought him she took up with her three Bullocks besides Flower and Wine So see how she paid her Vows to the Lord and offered up her Sacrifices upon God's
out of the Unity which Teaching is forbidden both by Law and Gospel and they are not fit to Teach if they have not learn'd Subjection to the Spirit of God and know the Silence of all Flesh before the Lord and have not learn'd to adorn themselves with that which is modest and the Lesson of Sobriety whith becomes Godliness and with the good Works the Fruits of the Spirit And such Women as have learn'd this Lesson may Teach and Prophesie for the Spirit is poured upon them to that End And the same Apostle saith Elder Women Nurses Mothers Teachers c. in the Church of Christ 1 Tim. 5. That the Women should be as Mothers and a Mother is a Nurser and a Teacher and Instructer of her Children and the younger Women as Sisters with all Purity and Sisters in Christ and in Purity all have but one Father and a Sister is in the Vnity in the Spirit in the Gospel 1 Tim. 5. And if any Woman that believes have widows let them relieve them So here was the Womans Work to relieve their Widows c. And again The Apostle writes to Titus and saith unto him Speak thou the things which become sound Doctrine c. The aged Women that they be of good behaviour as becometh Holiness not false Accusers not given to much Wine teachers of good things Now here they must be qualified before they can be Teachers of those good things And that these aged Women teach the younger Women first To be Sober secondly To love their Husbands thirdly To love their Children fourthly To be Discreet fifthly To be Chaste and keepers at home and Good Obedient to their own Husbands that the Word of God be not blasphemed Now here the aged Women not a Woman but the aged Women were to teach the younger Women these things And how could these Women be Teachers of all these Vertues and good Things if these Mothers and holy Woman did not meet togeter and converse together of Holiness and Vertue as in Tit. 2. And in 1 Pet. 3. Women to win Husbands by the Word and Conversation also he encourageth Wives and Women That if their Husbands will not be won by the Word they may without the Word be won by the chaste Conversation of the Wives whilst they behold your chaste Conversation saith he coupled with Fear and whose adorning saith he Let it not be that of the Outward with plaiting of the Hair or wearing of Gold or putting on costly Apparel but let it be the hidden Man of the Heart in that which is not Corruptible even the Ornament of a meek and quiet Spirit which is in the sight of God of great Price And this he saith was the Ornament of the holy Women in the old time with which they adorned themselves who trusted in God as Sarch c. whose Daughters ye are as long as ye do well and are not afraid with any Amazement And likewise the Believing Husband and the Believing Wife are Heirs together of the Grace and Life And therefore the Believing Women being Heirs of Grace and Life as well as the Men they may impart of their Life which they do inherit as well as Men for an Heir of Life is beyond an Heir of the Earth And there is no Believing Husband will hinder his Believing Wife Men not to binder Wives from administring to the Necessity of the Poor c. being Heirs of Life to adiminister some of their temporal things to them that are in Necessity he will not have all the Earth to himself but let her have the disposing of some of it as well as himselfe whilst they do enjoy it and ministring of outward things is the least Love And Women many times know the Condition of poor Families and Widows and such as are in distress more than the Men because they are most conversant in their Families and about such things But there are many Idle Talkers and Busie Bodies that are out of the Sense and Service of God that will not do good themselves nor suffer others to do their Service of Love and Charity for the Lord in the Church And John writes in his Second Epistle unto the Elect Lady and her Chidlren whom I love in the Truth saith he and not I only Note John the Evang list sent his Epistle to a Woman but also all they that have known the Truth for the Truth 's sake which dwelleth in us and shall be with us for ever c. I rejoyce greatly says he that I have found they Children walking in the Truth And further saith I write no new Commandment unto thee but that which we had from the beginning that we love one another And so he trusts to come and see her and speak Face to Face unto her the Children of thy Elect Sister greet thee Amen The elect Lady and her elect Sister So was not this an honourable Woman that had trained up her Children in the Truth as was commanded by John And he admonished her against such as did transgress and did not abide in the Doctrine of Christ Jesus that they had not the Father nor the Son but they that did abide in the Doctrine of Christ Jesus had both the Father and the Son So is not this an Encouragement to all faithful Women to see that their Children do walk in the Truth and abide in the Doctrine of Christ that they may have both the Father and Son And farther Solomon saith A gracious Woman attains Honour The vertues of a gracious Woman and a vertuous Woman is a Crown to her Husband and every wise Woman buildeth her own House Surely then she hath a work to do he that hath Ears let him hear But the foolishe Woman plucketh it down with her Hands And there are too many of those that are in the Transgression of the Spirit and Power of God with which they must build But a Woman that feareth God she shall be praised give her of the Fruit of her hands and let her Works Praise her in the Gates And then surely she hath a work to do that must praise her in the Gates She stretcheth forth her hands to the Poor yea she reacheth forth her hands to the Needy Prov. 31. And must she not then have something of the Outward to do it withal She opens her Mouth in Wisdom and in her Tongue is the Law of Kingness She looks well to the Ways of her Houshold and eateth not the Bread of Idleness She is like the Merchant 's Shir she bringeth her Food from far she riseth also whilst it is Night and giveth Meat to her Houshold and Portions to her Maidens she considereth a Field and buyeth it with the Fruit of her hands she planteth a Vineyard she guirdeth her Loins with strength and strengtheneth her Arms she perceiveth that her Merchandize is good her Candle goeth not out by Night c. And here is an Example to all Women a
Springs and Fruitful and all that lives under God's Teaching knows it So serve God in the Spirit and in the newness of Life which is over the old that the Lord God's Presence may be felt amongst you and his Son a Prophet to open to you and a Priest to sanctifie you a Bishop to oversee you and a Shepherd to feed you the Rock of your Age and Ages the Foundation of your Generation and many Generations and who are in him who was elected before the Foundation of the World they build upon him who is the First and the Last the Beginning and Ending in him you have all Life and Salvation who is the Amen And my desire is To Incourage the Faithful Women in the Service of God that you may in the Power of God encourage all the Faithful Women in your Island in the Work and Service of God and now you have Six Mens Meetings if you had as many Womens Meetings it would include all the faithful Women in all the Corners of your Island and some of your ancient faithful Women to go from Meeting to Meeting till they are settled in the Power of God and that will keep all alive in the Lord's working Power and living Life And all that are not Faithful let them be admonished to Faithfulness that so they may come into the Light and Life and Service of God and Christ for all the Wise-hearted and Faithful Women in the time of the Law were to work about the Tabernacle of God and the Holy Things And they were called the Assemblies of the Women And all the Women in the time of the Law was to offer Sacrifices upon God's Altar as well as the Men. And now in the time of the Gospel which hath brought Life and Immortality to Light God doth pour out of his Spirit upon all Flesh and therefore live in the Gospel and its Order and all true Christians Men and Women doth offer their Spiritual Sacrifices to God who is a Spirit And therefore my Friends be valiant for God's Truth upon the Earth dwell in Love that will bear all things and let there be an Order entered in your Books To avoid provoking Words that there be no provoking Words spoken in your Meetings but if any have any thing to say let them speak to them in love privately And when ye have settled your Six Womens Meetings then you may have a Six Weeks or a Monthly as well as a Quarterly Meeting as you may see meet And so that all your Wells of Life may be kept open and every one have a fresh Spring springing up in you so that in every one of you the living Water of Life may flow so that ye all may be refreshed with the Fountain of Life and feel Christ a Bishop to oversee and a Counsellor to counsel and a King to rule in your Hearts and a Prophet to open and a Shepherd to feed you with his heavenly Food And so see that nothing be lacking among you To follow whatsoever is of good Report both inward and outward and whatsoever is decent comely modest vertuous righteous and of good report follow after and be stedfast upon Christ the Rock and Foundation And whatever you do let it be done in the Name of Jesus that is in his Power and mind the Gospel of Peace and its Ordr which hath brought Life and Immortality to Light that you may be preserved in Life and in Immortality by the Immortal Power And all to be Children of the Wisdom that is from above which is pure and peaceable and easie to be entreated keeping the Vnity in God's Holy Spirit in which is the Bond of the Prince of Princes Peace in whom you have all Peace Life and Salvation I received your Letter from your Quarterly Meeting and I am glad taht you are in the Lord's Work and Service And my desire is That ye all may stand up for the Glory and Honour of the Lord God and that his Blessings may abound among you And so if you do Write to New-England and Jamaica where I hear they have precious Men and Womens Meetings it might do well to encourage one another in the Work and Service of God So that the Women may all be helps meet to the Men in the Restoration in the Image of God as Man and Woman was in before they fell So with my Love in the Seed of Life to all Friends in the Island Swarthmore in Lancashire the 25th of the 8th Month 1676. G. F. To Friends in the Isle of Man MY Dear Friends be valiant for God's Truth upon the Earth Epist 334. and and live in the Light and Power and Spirit of God that you answer that of God in all by which their Minds may be turned to God And keep your Meetings in the Name of Jesus To keep your Meetings in the Name of Jesus in whom you have Salvation whose Name is above every Name under the whole Heaven that the Lord's Glory you may see to shine in and about your Tabernacles and his Presence among you to teach and order you and be you obedient to it So with my Love to you all in the Everlasting Seed that bruiseth the Head of the Serpent which Seed liveth and reigneth over all from Everlasting to Everlasting in his Glory in whom the Saints do sit down in their Peace and Rest and Joy for evermore Amen Swarthmore the 5th Month 1676. G. F. To Friends in Virginia and Maryland MY Dear Friends Epist 335. all dwell in the Love of God and in his Power and Truth that the Presence of the Lord God you all may injoy who is the Life of you all and the length of your Days who hath the Breath of all Mankind and the Spirits of all Flesh in his Hand and in him you do all live and move and have your being who is your Rock and Salvation and Fountain of Life and of all your Mercies and of your Water of Life And therefore serve and honour and fear and worship him in his Spirit and Truth and that you all may abide in the holy heavenly and spiritual Vine and in him bring forth heavenly and spiritual Fruits to the Glory of God who sent his Son to be a Leader Christ the Leader and Way to God and the Way to God who draweth all Men up to himself where he is ascended to sit together in Heavenly Places in Christ Jesus out of all Sin and Transgression by which Man was droven from God that made him barren and unfruitful And therefore be ye separated from the World to the Lord by the Word which was in the Beginning which divideth the Precious from the Vile that by that Word ye may be reconciled to God which Word reconcileth all things in Heaven and in the Earth in one which Word hammereth down that which made twain and so by the glorious Everlasting Word of Life you are born again of the Immortal
Seed of God and feedeth upon the Milk of this everlasting Word which liveth and abideth and endureth for ever and was in the beginning by which Word you have Wisdom and Salvation by which Wisdom all God's Children are justified The Lord God in his Immortal Power preserve you out of all Evil and out of the Earth and over your Enemies within and without in his everlasting Seed Christ that is over all to his Glory for ever Amen G. F. To Friends at Dantzick DEar Friends Epist 336. in the Love of God and the Lord Jesus Christ look above all your outward Sufferings and him that is out of Truth that makes you to suffer and let nothing separate you from the Love of God which you have in Christ Jesus by whom all things were made Not to be moved from the true Foundation Christ Jesus I say let not the Birth of the Flesh with all his carnal Weapons Goals and Prisons Threats or Reproaches move you nor separate you from the Love of God nor from your Foundation the Rock of Ages Christ Jesus But feel the Well of Life springing up in you to nourish the Plant that God has planted in you of his Renown that that may grow up within his Hedge his Power which will keep out the Devil and all the Venomous Beasts from entring into God's Garden or Kingdom And therefore let your Faith stand in the Lord's Power which is your Hedge and Defence and which is your Keeper and will keep you safe that you need not be afraid of your Enemy your Adversary for the Lord's Power is over his Head and you within his Power then nothing can get betwixt you and God and in the Power of the Lord is the City set upon his Hill where the Light shines and the heavenly Salt is and the Lamps burning and Trumpets sounding forth the Praise of God of the Eternal Joy in his Eternal Word of Life that lives and abides and indures for ever And so to the Praise and Glory of God you may bring forth fresh and green Fruit being grafted into the green Tree that never withers Oh be valiant for God's Glory and his Truth upon the Earth To be valiant for the Truth and spread it abroad and spread it abroad answering that of God in every Man and Womans Conscience knowing him that hath brought Everlasting Peace into the Earth So that the Songs of Salvation may be in your Mouths for it is said With the Heart Man believes and with the Mouth Confession is made to Salvation So every true Believer will confess to Christ his Salvation their Way Light and Life out of Death and Darkness their Prophet to open to them their Shepherd to feed them and their Bishop to oversee them their Captain and Commander to command and to lead them their Counsellor for to counsel them and their Priest who hath offered himself for them and also sanctifies them and offers them up to God To whom be all Praise and Golory for ever Amen I writ something to the Magistrates which is in Print in England which if you have it not to give them you may send into Holland and let it be translated into your Language and given to them and spread it up and down in your Country And as for Truth in this Part of the World and in America Truth prospers it prospers and spreads and goes on and by it many Men and Women are made God's Free Men and Women being redeemed from him that is out of Truth that they may serve God in the New Life in Christ Jesus out of the Old Life in Adam in the Fall and so come to live in the heavenly Vnity Wisdom Love and Dominion So in that Love that bears all things and keeps your Hearts Minds and Souls up to God which comes from God through which you come to love God and Christ and one another in that live and dwell Swarthmore the 17th of the 3d Month 1676. G. F. To Friends in Holland DEar Friends To whom is my Love in the Seed of Life Epist 337. that bruises the Head of the Seed of Death and through him you have all Life Eternal who is the Foundation of the Prophets and the Apostles and all God's People in all Ages their Rock to build upon that will stand the Waves of the Sea and all Storms and foul Weather who is the Horn of your Salvation to push down all that stands in your way to God and to push down him that has led Man and Woman from God So that you may all sing of your Rock and the Horn of your Salvation as the Holy Ones did in Ages past and Christ who is your Foundation the Lamb of God who hath been slain from the Foundation of the World Christ overcame the World and is ascended far above all things but now he has overcome the World and is risen and ascended far above all Principalities Powers Thrones and Dominions and is razing down to the Ground the World's Foundation from which Foundation he has been slain and is setting up himself the Living and Everlasting Foundation for all his to build upon and therefore because the World and its Foundation Christ is razing down they are are offended and angry and the Heathen Rage and take Counsel against the anointed but it 's to no purpose for he will shake the Foundation of all false Religions Ways Worships Churches and Teachers and will make the Pillars of them to totter and they must be at their wits end before they see another Foundation for God shook down the Four Monarchies the great Empires of the World and scattered them abroad with his Wind as the Chaff of the Summer Floor all those great Persecutors and the little Stone that 's cut out of the Mountain without Hands The Stone out of the Mountain without Hands c. that no earthly Man has the glory of is becoming a great Mountain and will fill the whole Earth Glory to God for ever and it will dash down all Mens Glory and Pride let them soar as high as Nebuchadnezzar and shelter as many under them as he did in their Sects that he may make them to know that the most High rules in the Kingdom of Men and that his Kingdom is an Everlasting Kingdom And therefore all Friends that know the Light which is the Life in Christ be faithful in the Truth and spread it abroad answering the Light of Christ in every one for Christ bid his Disciples go preach the Gospel unto all Nations And since that was done are many gathered into the Fellowship and Order of it but since the World has worshipped the Beast and given their Glory and Honour to him instead of God and Christ which Beast is out of Truth and had his Power from the Dragon and the Whore which all Nations has drunk of her Cup and she has rid upon the Beast and now the Everlasting Gospel must
be preached again to all Nations Tongues and People that dwell upon the Earth So all Nations hath been darkned from Life and Immortality and now the Gospel which is the Power of God brings Life and Immortality to light again that they may come to see over him that has darkned them and before he was and such comes into the City of the heavenly Jerusalem and drinks of the Waters of Life freely And therefore all live and walk in the Light in which you have Fellowship and Vnity To live in Vnity Peace and Love which edifies and be at Peace among your selves and in Love which edifies and bears all things for this is that which passes Knowledge and keeps in the Humility of Christ Jesus So my desires are That you may all spread and grow in the Vine for the Lord hath a great People to come out in those Parts which I saw in 1651. And therefore Labour in God's Power that you may increase your heavenly Treasure and enter into the Joy of the Lord. And so with my Love to all in the Truth that walk and live in it that by it they may be made God's Free-men Swarthmore the 2d of the 7th 1676. G. F. To Friends in Maryland and Virginia MY Dear Friends Epist 338. be Valiant for the Truth and the Power of it in the Spirit and Faith of Jesus and let no one take your Crown for the Saints overcame by the Blood of the Lamb and the Testimony of Jesus and so fear not the Wrath of Man but fear the Lord and keep your Men and Womens Meetings in the Name of Jesus in whose Name you have Salvation Life and Peace so that all may be in the Vine bringing forth heavenly Fruit to the Glory of God and so feel his Banner of Love over you and you sitting under the Shadow of the Almighty and look over that which maketh to suffer to that which was before it was and know your Faith to stand in the Seed that bruiseth the Head of it which Seed Christ is your Rock and Foundation who will raze down the Foundation of the World of Wickedness from which Foundation the Lamb hath been slain but he is risen and hath overcome the World and hath the Victory Glory to the Lord God and the Lamb for ever Amen And in him you have the Victory and do overcome and they that do overcome From which Foundation in Christ we have the Victory shall eat of the hidden Manna and shall go no more forth into the barren World of Wickedness but feed in the fruitful Land of the Living and their Feet shall be set in a sure Place and beautiful are the Feet of those that publish Peace and glad Tiding and that says in Truth and Righteousness to Zion Thy God reigneth Who is a consuming Fire to the Wicked and the Joy of the Lord if strength to the Righteous So serve the Lord in the Newness of Life for the Lord is dishonoured in the Old Life of Wickedness and keep the Vnity of the Spirit which is the Bond of Peace which no Man can take away So with my Love to you all in the Everlasting Seed that changeth not G. F. ALL my Dear Friends and Brethren every where Epist 339. in the Name and Power of Jesus Christ your Lord and Saviour Life and Peace To live and walk in Christ live and walk in the Lamb which hath the Victory and so in the Humility of Christ which you have learned of him and in Patience with which you run the Race and obtain the Crown of Immortal Life and in the Love of God all dwell which will warm all your Hearts and knit and unite you together and build you up a Holy Temple for the Lord And his Love will keep and carry you above all things to the Glory of God And this Love will enable you to bear all things what-ever wicked Men can do unto you or what the Lord may try you withal So let your Faith be in the invisible God and his Son who is able to succour you and save you to the uttermost who is over all King Immortal Invisible the only wise God blessed for ever Amen So God Almighty establish you all upon this Holy Rock and Foundation Christ Jesus who is the same to day as yesterday and so for ever who was all the Holy Men and Womens Foundation who is the First and the Last the Beginning and Ending the Saints Mediator and Peace-Maker between them and God Their Joy and Rejoycing is in him their Everlasting Joy the Amen blessed for ever So with my Love in the Lord Jesus Christ unto you all in whom I have laboured and among you Swarthmore the 19th of the 12th Month 1676. G. F. To Friends in New Jersey in America MY Dear Friends in New Jersey and you that go to New Jersey Epist 340. My desire is that you may all be kept in the Fear of God and that you may have the Lord in your Eye in all your Undertakings For many Eyes of other Governments or Colonies will be upon you yea the Indians to see how you order your Lives and Conversations And therefore let your Lives and Words and Conversations be as becomes the Gospel that you may adorn the Truth and honour the Lord in all your Undertakings Let that only be in your Eye Honour God in all Vndertakings and then you will have the Lord's Blessing and increase both in Basket and Field and Store House and at your lyings down you will feel him and at your goings forth and comings in So that you may answer the Light and the Truth in all People both by your godly Lives and Conversations Serving the Lord and being valiant for his Truth with a joyful Heart upon the Earth and the Glorious Name in whom you have Salvation And keep up your Meetings for Worship and your Men and Womens Meetings for the Affairs of Truth both Monthly and Quarterly And after you are settled you may join together and build a Meeting-House And do not strive about outward things but dwell in the Love of God for that will unite you together and make you kind and gentle one towards another and to seek one anothers Good and Welfare and to be helpful one to another and see that nothing be lacking among you then all will be well And let Temperance and Patience Temperance Patience and Brotherly Love be exercised and Kindness and Brotherly Love be exercised among you so that you may abound in Vertue and the true Humility living in Peace shewing forth the Nature of Christianity that you may all live as a Family and the Church of God holding Christ your heavenly Head and he exercising his Offices among you and in you and hold him the Head by his Light Power and Spirit and that will keep your Minds over the Earthly Spirit up to God for the Earth and the Sea and all things
Faith was and are still denied And all such as preach God and Christ and crucifies Christ to themselves afresh and denies God in their Works were then and are denied And all such as preach the Light and walk in Darkness and preach the Spirit the Fruits of which is Love and Peace and are in Strife and Enmity were never owned by God nor Christ nor good Men though they may be called Christians And all such as preach Liberty and themselves were Servants of Corruption were and are still denied And all such as cries Lord Lord and preaches Christ Christ and does not his Will enters not into his Kingdom themselves And into it they can bring none that do not go into it themselves Which Kingdom stands in Power and in Joy and Peace in the Holy Ghost And all such as preach the Word of God and are not doers of the Word they are Deceivers of their own Souls and they may deceive others with the good Words And such cannot be reconciled to God neither can they bring others to Reconciliation with God So this Spirit is but One which Spirit all along has wrought against the true Spirit of God in all his People and was in Srife and Contention and Disquietness against the Righteous in all Ages but it wrought its own Destruction and the Fall of them that followed it as you may see through all the Scriptures And therefore all are to keep the Vnity of the Spirit All are to keep the Vnity of the Spirit the Bond of the heavenly Man Christ Jesus's Peace who renews Man up into the Image of God as Man was in before he fell and not only into that State but up into himself that never fell where they know both his Gospel-Order and his Heavenly Government and are subject to it He being the Head above all Principalities Powers Thrones and Dominions Who is ascended above all that he might fill all things Who is over all the Beginning and Ending and Lives and Reigns from Everlasting to Everlasting the Amen G. F. An Epistle to be read in the Men and Womens Meetings DEar Friends Epist 344. My Love in the Lord Jesus Christ to you all in whom I have laboured and my Desires are the God of all Peace and the Son of Peace may fill all your Hearts with his Love and Peace and Wisdom and Knowledge in all things to do his heavenly glorious Will in that you will know his Son's Doctrine and as you know it obey it And my Desires are in the Lord All to walk worthy of their Holy Vocation that you may all walk worthy of your Vocation and of him that his called you to Holiness and Righteousness and to Peace so that his Peace may flow as a River and Righteousness run down as a Stream to the gladding of the City of God the Walls of which is his Power and Salvation and Light and Life And now My Friends Keep all your Meetings in the Name of Jesus in whom you have all Salvation which is above every Name under the whole Heaven in which there is no Salvation And also all your Men and Womens Meetings every where keep in the Power of the Lord Jesus Christ his Gospel by which he hath brought Life and Immortality to light in you that you may see over him that hath darkned you and before he was which Power will preserve you in Life and Immortality So that you may now all labour in the Gospel the Power of God in his glorious and comfortable Gospel joyfully serving the Lord in his Gospel of Peace through which Gospel you have Peace with God So that in this Gospel All to be stirred up to Labour in the Lord's Service the Power of God there can come nothing between you and God Here is your heavenly Order not of Man nor by Man So that all the faithful Men and Women may in the Lord's Power be stirred up in their Inheritances of the same Gospel and to labour in it helps-meet in the Restoration as Man and Woman was before the Fall in the Garden of God all are to work in his Righteousness and in his Image in his Power in his Garden to subdue the Earth and keep the Dominion in his Power in the Restoration as Man and Woman did in the Image of God before the Fall Whosoever would hinder you in this Work it is the same Serpent's Spirit that led Adam and Eve into the Fall from the Work of God which now would keep you in the Fall to do his Work and Command and not the Lord's and therefore over that keep your Dominion Authority and Inheritance in the Restoration in the Power of God in which every one of you must give an account to God and therefore be diligent in the Lord's Power Light Life and Spirit in which you all see your Services to God so that he may be glorified among you all and in you all and over you all his Glory may shine And you all Men and Women in your Men and Womens Meetings be diligent labouring in the Light Life and the Power of God the Gospel in the Garden and Church of God so that Righteousness and Peace may flow down amongst you and Truth and Godliness Purity Vertue and Holiness over all that is contrary and that the Weight and Care of God's Glory and his Honour and his pure Holy Name and his Truth Religion and Worship you may all stand up for against that which would in any wise cause it to be evil spoken of by ill Walkers and Talkers and let all things you do be done in Love and condescend one to another in the Power of the Lord and in his Truth have esteem one of another and let all things be done among you without any Strife for it's Love that edifies the Body and knits it together and unites it to Christ the heavenly and holy Head The Reproach taken from Woman that was first in Transgression And now you Women though you have been under Reproach because Eve was first in Transgression the Promise was The Seed of the Woman should bruise the Serpents Head And this Promise of God is fulfilled A Virgin should have a Child and they should call his Name Emanuel God with us again For Man and Woman was drove from God out of Paradise and the Serpent became their Head and god of the World but Christ is come according to the Promise of God and his Prophets who was born of a Virgin and therefore saith Mary My Spirit doth rejoyce in God my Saviour My Soul doth magnifie the Lord for he hath regard to the low estate of his Hand maid for behold from henceforth all Generations shall call me Blessed Now here comes the Reproach to be taken off from Women which were first in Transgression who are not suffered to speak in the Church but here Mary did speak and believe that which was spoken to her And also the Reproach
for my Name shall be great among the Heathen saith the Lord of Hosts And this heavenly Incense and Offering in every place is the Spiritual Offering in the New Covenant for the Jews was to offer but in one place in the Temple in the Old Covenant but in the New Covenant their Offering is in the Holy Temple of their Hearts in the Spirit with which they Offer the pure and holy and acceptable Sacrifice to God with that Spirit which God hath given them they have a living Sense of God their Creator and Father of all their Mercies who hath made them and hath made all things for them and redeems them by his Son Christ Jesus to whom be Praise and Glory and Honour and Thanks for evermore So let all bow at the Name of Jesus to his Power and Light and Spirit All are to low to the Name of Jesus for they have bowed to the Power of Darkness that foul and unclean Spirit who is out of Truth and in whom there is no Truth And therefore now all are to bow at the Name of Jesus for there is no Salvation in any other Name under Heaven but in the Name of Jesus whose Name is above every Name under the whole Heaven who is the First Born of every Creature and the First Begotten from the Dead whom God now speaks to his People by his Son and all are to hear him the great Prophet and every Tongue is to confess to Christ Jesus to the Glory of God the Father who is the First and Last who bruises the Serpent's Head And so through Christ Jesus Man and Woman comes again to God All Blessings and Praises be to the Lord God through Jesus Christ for ever and evermore Amen Swartmore the 10th Month 1679. G. F. DEar Friends every where that have received the Truth as it is in Jesus Epist 356. which is holy and pure and brings to live in him that is Pure and Holy The Truth is Peaceable and a Peaceable Habitation and the Truth is sufficient and able to make you free from him that abode not in the Truth To live in the peaceable Truth out of Strise c. and in whom there is no Truth and all that do not live and walk in the Peaceable Truth follows him that is out of the Truth into Strifes and vain Janglings and Disputings like Men of Corrupt Minds destitute of the Truth And now the Grace and Truth that comes by Jesus Christ is that which all People should be under in this New Covenant of Light and Life and Grace and Truth as the Law came by Moses in the Old Covenant and the Jews were to be under the Law But the true Christians who hath received the Grace and Truth comes to be under this Grace's teaching leading and eftablishing by which Grace and Truth they are united and joyned to Jesus Christ from whence it comes And this Grace and Truth is able and sufficient to make you free from him that is out of the Truth and to come to have a Peaceable Habitation in Christ Jesus their Eternal Rest and Sabbath For Christ Jesus saith to his Believers and Followers In me ye have Peace but in the World ye have Trouble and the trouble is in the World of Wickedness In Christ we have Peace And therefore God's People are not to love the World nor the things of the World for the love of the World is Enmity to God And therefore feel God's Love shed abroad in all your Hearts through Christ Jesus to carry all your Hearts and your Minds above the Love of the World and this Love is that which will preserve you in the excellent way of bearing all things and the Love of God fulfils the Law And the Fruits of the pure holy Spirit of the God of Truth is Love which is a peaceable Spirit but the foul unclean Spirit that is out of the Truth is a ravenous unquiet unpeaceable Spirit And the Faith that Jesus Christ is the Author and Finisher of it works by Love and the Spirit of Faith is a Peaceable Spirit which Faith gives the Victory over the unpeaceable unruly ravenous Spirit and by which Faith you have the Inheritance And the Glorious Gospel of Christ Jesus which is the Power of God the Gospel of Peace which is over the Power of Darkness and was before it was and it will be when it is gone and in this Gospel all the Heirs of it have an Everlasting Unity and an Everlasting Glorious Fellowship in the Glorious Gospel of Peace yea a Glorious Peaceable Fellowship and an access to God And the Wisdom of God from above is gentle and peaceable and justifies and preserves all her Children above the unpeaceable Wisdom that is below and this Peaceable Wisdom preserves above all the unruly Spirits and vain Talkers and Janglers such as talk of the Wisdom of God but lives not in it but in the Wisdom of the World And such as talk of the Gospel of Christ the Power of God Such as talk of the Gospel and live out of it have not comfort in the Scriptures nor the Spirit of God but lives not in it but do live in the Power of Satan the Enemy and Adversary and the Devil the destroying Power and Spirit and such have no comfort of the Scriptures nor of the things of God nor of the Grace nor of the Truth nor of the Wisdom of God nor of Faith nor Light though they may talk of all these things while they follow that unruly foul unpeaceable Spirit that abode not in the Truth in whom there is no Truth and where there is no Truth there is Confusion and Disorder Now the God of Truth is a God of Order from whom you have Grace Truth and Faith which is his Gift and his Spirit and Gospel and Wisdom that you may all live in the Order of it and as it orders you For God is a God of Order and his Order is known in his Light Grace and Truth and Spirit and his Gospel the Power of God and in his Wisdom And all his Children and People should live in the Order of his Light Spirit and Gospel and Wisdom and delight in the Order of it And all you that know God and Jesus Christ which is Eternal Life then in this Eternal Life you do know that the God of Truth is a God of Order and you love his Order in his Light and Life and Grace and Truth in his Gospel and in his Spirit and in his heavenly pure Wisdom by which all his Children are justified And in his Truth that makes free from him that abode not in the Truth in whom there is no Truth that all his Children should walk in the Order of Truth which hath made them free who are born again of the Incorruptible Seed by the Word of God The Truth makes free that lives and abides and endures for ever And so feeds of the Milk of
this Immortal Word and so are of an Incorruptible Generation which is above the Corruptible and here is the hidden Man of the Heart that is Incorruptible known that hath an Everlasting Fellowship and hath an Incorruptible Crown and is an Heir of an Incorruptible Kingdom And now the God of this World and his Followers that abode not in the Truth in whom there is no Truth cannot endure to hear talk of the Order of Truth which is in the Light and Life and in the Gospel and in the Wisdom of the God of Truth For the World is full of Disorder and Confusion but the Living Eternal Immortal God of Truth is a God of Order and not of Confusion who hath sent his Son to destroy the Devil and his Works Blessings and Praises with all Glory and Thanks be unto him who hath all Power Might Majesty and Dominion now henceforth and for ever Amen G. F. DEar Friends Epist 357. All live the Life of the true Christians and not the Life of old Adam that went from God's Command and Voice nor like the Jews To live the Life of Christianity and such as have got the Name of Christians that say There is no hearing of God and Christ's Voice now which are out of the Life Power and Spirit Grace and Truth and Image of God that the true Christians were in and Adam and Eve before they fell so that none can live the Life of the true Christians and the holy Prophets and Apostles except they are in the same Power and Spirit Grace and Truth and Faith and Image that they were in which is a Life above the World and its God in whom there is no Truth no Life Light nor Power of the Living God abiding in them And therefore before any can live the Life of the Saints they must bow to the Name of Jesus their Saviour in his Light Grace and Truth and Power and Spirit which cometh from him who submitted himself to the shamesul Death of the Cross and destroyed Death and his Power who had no Sin nor Guile in his Mouth and is risen again for our Justification and so hath tasted Death for every Man and given himself a Ransom for all that all should now bow at his Name Jesus a Saviour and so to his Power and Authority bow who hath all Power in Heaven and Earth given to him So all Men have bowed under Death and Sin by Transgression Christ submitted to the Cross and Death for us And Christ hath submitted to the Cross and Death for them and hath born their Stripes for Sin and Iniquity who had no Sin neither knew any to bring us out of Death and Sin Therefore every one must bow at the Name of Jesus as before whatsoever they do in Word or Deed it must be done in the Name of Jesus and before that they can confess to Jesus Christ to the Glory of God the Father they must all bow at the Name of Jesus and bow to his Grace and Truth Light Spirit and Power that cometh by Jesus which they know Him the Fountain the Rock and Foundation to build upon who brings out of Death and Darkness into Light and Life and a Kingdom and a World that is Everlasting and there to have Food and Cloathing that is Everlasting G. F. DEar Friends With my Love to you in the holy Peaceable Truth that never changes nor admits of no Evil Epist 358. but makes all free that receive it and tht walk in it To live in Truth which admits of no Evil. and is over all the Clouds without Rain and Wells without Water and Trees without Fruit And from the Truth floweth Justice Equity Righteousness and Godliness Mercy and Tenderness that brings a Man's Heart Mind Soul and Spirit to the Infinite and Incomprehensible God and from it a Love flows to all the Univerfal Creation and would have all to come to the Knowledge of the Truth and it bends every one to their utmost Ability to serve God and his Truth and to spread it abroad and it brings their Minds out of the Earth which makes them brittle and changeable and uncertain for it doth not change neither doth it touch with that which does change As to Vnity It makes all like it self that do obey it Vniversal to live out of narrowness and self and deny it So it brings all into Oneness and answereth the good Principle of God in all People and brings into Humility and the Fear of the Lord which is the beginning of his Wisdom and it brings all to have a care of God's Glory and his Honour and watches over all the Professors of it for their good to keep within its bounds and walk within its order which he that is out of Truth leads into all disorder in whom there is no Truth and the Truth makes all its Children free from him and in it to reign over him Thanks Glory and Honour to the Lord God of Truth over all for ever Amen The Lord who is the God of all Peace and Order The Lord is the Protect or of his People alone Protects and Preserves his People with his Eternal Power for the Devil's Power is not Eternal it had a beginning and must have an ending for the Eternal Power limits that Devourer and Destroyer And therefore Friends Patience must be exercised in the Truth and keep to the Word of Patience which Word was before the World was and abides and endures for ever and it will keep Friends over and out of all the Snares of the World and its Temptations So with my Love in the Seed of Life that reigns over all and in it the Lord God Almighty preserve and keep you all to his Glory Amen G. F. An Epistle to be read amongst Friends FRiends You that are Believers in the Light Epist 359. which is the Life in Christ To Gather in the Name of Jesus and are grasted into him who is ascended far above all Principalities Power Thrones and Dominions by whom all things were made and created all the Children in the New Covenant do Gather together in the Name of Christ Jesus whose Name is above every Name under the whole Heaven and in whose Name they have Salvation and not by any other Name under the whole Heaven And at this Name must every Knee bow and every Tongue confess Christ Jesus to the Glory of God the Father and they that have bowed their knee to the Name of Jesus and do confess him to the Glory of God the Father cannot Gather in any other Name under Heaven below the Name of Jesus but Gather in the Name of Jesus which is above every Name under Heaven in whom they have Salvation and so cannot not Gather in any Name below Christ for they do know that they have not any Salvation in whatsoever Name that they do Gather together in below the Name of Jesus And being gathered in the Name of Jesus he
Author and Finisher of So in this holy divine pure and precious Faith they have a holy divine pure and precious Vnity and Liberty which is the Victory over the Enmity and the Adversary the Destroyer and all this Instruments and they cannot come within this holy divine pure and precious Vnity and Liberty which is in the Faith for it is a Mysteryj and gives Victory over him and the access to the pure God and to Christ the Author of it which all are too stand fast in that Liberty wherewith Christ hath made them free who is the heavenly and spiritual Man the Second Adam For the Bondaged Captivity and Thraldom false Freedom and false Liberty was and is in Old Adam in Transgression and the true Liberty is that which Christ the pure and holy One makes free in and this is a pure holy Liberty which Christ makes and sets his People free in in which they are all to stand fast over all the false Liberties and Freedoms which are Bondage Also the true Libertyis in the Truth which if the Truth hath made you free then are you free indeed from him that abode not in the Truth in whom there is no Truth So then there is no true Freedom nor Liberty in him and he in whom there is no Truth cannot come into this Freedom and Liberty which is in the Truth but remains in the False For the Jews in the days of Christ boasted of their liberty and Freedom though they were in Bondange both inwardly and outwardly and that they were of Abraham their Father but Christ told them The Devil was their Father and his lusts ye will do And also in the Days of the Apostles many of the false Christians boasted of their Liberty but who was overcome by them was brought into Bondage And the Apostle was so careful of his Liberty in Christ Jesus To be careful of our I iberty in Christ that such as came to spie it out and were somewhat in Conferrence but they added nothing to him and unto such he would not give place by Subjection but rather reproved them and directed every one to walk according to the measure of the Rule which God hath distributed to them And also true Liberty is inthe Light and Grace and the Spirit which comes by Jesus which by believig in te Light they are grafted into Christ and so into true Liberty and Freedom and so are entred into the Rest out of the Toil of old Adam for they are grafted into him who was befor old Adam For Unbelievers in the Light are grafted into old Adam in Transgression And the Believers in the Light which is the Life in Christ are grafted into Christ the Word by which all things were made and created So here is perfect true Freedom and Liberty And likewise the true Liberty and Freedom is in the Grace which brings Salvation and not Destruction and teaches to live Godly not Ungodly and Soberly not Unsoberly and Righteously not Unrighteously and teaches to deny the World and not to cleave to it and follow it This Grace establishes the Heart and seasons the Words the Fruits of its Liberty and Freedom will manifest it self And also the true Liberty in the pure Holy Spirit of God and Christ doth Baptize and Plunge down that which is gotten up by Transgression in Man and Woman and circumcises and cuts off the Body of Death and Sin in the Flesh that is gotten up in Man and Woman by Transgression and mortifies and kills that which would grieve vex or quench the Motions of the pure Spirit of God so that in this holy pure Spirit of this pure God and Christ is the holy pure Freedom and Liberty over all Bondage and false Liberties and Freedoms And the Fruits of this pure Spirit is pure Love Righteousness and Godliness Fruits of the Spirit Patience Temperance and Humility by which Spirit all are made to drink into one Spirit so that all are the living Wells that have their living Water from God and Christ their true and living Fountain and in which Spirit they have a holy and spiritual Fellowship in this Baptizing Mortifying Circumcisig Spirit yea one wit another and with the Son and the Father also through which the Love of God warms every one's Heart But when the Love of many waxes cold as Christ saith then they go from this Grace Ligth Truth Power and Spirit and the Anointing and the Word of God in their own Hearts then such turn to be Betrayers and not Saviours upon Mount Zion And against such God's swift Judgment turns and suddenly falls though they may cry for a time Liberty Freedom and Peace Peace but a Day of trouble will overtake them ere they are aware And therefore all ye Friends of Christ Jesus stand fast in that Liberty wherewith Christ hath made you free by his Light Grace Truth Spirit Faith and Everlasting Gospel the Everlasting Power of God which is an Everlasting Freedom and Liberty above all Bondage and false fallen Liberties and Freedoms in this glorious Gospel and glorious joyful Libert where all may exercise God and Christ's Holy Gifts in his Holy Supernatural Light Grace Truth Spirit and Divine Faith and Word of Life and the Gospel which Word cannot be bound with all the World's Cords or Chains For it is a Fire to burn and a Hammer to break and a Sword to cut in pieces and therefore love the Word and keep the Word of Patience and the Lord will keep you for it is a tried Word and it will keep you in all trials which shall come upon all the World to try them For the Word was before the World was and will be when the World is gone which all the new-born Babes of the Incorruptible Seed who partake of the Milk of the Word grow by it up into an Immortal Life and Kingdom that is without End Glory and Praises to the Lord God for ever And now ye Babes of Christ If the World do hate you it hated Christ your Lord and Master also if they do mock and reproach and defame and buffet you they did so to your Lord ad Master also who was and is the Green Tree that gives nourishment to all his Branches his Followers Now if the World do Persecute you and take away your Goods or Cloaths was not your Lord and Master so served Christ was persecuted mocked and crucified for us Did not they cast Lots for his Garments Was not he haled from the Priests to Herod and before Pontius pilate and spit upon And if they hate thee and spit upon thee he was hated and spit upon for thee Did he not go to Prison for thee And was he not mocked and scourged for thee Did not he bow to the Cross and Grave for thee he who had no Sin neither was Guile found in his Mouth And did he not bear they Sins in his own Body upon the Tree And was he not scourged for thee by whose
Stripes we are healed Did not he suffer the Contradictio of Sinners who died for Sinners and went into the Grave for Sinners and died for the Ungodly yea tasted Death for every Man who through Death destroyed Death and the Devil the Power of Death and is risen For Death and the Grave could not hold him nor the Powers and Principalities Death could not hold Christ in the Grave with all their Guards and Watches could not hold him within the Grave but he is risen and is ascended far above all Principalities Powers Thrones and Dominions and is set down at the Right Hand of God and remaineth in the Heavens till all things be restored And he is restorign with his Light Grace Truth Power Spirit Faith Gospel and Word of Life so that you read of some that came to sit together in Heavenly Places in Christ Jesus And therefore all must bow at the Name of Jesus their Saviou in his Light Grace Truth Power Spirit and Gospel for he hath bowed for you if you rise with him and you must suffer with him if you will reign with him and die with him if you will live with him And all that are dead and buried with Christ and are risen with him they will seek those things that come down from above where Christ sits at the Right Hand of God and there you will seek those things which come down from above and not things which are below For those which seek those things that are below are the Talkers of God and Christ and the Prophets and Apostles words but they are not dead with Christ nor risen with him and therefore they do not seek those things that come down from Heaven where Christ sits at the Right Hand of God But they are them that seek the things that are above To seck those things which are above that are dead with Christ and risen with him they I say do seek those things which come down from Heaven where Christ sits at the Right Hand of God and they have not only sought them but have found them and received them and come to sit together in Heavenly Places in Christ Jesus a safe established and heavenly sitting in the heavenly Rest and Habitation in Christ Jesus who is the First and Last and over all from Everlasting to Everlasting Blessings and Praises over all be to the Lord God through him for ever Amen God is a God of Order The Eternal Living God of Truth he is a God of Order and is not the Author of Confusion but of Peace in all the Chruches of the Saints Now the Author of Confusion and not of Peace is the God of the World who abode not in the Truth because there is no Truth in him and when he speaks a Lie he speaks of his own for he is a Liar and the Father of it Now the Jews which did the God of the World's Lusts and them called Christians that do were in Strife Confusion and Disorder For the Jews they went out of the Order of Aaron and oses going from the Spirit of God poured out upon the House of Israel and so went from the Lord and his Law into Confusion and Disorder which the living God of Truth was not the Author of Also the Christians who go from te Light Grace Truth Power Spirit Gospel and Faith which Christ Jesus is the Author of they go from Christ and his Order who was not madee a Priest after the Order of Aaron but after the Order of Melchizedeck who was without beginning of Days or end of Life an Everlasting Order And such go into Strife and Confusion that go from Christ which Christ and God is not the Author of but the World's God who got into Man and Woman by Transgression and Disobedience of the Command of God who is the Author of Confusion Strife and Disorder in whom there is no Truth For what Order can there be in the World's God and amongst his Subjects in whom there is no Truth For in whom there is no Truth there is no true Order and they that abide not in the Truth Grace Light Spirit Gospel Faith and Word of Life they abide not in the Order of God and Christ And such will cry against the Order of the Truth Light Grace Spirit Gospel Faith and Word of Life which bring into the Order of Christ and the Order of the Living Eternal God of Truth who is a God of Order and delights in Order having Pleasure in them that live in his Sprit and Law of Life and the Gospel and its Order For Blessed is the Man that delights in the Law or Order of God it was so under the Old Covenant Much more Blessed is the Man or Woman that delights in the Law and Order of Love and the Law and Order of Faith and the Law and Order of Life and of the Gospel the Power of God And none keep the Law of Faith but who keep in the Faith which Christ is the Author of which wourks by Love And none keep the Law of Life but who keep in the Law of the Spirit and walk in it which is in Christ Jesus the heavenly and spiritual Second Andam who was before old Adam who under the World's God out of Truth in whom there is no Truth nor true Order but Confusion and Disorder And therefore all who come to God who is a God of Order must come bythe Grace Truth Light Power Gospel Faith and Anoitnting the Word of Life within and such come to love the Lord Jesus Christ and to delight in God and Christ's Order So you may see that God is a God of Order who called Aaron and Moses and they had an Order from God And Melchizedeck had an Order and Christ is after his Everlasting Order Christ'r Kingdom is Everlasting And Christ the Truth hath an Everlasting Kingdom that stands in Everlasing Righteousness and Power and Joy in the Holy Ghost yea an estableshed Kingdom that will never have an end and cannot be broken and no imperfect defiled nor corruptible thind enters into is And all Christ Jesus's Subjects of his Everlasting Kingdom that see it and enter into it are born again not of the Will of Man but of an Incorruptible Seed by the Word of God and have the Incorruptible Milk of the Word of God by which the grow from Babes to Men of God and have the Fine Linnen the Incorruptible Cloathing the Righteousness of Christ which is the Linnen which they do wear in Christs Kingdom So all Christ's Subjects of his Kingdom are known by their Birth and Cloathing and live in the Order of hiw Gospel of Love Lifew Light Grace and Truth and no Man comes into his Kingdom and Order but by the Light Grace Truth Faith Power and Spirit and Anointing and Word of Life within through which they know Christ and his Everlasting Kingdom that stands in Power and Righteousness and Joy in the Holy Ghost
saith 1 Cor. 14. 40. Let all things be done Decently and in Order And the Heavens and the Earth and all things therein All things ordered by the Lord. are governed and ordered by the Lord in his Power and Wisdom and all God's Holy Angels are governed and ordered by God and all God's Children and People are governed and ordered by God and Christ in his Light and Spirit and Grace and Truth and Power Gospel and Word of Life And the Lord hath set apart him and them that are Godly for himself Psalm 4. And God hath ordained his Arrows against the Persecutors Psalm 7.13 And it ought to be the Practice of all the true Christians now that are in the same Power and Spirit as the Apostles were in to let all thins be done Decently and in Order in the New Covenant of Ligth Life and Grace to the Glory of the Great God who is over all and orders all things to his Glory Amen G. F. AND now 1680 Friends you who are called into this glorious Liberty of the Sons of God Epist 362. stand fast in it And as the Apostle saith Brethren ye have been called unto Liberty Of ture Liberty only use it not for an Occasion to the Flesh but in Love serve one another Gal. 5.13 As free not using your Liberty for a Cloak of Maliciousness but as the Servants of God 1 Pet. 2. For there were some who while they promised themselves Liberty they themselves were Servants of Corruption Such were like the Dog and the Sow biting and renting and vomiting and wallowing in the Mire and as bad as the Synagogue of the Libertines that turned against Stephen 2 Pet. 2. and Acts 6.9 And therefore the Apostle was careful of the Churches Liberty in Christ when he said But take heed lest this libet of yours become a Stumbing-block to them that are Weak c. 1 Cor. 8. For the Apostle was so careful and tender that he would no have his true Liberty judged of another man's Conscience c. as you may see more at large in 1 Cor. 10. And the Apostle said Falss Brethren came unawares privily to spy out their Liberty which they had in Christ Jesus that they might bring them into Bondage to whom we gave place by Subjection no not for an Hour that the Truth of the Gospel might continue with you to wit the Galatians Gal. 2.4 And therefore he exhorts them to stand fast in that Liberty wherewhith Christ Jesus hath made them free To stand fast in the Liberty of Christ c. which is the Duty of all true Christians now for to stand fast in that heavenly glorious Liberty which Christ the heavenly and spiritual Man the Second Adam makes them free in and in this they will have Salt in t hemselves to discern between the true Liberty and Freedom and the false and know how to use their holy and spirtual Liberty and Freedom in Christ Jesus to the Praise and Glory of God So Friends the Lord God Almighty preserve you all in the heavenly Order of Christ Jesus in his holy Seed Life Pfower and Spirit that all may live and walk in it to the Praise and Glory and Honour of God and Christ Amen The 3d of the 9th Month 1679. G.F. DEar Friends and Brethren Epist 3â3 in the Lord Jesus Christ and blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who hath blessed us with all spiritual Blessings in the heavenly Places in Christ Jesus and hath chosen us in him before the Foundation of the World And now that all may walk in him in Love who hath seen the great Deliverances of the Lord and hath been acquainted with his great Mercies that endure for ever Deliverance after Deliverance multitude of Deliverances out of great Trials and Temptations and hath seen how the Lord hath brought to Confusion the Enemies of his Truth both within and without from the Beginning and therefore in the Lord's Spirit and Power all that live in it that know the Lord are incouraged to trust in him God hath raised you up together and quickned you who were dead in Adam and made you to sit together in heavenly Places in Christ Jesus that you might shew forth the Riches of his Grace and Glory and his Kindness towards you through Jesus Christ By one Spirit are we baptised into one Body For by one Spirit we are all baptised into one Body wherther we be Jews or Gentiles Bond or Free and have been all made to drink into one Spirit And therefore endeavour all to keep the Vnity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace and live and walk in the Spirit And the Fruits of this Spirit of God is Love Joy and Meekness c. And by this one Spirit you have access to the Father of Spirits and this one Spirit which baptises you into one Body both Male and Female knows your Service to God For the Spirit of God divides severally to every one of you as he wills your Offices and Places yet all in Vnity in the Spirit with which you are baptised into one Body and drink into one Spirit And the Apostle Paul who writ from Rome to the Collosians told them That they were compleat in Christ Jesus and said Though I be absent in the Flesh yet am I with you in the Spirit joying and beholding your Order and the steadfastness of your Faith in Christ And now the Lord hath gathered his People by his Power into the same Spirit that the Apostles and Churches were in in the Primitive Times And though they be absent in the Body or Flesh Men in one Room and the Women in another yea as far as the East is from the West or the North is from the South The Spirit present every where yet they are present in the Spirit rejoycing and beholding with the Spirit the Spiritual Order that the Churches and Apostles were in and the stedfastness of their precious holy and divine Faith which Christ the Second Adam is the Author and Finisher of and this is no Separation but they are the Houshold of this holy divine and precious Faith and live and walk in this holy Faith and Spirit of God by which they are baptized into one holy Body of which Christ Jesus the holy and spiritual Man is the Head And this I say again is no Separation thought they be absent in the Body or Flesh yet they are present in the Spirit and with the Spirit behold the Spiritual Order And this is not an imposed outward Form Order or Prescription as some Ignorantly think But they that do say and prescribe that Men and Women must meet all together outwardly in a Bodily Presence in one Room or else it is a Separation I say it is an outward Form an outward Order and Imposition and Prescription and fiercely Press it that know not the Spiritual Order yea I say if all Men and Women in
the World could meet outwardly together and are not in the Power and Spirit the Apostles were in they are in a Separation But God Almighty is bringing his People by his Son Christ Jesus and by the same Power the Apostles were in out of this Separation and Apostacy from the Apostles Spirit that began in the Apostles days into the same Spirit that the Church and the Apostles were in in the Primitive Times and though they be absent in the Body or Flesh yet they are present in the Spirit seeing and beholding in the Spirit the Spiritual Order and the Stedfastness of their divine Faith which Christ the Second Adam the Spiritual Man hath been the Author and Finisher of And therefore let no Man beguile you by enticing Words from this Spiritual Order Fellowship and Vnity And again the Apostle saith For I verily as absent in the Body but present in the Spirit have judged already as though I was present concerning him that hath so done this deed So here was a Spiritual Sight and a Spiritual Judgment yea a Judgment though absent in the Body by a Spiritual Sight of such as walk not in the Spirit but walk out of the Order of it 1 Cor. 5.3 And this is to the Spiritual-minded who can judge of these things for as many as are led by the Spirit of God they are the Sons of God and the Lord now by his Spirit is separating his Sons and Daughters from the Apostacy and Sin which hath separated from the Spirit that the Apostles were in that they may behold one another with joy and comfort with the Spirit in the Spiritual Order Fellowship and Vnity though they be absent in the Body and in the Flesh yet they are present in the Spirit and know one another in the Spirit of God And also All one in Christ the Apostle saith As many as are baptized into Christ have put on Christ There is neither Jew nor Greek Bond nor Free and here is neither Male nor Female but ye are all one in Christ Jesus So though these be absent in the Body one from another Jews Greeks Bond or Free Males or Females yet they are all one in Christ Jesus the spiritual and heavenly Man and with the Spirit joying and beholding one anothers Spiritual Order so the Joying Vnity and Fellowship stands in the Spirit of God and not in the outward Fleshly Bodily Presence and Carnal and Natural Sight And therefore keep your Spiritual Order To keep in the spiritual Order joying in the Spirit beholding your Spiritual Order and Stedfastness of your Faith in Christ Jesus and in this you will be all stedfast Men and stedfast Women and not tossed up and down with every windy Doctrine and the cunning Crafts and Slights of Men but stedfast Men and stedfast Women in the Faith of Christ as Trees of Righteousness the Planting of the Lord whose Fruit is unto Holiness and whose end is Everlasting Life and such have Fruit on their own Trees and Water in their own Wells and are not shaken with Winds Storms nor Tempests that may rise up within or without but are stedfast and unmoveable built upon the Rock and Foundation of Life Christ Jesus so that as every one hath received the Gift even so minister one to another as good Stewards of the manifold Grace of God And this is the Grace of God wherein ye stand that will teach you to live Godly Righteously and Soberly and brings Salvation so not only to talk Godly but to live Godly keeping your selves in the Love of God and building up your selves in the most Holy Faith which you have from Christ Jesus which makes you stedfast and unmoveable from him who is the Author and Finisher of it and with the Spirit of God in which you spiritually behold your substantial and stedfast Spiritual Order over all outward and carnal Orders and will out-last them all with which Spirit you all see your work and service for the Eternal Immortal God of Truth to whom be all Glory Honour Thanks and Praises in the Church of Jesus Christ throughout all Ages World without end Amen From your Friend and Brother in the Kingdom and Patience of Jesus Worplesdom the 22d of the 5th Month 1680. G. F. To Friends in America DEar Friends My Love to you all in the holy peaceable Truth Epist 364. and my Desires are that whatsoever ye do may be done in the Name of Jesus to the Glory of God the Father and all be subject one to another in the Fear of the Lord God so that ye may all come to dwell in the Love of God which edifies the Body of Christ who is the heavenly Man and let all Strifes and Divisions and Backbitings All Strifes Divisions c. to cease or Whisperings or Prejudices cease and be buried and so whatsoever is amiss or hath been amiss let it be put down by the Truth and Spirit of God that it may be uppermost which is a strong Bond to Vnite your Hearts and Minds and Souls together and to the Lord and be kind and courteous one towards another all studying to be quiet and to excel one another in Vertue and Purity and Holiness and Righteousness and Godliness in all your Words and Lives and Conversations so that you may all walk as become Saints and Christians every one esteeming and preferring one another above your selves in the Truth in Meekness and Lowliness of Mind and Humility for he that Inhabits Eternity dwells with an humble Heart Not to quench the Spirit And therefore do not quench the least Motion of God's good Spirit in your selves nor in any other but let Truth and Goodness be cherished in all and let all Harshness and Bitterness and Revilings be kept down by the Truth that it may have its passage through you all and in it you may bear one anothers Weakness and Infirmities and so fulfil the Law of Christ keeping down Revenge Hastiness or Passion as knowing Vengance is the Lord's and he will repay it on every one that does wrong without respect of Persons For Friends you there should be as Lights or as a City that cannot be hid Lights I say to to give Light in all People and also to be as the Salt of the Earth to be a good Savour and savoury to all People for he or she that is an ill savour hath lost the Salts savour and is good for nothing and is trodden under the Foot of Men and therefore take heed of loosing the Salts savour either in Word or Conversation for if you do you will come under the Foot of Men they will trample upon you therefore be Careful Fervent Circumspect and Faithful in the Truth and let your Moderation Temperance and Sobriety appear to all Men shewing forth the Work of the Lord and your Honesty and Justness in all your Words and Dealings between Man and Man and that you may owe nothing to any Man
but Love that every one of you may be adorned with a meek and quiet Spirit which is with the Lord of great Price and every one of you to be indued with Wisdom from on High which is pure and peaceable gentle and easie to be intreated and full of Mercy and good Works let the Fruits of this appear among you all and then you will all be gentle and easily entreated one of another And keep in the Vnity of the Spirit which is the Bond of the heavenly Peace and then none quenches it and all walking as becomes the Glorious Joyful Peaceable Gospel of Christ which is the Power of God which was before the Devil and his Power was and is over him in this Gospel you all know Life and Immortality brought to Light that you all see your Everlasting Glorious Fellowship in the Everlasting Gospel of Peace in this Gospel the Power of God that was before Enmity was and will remain when it is gone And therefore all you who know this Glorious Gospel of Peace live and walk in it keeping your Glorious Heavenly Comfortable Fellowship in this Glorious Gospel of Peace in which Enmity cannot come as before and in this Everlasting Gospel the Everlasting God who is over all from Everlasting to Everlasting will have the Praise Glory and Thanks who is worthy of all for ever and evermore London the 7th of the 12th Month 1680. G. F. To Friends in Yorkshire DEar Friends Epist 365. In the Lord's Power and Holy Spirit feel his Presence amongst you who hath drawn you with his Spirit to his Son and you that have received him he gives you Power to become his Sons and Daughters and so from the Son of God the second Adam you have Power to meet whose Power is above Adam's Power and his Sons and Daughters in the Fall And now my Friends If you do want Wisdom and Knowledge to order you in the Affairs and Service of God Christ the Treasure of Wisdom c. Christ is the Treasure of your Wisdom and Knowledge and so receive them from his Treasury which is above This heavenly saving Wisdom and Knowledge from whence you have your Grace and Truth Light and Life and the Gospel the heavenly Spirit yea heavenly Food and heavenly Bread and Water of Life from above and the unleavened Bread and sweet Milk of the Word and Water of Life to keep the Feast of the heavenly Man's Passover which is not to be found in any of old Adam's Sons and Daughters Store-houses in the Fall but his old mouldy leavened sowre Bread which makes his Sons and Daughters Hearts to burn one against another and Cloaths them with his old Rags which will not cover their Nakedness which they have stitch'd together which must be all cast off and trodden under Foot by the Spirit and Power of Christ which Power turns you to Christ who Cloaths all his Sons and Daughters with his heavenly Fine Linnen which will never wax old And therefore let all your Lamps be trimmed and Candles lighted that all of you may see your Work and Service for God and Christ in this his Day So that you may have the Blessings from above from him as the holy Men and Women of God had in the days of old so that there may be nothing lacking neither Spiritual nor Temporal And so let all things be done in Peace and Love in the Name and Power of Jesus amongst you and all condescend to one another in Meekness Patience and Quietness in the Fear of the Lord being all ordered with the Wisdom of God which is from above which is pure peaceable gentle and easie to be intreated that all your Hearts Minds and Souls may be knit together in the Love of Christ and that you may be all of one Mind and Spirit in him and whatever you do let it be done in the Name and Power of Jesus to the Glory of God the Father that created all and takes care for all Blessed for ever Amen London the 6th of the 4th Month 1680. G. F. A Letter to the Captives who met together to Worship God in Algier DEar Friends I understand by a Letter from a Friend Epist 366. a Captive amongst you dated the 20th of the 10th Month 1681 That you have a Meeting there in Algier of about Twenty I am glad to hear you meet and it is very well that you have so much Liberty from your Patroons and my desire is That the Lord may preserve you all that do meet in the Name of Jesus that in your Lives and Conversations and Words To preach Righteousness in Life and Conversation you may preach Righteousness and Holiness and Godliness and the Life of Truth so that you may answer the Spirit of God both in the Turks and Moors and the rest of the Captives that God's City may be set upon the holy Hill there which cannot be hid but that all may see it with the Light wherewith Christ hath enlightned every Man that cometh into the World And that Christ's Ensign may be set up in those Parts that with his Light in all Men they may all see it and flock to it and Christ the Ensign furnisheth all that come to him with heavenly Armour and Spiritual Weapons Now Christ enlightens every Man that cometh into the World that every one may believe in the Light and may become a Child of the Light and have Eternal Life and be saved and so the Gospel of Salvation the Power of God is to be preached to every Creature under Heaven And he that believes is saved and hath the Salvation for Christ by the Grace of God hath tasted Death for every Man And the Grace of God that brings Salvation hath appeared to all Men And therefore all Men if they will have Salvation it must be by believing receiving and walking in the Grace of God which brings it And the Lord pours out of his Spirit upon all Flesh and therefore all Men and Women must come to this Holy Spirit of God by which the Spirit of Enmity may be slain and crucified in them that in this Holy Spirit of God they may all be in Love and Vnity and with the Spirit of God they may all come to know the Eternal Immortal God and serve and worship him in his Holy Spirit of Truth which he hath poured upon them And in this all will honour God and glorifie him through Jesus Christ in his New Covenant of Light and Grace And so my Dear Friends be faithful and valiant for God's Truth upon Earth and do not deny the Name of Jesus To be valiant for the Truth in whom you have Salvation whose Name is above every Name under the whole Heaven that ye may all be with his Light built upon him your Rock and Foundation that stands sure And now my Dear Friends tho' you remain as Captives yet if ye be Christ's and God's Free-men who leads the Devil into
became a great Mountain and filled the whole Earth verse 35. They shall not hurt nor destroy in my holy Mountain For the Earth shall be full ot the Knowledge of the Lord ad the Waters covers the Sea Isa 11.9 The 27th of the 8th Month 1681. G. F. To Friends in Jamaica Dear Friends Epist 373. with my Love in the Lord to you all It hath been often in my mind from a Sense of the Spirit of the Lord which thing I shall lay before you and commend it to the Witness of God in all your Consciences The thing is this Advice to have a Yearly Meeting in Jamaica That if you had once in a Year a Yearly Meeting as they have in Holland Cermany and Freezlan and at Road Island and in England and else where which is and hath been of great Service for Friends to see one another and know how the Affairs of Truth prospers and how Friends doth grow in the Truth of God to the Comfort and Joy of one another in it in which the Lord Jesus Christ is exalted And if there should be any Difference among Friends it may be ended at the Yearly Meeting by some Friends out of the Meeting which could not be ended at other Meetings So that all things by the Truth and Power of God may be kept in Peace and Love all dwelling in the Wisdom of God that 's from above which is pure and peaceable and gentle and easie to be entreated And so for you once in a Year to meet together in the Lord's Power and to wait upon him in his Spirit and Truth one day and then another day you may have a Yearly Men and Womens Meeting in the Lord's Power which in time you may find and feel a great Service in the Lord's Spirit and Power in which you may feel his Presence and Blessing flow among you and as for Place and Time I shall leave it to your best Convenience and the Lord direct you that you may do all things whatever you do to his Glory for you know that in other Countries or Provinces they have either Half-Year Meetings or Yearly Meetings except it be in Jamaica which several times hath been in my Mind for you to have one there for where they are settled they see a great Service in them and the Lord hath owned them and honoured them with his Presence and that keeps all in a Sense of a care of his Glory and a care of one another that they may be kept and preserved in God's Eternal Truth in meekness in gentleness and in tenderness and in love that edifies the Body of Christ the second Adam the Lord from Heaven And so that all of you in Godliness Holiness and Righteousness may spend your Days to the Glory of God that your Conversations may be in Heaven and not below in the Earth among the wicked that the Lord God and his Son Christ Jesus may be glorified in you all who is over all blessed for ever Amen And Friends it would be very well if that you brought on your your Case of not Swearing and taking Oaths which hath been lost through that Spirit which was unfaithful Now the same Governor is come over again in whose time when he was there formerly that Act was obtained Yea and Nay instead of an Oath at the Assembly in which your Yea and Nay was taken instead of an Oath and Swearing Therefore see if you can prevail with this Governor and his Assembly to have the same Act renewed again and to clear your selves from that Spirit which was the cause that the Act was repealed So with my love in the Lord Jesus Christ to you all And my Desires are That you may all be preserved in God's Power to his Glory and that you may grow in the Truth and with the Truth answer the Truth in every one's inward parts so that ye may spread the Truth abroad and that with it your Hearts may be united together And walk in it and in the love of it for Love edifies the Body of Christ And that ye may be good Examples in the Truth and in Righteousness and Holiness and shew forth Christianity in the Possession of it above the outside Professors From Dolston the 24th of the 7th Month 1682. G. F. To Friends in Holland FRriends and Brethren in the Holy Seed of Life Epist 374. that reigneth over all in it walk and in the Power and Spirit To be as the Salt of the Earth c. and Truth of God that you all may be as a City set upon a Hill that cannot be hid and the Salt of the Earth and Light of the World to answer the Light of Christ in all and be a good Savour in them that are saved and in them that perish and all live in Love that beareth all things and doth deifie the Body of Christ and grow up in him your Head and Life and be kind and courteous and tender in Affection to one another and walk as becometh the Gospel of Christ the Power of God And dear Friends this Yearly Meeting the Lord's Power Was over all and his Seed of Life and the Lords living refreshing Presence was among us in all our Meetings And your Epistle from your Yearly Meeting in Holland was read to the refreshing of Friends and another from the half Years Meeting in Ireland and a Testimony from Scotland that Friends are in Love and Vnity there and the Truth prospereth and spreadeth and by Letters from America Friends have set up a Meeting about Twenty that are Captives among themselves and a Friend that is a Captive declareth the Truth there among them and their Masters doth let them meet and it may be of great Service there and the Lord's Power is over all and in it be Valiant for God's Truth upon the Earth and spread it abroad and that you may all in Humility exalt the Lord and that the Presence of God and his Son may be among you all and so the Blessing of the Lord be among you all Amen London the 17th of the 4th month 1682. G. F. To Friends in Barbadoes DEar Friends In all your Meetings see that the Lord God be glorified and have an Eye to his Glory Epist 375. and let all things be done without Strife or Reflections but all to mind the Testimony of Life and that which doth preserve your Unity in it and in that you will seek one anothers good and not slight one another but to esteem one another in the Truth and keep low in Humility for such God will exalt and be kind and tender-hearted one to another and dwell in the Love of God To be kind and tender hearted one to another that he doth shed abroad in your Hearts for that Love which cometh from God doth edifie the Body of Christ and therefore you must be of a noble Spirit that are of the noble Birth born of the Spirit and to love
the Brotherhood in the Spirit and to esteem all Men and Women as they are God's Creation whose natural Sun and Rain shineth and falleth upon the just and unjust and on their natural Fields and so doth God's Eternal Son of Righteousness shine with his Light and Grace and Spirit that he doth enlighten them withal and gives his Grace and Peace to all for his Spirit is poured out upon all Thus doth he shine through all and upon all and over all and above all and therefore let your Light shine that are the Believers in the Light that are become the Children of the Light that others may glorifie your Father which is in Heaven in seeing your good Works and your good and gracious Words and Lives and Conversations and mind the more excellent way the Apostle sheweth to the Corinthians which is the Charity that will bear all things and is not puffed up nor envieth not This doth keep above all brittleness And Friends Friends not to alter their settled Meetings without Mutual Consent after that your Meetings are settled and seasoned by the Power of the Lord if that you do alter them without the Consent of Friends in the Power of the Lord that makes and breeds Discontent and therefore keep them after they be settled in the Power of the Lord and you settled in it upon Christ the holy Rock and Foundation of God that standeth sure And in all your Meetings if that there be any Difference between Brother and Brother do not reflect one upon another in Meetings but speak one to another between your selves as Christ Commands and then you may preach the Gospel of Peace freely and speak the Truth in the love of it as it is in Christ Jesus And this is the best way that so nothing may be seen in your Meetings but the Life Truth and Peace so that the Serpent whose Meat is Dust may find none in your Meetings and none to quench nor abuse the Power or Spirit nor none to go beyond it's Motion for if you do you will both bring Trouble and Burthens upon your selves and others and run out that so you cna hardly get in again and therefore be wise in the heavenly Wisdom of God to be ordered in his Spirit of Understanding to the Glory of God and the Comfort and Edifying of his People that you all may know how to behave your selves in the Church of God to the glory of God And let all your Lives and Conver sations preach Vertue Purity Righteousness Holiness and Godliness else you cannot be the Lights of the World nor the Salt of the Earth And when any doth badly or wickedly they instead of being Lights or Salt are unsavory and are stumbling-blocks and when the Salt hath lost its savour it is good for nothing but to be trodden under the foot of Men and therefore keep your favour and then you will not come under the Foot of Men and in the Light and then you will not go into Darkness And therefore have Salt in your selves and Oil in your own Lamps and keep in your own Houses for it is the Whore that abideth not in her own House with the Word of Life and Grace and Truth within and to the Light and purifying Faith and mortifying and baptising Holy Spirit of God the Fruits of which Spirit is Love Peace The Fruits of the Spirit Long suffering Gentleness Meekness Temperance and bear one anothers Burthens and so fulfil the Law of Christ and forgive one another as Christ hath forgiven you and ftrive to excel one another in Holiness and Righteousness and Godliness and Meekness and Modesty in Vertue Truth and Love that you may all live to the Praise and Glory of God Amen And the Lord saith Isaiah 49.8 speaking of Christ I will give thee for a Covenant of the People to establish the Earth Christ a Covenant of the People to cause to inherit the desolate Heritages So that you may see the fulfilling of this in the Promise and have a Care of God's Glory and all live in the Seed Christ your Sanctuary which is a safe Place over all Storms and Destroyers who was before they were and will be when they are gone in whom you all have Rest and Peace and by whom you are presented to God holy in Body Soul and Spirit and therefore all must be kept clean and holy if that they do offer up or be presented to him that is Holy and therefore you must be a holy People and walk in the holy Truth and obey the holy Word of God and walk godly as the Grace of God teaches which brings Salvation and walk in the Light If that you do keep in the Fellowship in the heavenly Light and in this you do differ from the World that makes a profession of the Scriptures of Truth and dishonoureth God and causes his Holy Name to be blasphemed by their not obeying the Word nor walking in the Light Spirit and Grace and Truth whose Candle is gone out and now cannot indure to hear talk of the Light and therefore let your Light so shine before Men that they may see your good Works and glorifie your Father which is in Heaven and then you will have both his Favour Presence and Blessing and the Lord God Almighty preserve you all and Friends every where in his Power and Seed Christ Jesus Amen The 26th day of the 8th Month 1682. G. F. To Friends in New-Jersey and Pensilvania DEar Friends With my dear Love to you all Epist 376. in God's holy peaceable Truth and my desires are Wisdom of God gentle kind and easie to be intreated That you may be all kept careful of God's Glory Now in your settling of Plantations and Provinces and especially in woody Countries as those are you may have many Trials and Troubles but if you keep in the Wisdom of God that will keep you both gentle and kind and easie to be intreated one of another that will preserve you out of Heats or Extreams or Passions and that all Friends that come over be with speed settled in their Plantations that they may not lie and waste their Time both of themselves and their Servants and spend that which should help to settle them in their Plantations And therefore you that are concerned in ordering those things have a Care that no Reproach come upon your selves and your Countries but there may be such Care taken in all things that there may be no Complaints come into England against you And I desire that you may be very kind and courteous to all in Necessity in the Love of God for there are many People goes over to your Countries some Poor and some Rich and so many Eyes are upon you To be kind to all in Necessity and them that come over to you and therefore my desire is that you may all be careful in the Love of God and in his Truth and Righteousnes as the Family
of God and be careful and tender to your Servants in all Respects that there may come no Complaints from them or others that so in all things you may be ordered by the Wisdom of God that his Blessing may be amongst you And Dear Friends I desire that you would send over an Account by the next Ship how many Meetings you have and how many Meetings Monthly of Men and Women and how many Quarterly Meetings and Half-Year Meeitings and let us know how Truth spreacs and prospers amongst you which you would do well to write over every Year to the Yearly Meeting at London So with my Love in the Seed which reigns over all in whom you have all Life and Salvation and Peace in the Lord God G. F. To Friends that are Prisoners in York DEar Friends Epist 377. with my Love to you and all the rest of the faithful Friends in Bonds and my desire is to the Lord that ye all may stand faithful and valiant for his glorious Name To stand saithful in the time of Storms and his holy peaceable Truth now in this Day of Storm and Tempest that none may turn their Backs on the Lord in this Day of Trial and none may be ashamed of confessing of Christ before the Adulterous Generation as Christ said lest Christ be ashamed of them before his Father and before his holy Andels and therefore now is the Time and Day of your Trial for the Lord is Just though I know that the Faithful and Innocent Just and Righteous must stand it out and therefore mind the Lord in all your Sufferings and keep all low and in the Humility of Heart and there you will feel that he taht inhabits Eternity dwells with an humble Heart and he will be your Shield and Buckler and defender in time of Trouble and the Lord hath promised to deliver his People in the Six Troubles yea in the Seventh the Perfection of Troubles and therefore do not think Time long and your Sufferings long for the Lord will lay no more upon you but what you are able to bear yea upon his faithful People I know it and am a Witness for God in all my Sufferings and Imprisonments and haling before Magistrates about Sixty times about this Thirty six Year And so Friends when you are tried you may come forth more precious than Gold that is tried in the Fire and keep the Word of Patience and it will keep you from the Temptations that comes upon the World to try them for the Word of God was before the World was And though you be in outward Bonds from your Wives Families Houses and Relations yet the Word of God is not bound The Word of God is not bound neither can they bind the Word of God it 's at Liberty it abides and indures for ever it will make you all rich though they think to make you poor with their Bonds and casts you into Prisons but I tell you the Word of God will make you rich for the Word of God was before the Wicked and his Bonds were for in the Beginning was the Word but since the beginning was the Devil who had cast some into Prison spoken of in Revelations that ten Days might be a longer time than ten natural Days For they that will live Godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer Pesecution by the Vngodly for it was the Just that suffered by the Unjust in all Ages and Christ said to Saul Why Persecutest thou me So they that stood in Christ and were in Christ Jesus it was Christ that was Persecuted as well as they in whom he reigned And do not you understand and know the Sufferings and Trials of the holy Men of God went through and how by Faith they subdued the Mountains and consider the Faith of Abraham Isaac and Jacob The Faith of the Patriarchs and the Faith of Abel and Enoch and Noah and the Faith of Jeremiah and the rest of the Prophets and the Faith of Daniel and the Three Children and the Faith of all the Apostles what Sufferings and Imprisonments they went through and consider all the Martyrs since the Apostles days consider what Sufferings they have gone through and God and Christ is the same to uphold you that are given up in his Spirit Power and Faith to stand for his Glory and be valiant for his Truth and Name upon the Earth And therefore keep in your Sanctuary Christ Jesus who destroys the Destroyer and bruises the Serpents Head and so in Christ Jesus your Sanctuary you all are in safety in whom you have all Life and Salvation and Peace with God in him you may all Triumph and Rejoyce with exceeding great Joy and say What shall separate us from the Love of God which we have in Christ Jesus And the Apostle said to the Saints in their Days That there was not any thing able to separate him from the Love of God in Christ jesus you feeling the same Love you feeling the same Faith to dwell in you and walk by For the just shall live by Faith which is his victory and hath access to God in which he pleases God And so with my Love to you all in Christ Jesus who was before the Devil was that makes you to suffer and will be when he is gone In Christ you have heavenly Peace that none can take away from you in him dwell and live Amen POSTSCRIPT AND all be Faithful in their Testimony of Life against Riches and all those things which hath come up in this Night of Apostacy from the Light Life and Power of Christ and God against all Loosness whatsoever that the heavenly Camp of God may be kept holy clean and pure And all Friends look at the Lord above allyour Sufferings and trust in him who with his his Eternal Power hath preserved you to this day and the Lord in his Glorious Power was with us in all our Assemblies at this Yearly Meeting he over all hath the Dominion and over all evil Spirits gave Dominion to his People Glory to his Name for ever Amen And therefore let you Faith be in the Gospel the Power of God which hath brought Life and Immortality to Light in you G. F. To all the Elect of God Chosen and Faithful who have known the Work of the Lord and his Dealings and his Eternal Hand his Spirit and Power in preserving of you to this Day and in this Glorious Gospel Day of Christ Jesus who are built upon him the holy Rock and Foundation of God that standeth sure and are fed with the Heavenly Bread and feel the Springs of Living Water and enjoy the Presence of Lord who daily gives the Increase AND now Friends Epist 378. with the Eternal Power and Heavenly Light of Christ with it you have seen and do see and will see that which Christ hath spoken Matth. 13. and Luke 8. which he taught to the great Multitude in Parables Parable of
up when they forbad all Oaths and Swearing And therefore every one 's Yea should be Yea and every one 's Nay should be Nay and so to stand And therefore all are to consider afore-hand before they speak their yea yea and before they speak their Nay Nay in the New Covenant of Grace Light and Life that with the Light they may see safely when they speak their yea yea and their Nay Nay which is the Practice of the Children of Light in the New Covenant of Light by and in which Light they see and consider what they are albe to perform what they speak at Yea Yea and what they are able to stand to at Nay Nay So if you walk in the Light it will preserve you out of all rash and hasty Words and Promises which many runs into that do neither perform either their Yea Yea or their Nay Nay Therefor in the New Covenant of Grace Light and Life all are to speak Yea Yea to what they can do and perform and what they say Nay Nay to thatin the Light and Life and Grace of God they may likewise stand to their Nay what they say Nay to So that none make any Promise or speak Yea Yea or Nay Nay rashly To keep Promises which they cannot perform For such kind of inconsiderate and rash Speaking is not in the Everlasting Covenant of Light Life and Grace Take heed lest you be numbred among the Covenant-breakers spoken of Rom. 1.31 and such Truce-breakers which the Apostle speaks of 2 Tim. 3. Which have a form of Godliness but deny the Power thereof from such turn away saith the Apostle And therefore they that deny the Power of Godliness will not be faithful to God nor Man and such cannot exercise a good Conscience to God in Obedience to him nor to Man to perform that which is just righteous and honest Therefore the Apostle exhorts the Christians in the New Testament to speak the Truth in Love and to put away Lying and to speak every Man the Truth to his Neighbour Eph. 4.15 25. And David saith Who shall abide in thy Tabernacle and who shall dwell in thy holy Hill He that walketh uprightly and worketh Righteousness and speaketh the Truth in his Heart But they that speak Vanity every one to his Neighbour with flattering Lips and a double Heart the Lord shall cut off And Solomon speaking of Wisdom say My Mouth shall speak Truth and Wickedness is an Abomination to my Lips And James says in his General Epistle So speak ye and so do c. So see here how certain and stedfast the holy Men of God would have God's People to be in their words and doings And also James was careful that the Saints in their very outward Dealings were to be just and reproved such for saying To day or to morrow we wil go into such a City and continne there a Year and buy and sell and get gain To have regard to God in our Purposes Whereas they did not know what should be on the morrow But they ought to say If the Lord will we shall live and do this or that Therefore you may see how careful the Apostle was to keep all true Christians in the Fear of the Lord and in the Sense of his Will God is true and faithful to his People in all Generations and so he would have his People to be true and faithful to him and to one another and to all Men in his Spirit and Truth And Christ saith He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much and be that is unjust in the least is unjist also in much And further he faith If ye have not been faithful in the Vnrighteous Mammon or Riches who will commit unto you the true Riches Therefore there must be a Justness and Faithfulness in the outward Riches between Man and Man if you will have a place in your Hearts for the true heavenly Riches The inword Faithfulness to God bringeth forth Faithfulness to Men in outword Things And as the Apostle said to the Saints Finally Brethrean whatsoever things are true whatsoever things are honest whatsoever things are just whatsoever things are pure Follow whatsoever is pure and of good Report whatsoever thing 's are lovely whatsoever things are of good report if there be any virtue and if there be any praise think on these things Which are very good things to be minded thought upon and practised by the Church of Christ The Lord faith by Zachary These are the things that ye shall do speak ye every Man the Truth to his Neighbour execuse the Judgment of Truth and Peace in the Gates Again Therefore faith the Lord I am returned unto Zion and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem and Jerusalem shall be called a City of Truth and the Mountain of the Lord of Host an holy Mountain And if outward Jerusalem was called so in the Days of the Old Testament surely much more is heavenly Jerusalem in the New Covenant and Testament called The City of the living God the heavenly Jerusalem into which nothing that is unclean can enter but all the Believers in the Light and the Children of the Light enter into it whose Names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life and are to walk in Truth and Righteousness and speak the Truth every Man to his Neighbour according to the Apostle's Doctrine And so as every one hath received Christ Jesus who is the Truth walk in him the Truth and speak the Truth as it is in Jesus For you are bought with a price therefore glorifie God in your Bodies and in your Spirits which are his And the Lord in Mercy grant that all his People who profess his Name may do s to his Praise to his Glory and to his Honour over all for ever Amen And do not slight the form of sound Words in Truth You who have bought the Truth do not sell it And He that orders his Conversation aright shall see the Salvation of God And the Apostle says to the Philippians Let your Conversation be as it becometh the Gospel of Christ For the Apostle says Our Conversation is in Heaven where must be the Conversation of all the true Followers of Christ that are built upon him the Rock and Foundation who is from above And the Lord GOD establish all his People upon this Rock and Foundation which standeth sure that upon him they may stand fast with the Grace and Truth that comes from him Amen Edmonton in the County of Middlesex the 23d of the 11th Morth 1682. G.F. A way to prevent the Indignation and Judgments of God from coming on a Kingdom Nation or Family commended to the Consciences of all concerned First Epist 381. All you Vintners that sell Wine that keep Taverns or such like Houses and all you Inn-keepers and you that keep Victualling-Houses Ale-Houses Not to suffer Men to abuse the Creation Strong-Water-Shops c. see
they have access to God True Faith purifieth the Heart in which they please him in that Truth which Christ is the Author and Finisher of which is called the Gift of God and they that are of this Faith the same are the Children of Abraham and are blessed with faithful Abraham and Abraham was called the Friend of God and so are all his Children that are of his Seed and Faith they are not Friends of the Devil the wicked and unrighteous One but him and his Works they forsake who are Friends of God they are Friends of Righteousness and Holiness c. And such the Blessings of God rest upon them that are of the Seed and walk in the Seed Christ that bruises the Serpent's Head and in that Seed are all Nations blest and out of the Mouth of the Seed's seed shall not God's Word depart but it shall abide in the Mouth of the Seed's seed this living Word of God but the Word of God doth not abide in them who make a Profession of the Scriptures but live not in the Power and Spirit of the Holy Ghost that gave forth the Scriptures such are like the Jews John 5. and such think to have Life in the Scriptures but they will not come unto Christ that they may have Life for none come to Christ but by believing in the Light which is the Life in him the Word Now dear Friends and Brethren in Christ Jesus if you keep in the Seed and Faith of Abraham in it you will command your Children and Families to walk in the Way of the Lord for in it you have Authority that they may keep the pure holy and righteous Way of the Lord after you when you are gone that they may succeed you in the Faith and Seed and Way of the Lord and in the Blessing of God as Abraham Isaac and Jacob did Amen G. F. To the Quarterly Meeting at York DEar Friends and Brethren in the Lord Jesus Christ Epist 383. your Life and Salvation your Rock and Foundation Rest and Sanctuary in all Storms Trials and Sufferings Now dear Friends my desire is that you may all strive for that which makes for Peace For Blessed are the Peace makers they are called the Children of God And therefore whatsoever things are Honest Just Pure Lovely and of good Report if there be any Vertue and Praise think on these things to Practice them So that in the Power of the Lord that is over the Devil and his Power all may be kept Chaste In the Power of God all to keep Chast c. Pure and Holy to the Glory of God and all that are in the true Faith and Knowledge may shew it forth in Vertue Temperance Patience Godliness Brotherly Kindness and true Charity or Love which beareth all things For they that dwell in Love dwell in God that is their Habitation And let all things be done in Love in the Name and Power of Jesus Christ And all to strive in the Spirit of the Lord God and his Truth to be of one Mind and Judgment so that you may all be baptised with one Spirit into one Body and so all to drink into one Spirit And keep the Unity and Fellowship in the Holy Spirit of God which is the Bond of Peace amongst all God's Children that are led by his Holy Spirit whose Communion and Fellowship is in the Holy Ghost by which ye are led into all Truth Now Dear Friends Let there be no Strife in all your Meetings nor vain Janglings nor Disputings but let all that tends to Strife be ended out of your Meetings that they may be kept Peaceable so that you may be at Peace among your selves and the God of Peace and Love may fill all your Hearts which Love edifies his Church To condescend one to another in the Fear of the Lord. And condescend one to another in the Fear of the Lord to that which is Honest Just Vertuous and of good Report And where any Weakness has been in any thing let it be covered and buried in the Spirit and Love of God that his Spirit and Love may be uppermost in you all to unite all your Hearts together And that you may all shew forth that you are the Children which the heavenly Wisdom is justified of which is Pure mark Pure Peaceable Gentle and easie to be intreated which is above the Wisdom that is below that 's neither Pure Peaceable nor easie to be intreated c. And in all matters of Business or Difference or Controversies treat one another in such things kindly and gently and be not fierce or heady and high minded for that Spirit will bring Men and Women to be Lovers of themselves and to be Despisers of others and that which is good which leads Nature out of its Course and so looses Natural Affections and at last comes to be without Natural Affections which Spirit we see most of Christendom is led by For if they were in natural Affections they would not destroy their fellow Creatures about Religion but being without natural Affections they have not Affections to their fellow Creatures to wit Man and Woman which were made in God's Image The Law and the Prophets Commanded to Love their Neighbour as themselves To love our Neighbour as our selves and Christ Commands to do unto all Men as they would have Men do unto them And the Gospel Commands to Love one another by which they are known to be Christ's Disciples and to Love their Enemies and to pray for them and to forgive one another as Christ has forgiven them So that those whose Conversation is according to the Gospel of Peace do establsh the Law and the Prophets who know the Divine Nature and are made Partakers of it are not without natural Affections but have Affections to it to cherish and preserve it And this the Word of Wisdom teaches by which all things were made and created good and blessed by which all things are upheld by which all things are sanctified to God's People that God created by his Word and made them good and blessed them By which Word and Wisdom all things are sanctified to God's People as before and are used and ordered by his Word of Wisdom to his Glory and Praise And now Dear Friends whereas there have been formerly some Discourses by some in your Meeting of Marrying within a Year after the decease of the Wife or of the Husband my desire is in those things Friends may shew forth both Chastity and Vertue and Temperance For formerly hasty Marriages was reckoned amongst the infamous Persons Marriage within the Year not of good Report as for a Man or a Woman to Marry within the Year of the Death of the Wife or Husband And therefore for Vertue and Chastity's sake and the Truth and good Examples sake that which is Honest Lovely and of good Report keep and walk in and follow For we ought in the Power of Christ
Jesus to outstrip the World in Vertue Chastity Modesty and Temperance and in that which is of good Report Our Light to shine before Men. For our heavenly Light ought to shine so before Men that they may see our good Works and glorifie our Father which is in Heaven And therefore all in the Church of Christ ought to live in the Spirit and Power of Christ in which they do Judge the World and all the fallen Angels So in this Heavenly Power the Vertue Purity Chastity flows and shines over all and they that do possess as though they did not and they Marry as though they married not They are all resigned in the Power of Christ that gives Dominion over the World which brings all into one Mind and to be of one Heart and Soul and to one Judgment and are a Chosen Generation a Royal Priesthood and Holy Nation a peculiar People that shews forth the Praise of Christ who hath called them out of Darkness into his marvellous Light and as Living Stones are built up a Spiritual Houshold an Holy Priesthood to offer up Spiritual Sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ And so my Dear Friends To walk in Christ my desire is That in Jesus Christ ye may all live and walk who is the Seed of the Woman that bruises the Serpents Head that is the Head of all Wickedness and Strife and in this Seed Christ all Nations are blessed as they live and walk in him And the Blessings from above and the Blessings beneath rest upon them And in this Seed Christ all have Rest and Peace who is the First and the Last over all Blessed for ever Amen In him is my Love to you all as though I named you Read this in your Quarterly Meeting at York G. F. To the Six Weeks Meeting in Barbadoes DEar Friends Epist 384. In Christ in whom we have Peace Purity Holiness and Righteousness you must be kept Holy and Righteous to the Glory of God and Righteousness and Holiness and Puririty must wear and outlive all that is contrary to it and Patience and Meekness and Humility and Kindness and Sobriety must wear out Passion Envy Strife and Wrath High-mindedness and Loftiness and Wilfulness and therefore consider the Holy Men and Women of God must not strive but be gentle to all and in that alone keep their Dominion Not to strive but be gentle For truly Friends Love gathereth into Love and edifies the Body of Christ and let nothing be done with Strife but in Love to the Glory of God in the Name of Christ and in his Power so that you all may see and feel Christ among you ordering you all to his Glory with his Wisdom which is Pure Peaceable and Easie to be intreated so that none may be burdened nor oppressed in your Meetings but that the Life and Seed may reign in you all and so the Lord may have the Glory of all and ye may all have Comfort in him your Head And do not much strive with unruly Talkers but keep your Peace in the Spirit and Power of Christ that will overcome and wear out all that is contrary to it So that all may keep their own Habitation in Christ Jesus who is over all the First and Last and in his Power and Spirit live and walk that so you all may be Trees with Fruits and Wells with Water and have Bread in your own Tabernacles and your own Lamps trimmed and burning and that there may be no Strife among you but dwell in Love for he that dwelleth in Love dwelleth in God so God who is Love is to be your Salvation To condescend to the Meek c. And condescend to the meek and to every appearance of the Lord God and make every one's Condition in the Truth your own in that you will deny your selves and become all to all in the Truth so that none may be hurt in the Truth nor made to stumble nor the blind caused to wander but be directed into the right way and all as the tender Plants may grow together as the Lord 's Planting and he watering them and giving the increase and growth to his Glory so that the Lord may have the Praise and Glory of all his Works Amen And be careful in all your Meetings that they may be kept peaceable in the Wisdom of God that is pure and peaceable and easie to be intreated so that Wisdom may be justified of her Children That there be no Harshness or Fierceness but Meekness and Mildness and gracious Language which will edifie and season the Hearers and be of a good savour And this will honour the Seed Christ from whence Grace and Truth cometh and will be to your Comfort and shew forth whose Children you are for as Christ said Blessed are the Peace-makers they are Children of God And therefore all do this Work that you may have this Blessing And so with my Love to you all that are convinced of God's Truth as though I named you all and all to dwell in Love then you all do dwell in God as I said before and so the Lord God Almighty preserve you all in Christ your Sanctuary Amen You may read this in your Monthly or Quarterly Meetings Kingston the 7th of the 9th Month 1683. G. F. To suffering Friends in Prison at Bristol DEar Friends With my Love to all the Prisoners and the Faithful Epist 385. as though I named them It is the time now for all the Faithful to keep in Christ their Sanctuary To keep to Christ our Sanctuary in whom you have all Peace Rest Life and Salvation and by the Testimony of Jesus and the Blood of the Lamb whose Names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life before the Foundation of the World they were they that did overcome and did eat of the hidden Manna and had the new Name and therefore now is the time to keep the Word of Patience and the Testimony of Jesus for they that keep the Word of Patience the Lord will keep them in the Hour of Temptation which will come upon the whole World to try them which dwell upon the Earth for the Word was before the World was and the Tempter for all things were made by the Word And it is also the Word of Reconciliation the Word of Power the Word of Wisdom and the Word of Life and the Word of Salvation by which People are reconciled to God that are born again of the incorruptible Seed by the Word of God and they feed and grow by the Milk of the Word which lives and abides and endures for ever which strengthens all the Faithful in all Ages in all their Afflictions Imprisonments and Sufferings and it is the same to God's People now in this Day of Trial to preserve all his People every where in his Spirit and Power faithful to himself for he that endures faithful to the End shall be saved He that end ares
to the end shall be saved And Christ saith He that is ashamed of me before Men him will I be ashamed of before my Father and his Angels which are in Heaven And therefore it is good to confess Christ before Men to be your Priest Prophet your Shepherd your Bishop your Way your Mediator that makes your Peace betwixt God and you and be valiant for his glorious Name and Truth upon the Earth And so with my Love in the Seed in which you and all Nations are blest From Dosston the 6th of the 10th Month 1683. G. F. To Friends in Charles-Town in Carolina DEar Friends Epist 386. of the Monthly Meeting of Charles-Town in Ashley Cooper River in Carolina I received your Letter dated the Sixth Day of the Eighth Month 1683. Wherein you give an Account of your Meeting and of the Country and of your Liberty in that Province which I am glad to hear of though your Meeting is but small but however stand all faithful in Truth and Righteousness that your Fruits may be unto Holiness and your End will be Everlasting Life And that you may be Patterns of Vertue Modesty Chastity and Sobriety shewing forth the Fruits and Life of Christianity in your Lives and Conversations To be Patterns of Vertue c. that they may preach Righteousness Truth and Holiness to all People in that dark Wilderness that you may answer the Truth both in them that are called Christians and in the Indians And my desire is that you may prise your Liberty both Natural and Spiritual and the Favour that the Lord hath given you that your Yea is taken instead of an Oath and that you do serve both in Assemblies Juries and other Offices without Swearing according to the Doctrine of Christ Which is a great Thing worth prizing And take heed of abusing that Liberty or losing the Savour of the Heavenly Salt which seasons your Lives and Conversations in Truth Holiness and Righteousness For you know when the Salt hath lost its Savour it 's good for nothing but to be trodden under the Foot of Men. For we here are under great Persecution betwixt Thirteen and Fourteen Hundred in Prison an Account of which hath lately been delivered to the King Besides the great Spoil and Havock which is made of Friends Goods by Informers and besides the great Spoil upon the two thirds of our Estates About 1400 Friends in Prison in 1683. and upon the Twenty Pound a Month Acts and for not going to the Steeple-House and besides many are imprisoned and premunired for not Swearing Alegiance both Men Women Widows and Maids and many are fined and cast into Prison as Rioters for Meeting to worship God And we are kept out of our Meetings in Streets and High-ways in many Places of the Land and beaten and abused And therefore prise the Liberty both Natural and Spiritual that you enjoy And many are cast into Prison because they cannot pay the Priests Tithes and also many are cast into Prison by the Bishops Writs De Excommunicato Capiendo So that at present we are under great Sufferings Persecutions and Imprisonments But the Lord's Power is over all and that supports his People But in Ireland Scotland Holland Germany and Dantzick we hear that Friends are in peace and quietness and therefore you that have great Liberty both natural and spiritual as aforesaid be valiant for God's Truth upon the Earth and spread it abroad To spread Truth abroad both among them that are called Christians and Indians turning them from Darkness to Light Christ Jesus the Saviour whom God hath set up for an Ensign among the Gentiles or Heathen and to be his Salvation unto the ends of the Earth So seek the Good of all and the Profit of all and the Salvation and the Glory of God above all and the Exalting of his Name and Truth in your Day and Generation and live in Love and in the Truth and the Love of it and overcome evil with good and hold fast that which is good then you can try all things And so with my Love to you all in the holy Seed of Life Christ Jesus that reigns over all who is your Sanctuary in whom you have all Life and Peace and Salvation in Him the Lord God Almighty preserve and keep you all Holy Pure and Clean to his Glory Amen London the 23d of the 12th Month 1683. G. F. To the Monthly and Quarterly Meeting in England c. FRiends Be all Faithful in your Testimony against Tithes Epist 387. and all those things that have come up in the Night of Apostacy from the Light Life and Power of God and Christ and against all Loosness whatsoever that the heavenly Camp of God may be kept clean and pure And all Friends look at the Lord above all your Sufferings To look at the Lord above all Sufferings and trust in him who by his Eternal Power has preserved you to this Day The Lord in his Glorious Power was with us in all our Assemblies at this Yearly Meeting he over all hath the Dominion and over all evil Spirits gave Dominion to his People Glory to his Name for ever Amen And therefore let your Eye be to the Gospel the Power of God which has brought Life and Immortality to Light in you which is farther than the Law to be looked at The 9th of the 4th Month 1683. G. F. To Friends that are Captives at Algier DEar Friends who are Captives in Algier Epist 388. whom the Lord hath enlightned with his Day spring from on High and visited you with his tender Mercies in your Slavery and Captivity that you may know his Will and do it in his Light Grace Truth and Spirit that you may serve and worship the Holy Eternal and Invisible God that made you Now dear Friends to you is my Love and to all the rest that fears God that meets with you my Desires are To keep in Humility and the Fear of God that you may all keep low in Humility in the Fear of God there is no danger for God dwells with the Humble and teaches the Humble the way they should walk And therefore be careful of God's Glory you who profess the Name of God and his Son that your Lives and Words and Conversations may preach Godliness Righteousness Holiness Virtue Sobriety and Modesty both to Turks Moors Jews and to your Patroons and to the Families where you live for Christ hath enlightned every Man that comes into the World Christ hath enlightened all Men. he hath enlightned the Turks Jews and Moors with the Light which is the Life in him the Word that all in the Light might know God and Christ and The Grace of God which brings Salvation hath appeared unto all Men so to the Turks Jews and Moors yea to all Nations so that with the Grace of God they may be taught to deny Ungodliness and Unrighteousness and live Righteously and Godly
Saints Feet if she have relieved the Afflicted if she have dilgently followed every good Work c. These are the qualified Widows that are to be taken into the Number So here was a great Practice and a diligence in Piety for this Woman to do before she was receivinto the Number of the Faithful But says the Apostle The Younger Refuse for when they begin to wax Wanton against Christ c. they cast off their first Faith and withal they learn to be Idle so they forsake to learn and shew Piety and to live in that and so do not learn to be diligent and wander about from House to House and not only Idle but Tattlers and busie-Bodies speaking things they ought not and therefore such things were and are to be reproved such as these were not to be received and taken into the Number of the Faithful but to be refused And again the Apostle saith I will therefore that ye Younger Woman Marry bear Children guide the House give no occasion to the Adversary to speak reproachfully And the Apostle says To relieve our own Relations and to charge the Church with them If any Man or Woman that believeth have Widows let them relieve them and let not the Church be charged that it may relieve those that are Widows indeed So here you may see the Care Piety and Duty if either Man or Woman that Believes have Widows they are to relieve them and not let the Church of Christ be charged with them So let Men and Women learn to shew Piety to Widows to Nephews and to Parents And the Apostle saith to Timothy I charge thee before God and the Lord Jesus Christ and the Elect Angels that thou observe these things without preferring one before another do nothing by partiality lay hands suddenly on no Man So here you may see the Apostle's Care in the Church of Christ who would have all to be exercised in Truth and Piety and be diligent in their Service that Truth requireth of them And then again the Apostle speaks of such as are Lovers of themselves Covetous Proud Boasters disobedient to Parents Unthankful Unholy without natural Affections to wit to Husband or Wife Children Parents or others and likewise Truce-breakers which break their Covenant or Promises in their Marriages with God and with Man and so likewise break their Truce and Covenant with Men in Outward Things and also such as are false Accusers Incontinent Fierce Despisers of them that are Good such are not like to be subject to the good Spirit of God in themselves and Traitors Heady High-minded Lovers of Pleasures more than Lovers of God having the form of Godliness but deny the Power thereof from such turn away says the Apostle now if they were to turn away from them they were not to be heeded though they had the Form of Godliness and of Christianity if they were to turn away from them they were not to receive them into the Camp for such are as Lepers are to be turned away from And therefore the Camp of God must be kept clean And Christ hath given Authority to his Church to admonish and exhort and to reprove and rebuke all such things with his Authority Now Friends concerning putting on of Apparrel The Apostle in the Spirit and Power of Christ had a Care in the Church of God that they should adorn themselves as becomes the Gospel The Gospel Adorning with chaste Lives and Conversations and with the hidden Man of the Heart in that which is not corruptible even the Ornament of a meek and quiet Spirit which is in the sight of God of a great Price This is that which arrays and beautifies God's Church and not the outward adorning and plaiting the Hair and every new Fashion that comes up into the World 1. Pet. 3. And also the Apostle writes to Timothy and gives him that Exhortation to the Church That Women adorn themselves with modest Apparrel mark Modest with shamefacedness and sobriety mark Sobriety not with broidered Hair or Gold or Pearls For that was the Practice of the Jew outward and is to this Day or costly Array But with that which becomes Women professing Godliness with good Works So this is the Adorning that all that profess Godliness must be arrayed withal 1 Tim. 2.9 So that all may be in that good Behaviour as becomes Godliness and Holiness And likewise Chaste and Discreet Teachers of good things that the Word of God may not be blasphemed which they profess as in Tit. 2. And it 's desired That all Friends that have Children To train up Children and Servants in the pure Religion Families and Servants may train them up in the pure and unspotted Religion and in the nurture and fear of God and that frequently they read the Holy Scriptures which is much better than to be gadding abroad And exhort and admonish them that every Family apart may serve and worship the Lord as well as in Publick And that when they go to Meetings they may take their Servants and Families with them that they may not go wandring up and down in the Fields or to Ale-Houses as many have done to the dishonour of God and to the dishonour of their Masters and Mistresses Families and to their own Ruine and Destruction And therefore for Christ's sake and his pure Religion let there be Care taken to prevent all these things For such an one as cannot rule well his own House having his Children in subjection with all gravity how can he take Care of the Church of God 1 Tim. 3. And now Friends concerning Marriages Concerning Marriages of which very many things have been written it 's desired that all may be careful in that thing of running hastily together And consider it first that first as it is God's Joining so it is his Ordinance and it is honourable in all and the Bed undefiled And again such Men as draw out young Womens Affections and run from one to another and leave them and run to others And such Women as draw out Mens Affections and then leave them and draw out other Mens Affections These Practises bring many young Women and many young Men into Trouble and are sharply to be reproved For this Work is not of God's Joining but out of his Covenant Some of which have gone so far as to Promises Espousals and Contracts and then left them and gone to others This is to be Judged and Reproved For as we make no Contract for Marriages we break none And likewise such young People that trim up themselves in gay Apparrel and make a great shew and hang most on their Backs that appear what they are not in Substance The ill Consequence of Pride and Vanity which Women have sometimes deceived young Men and Men deceived Women and drawn out their Affections and Minds by outward shew and deceived one another and brought one another into Trouble Such are out of the Fear of God and a
supply you and is near unto all that calls upon him in Truth and Righteousness Therefore cast your Care upon him for he Cares for you And so as you walk in the Truth to answer the Truth in your Patroons and others you will see in time you will reach the Good in them that they will give more Credit to you and Trust you more than them that disobey the Spirit of God in their Hearts So the Lord preserve you Faithful to himself Let us hear as often as you can how things are with you G. F. London the 4th of the 3d Month 1684. To the Quarterly and Monthly Meetings in England c. DEar Friends and Brethren in the Lord Jesus Christ Epist 392. who reigns over all and has all Power in Heaven and Earth given unto him by whose Eternal Power our Meetings this Year have been preserved unto his great Glory and Honour and his living refreshing Presence has livingly been amongst us for which his People do give him the Honour Glory Thanks and Praise who is Lord over all and worthy of all blessed for ever and ever And therefore we desire and intreat all our Friends and Brethren every where who are of the Seed of the Promise and the Children of the Kingdom of God and of the New Covenant of Light and Life To walk as becometh the Gospel To Walk in the same and worthy of the same to the Glory of God And you that do profess the primitive pure and undefiled Religion which is above all the Religions in the World Shew it forth in Life and Practice And you that profess the Worship of God in the Spirit and Truth which Christ hath set up which is above the Jews Worship and all the Worships that the Men of the World have set up Be stedfast in the same for all Worships out of God's Spirit and his Truth are Idolatry And now dear Friends and Brethren who profess and possess that which is above all Religions Ways and Worships in the World our desire is To exceed in Vertue c. that you may always out-strip and exceed the World in Virtue in Purity in Chastity in Godliness and in Holiness and in Modesty Civility and in Righteousness and in Love with that you may overcome the Evil and with the Good overcome the Bad So that your Moderation and sober Life may appear unto all Men and answer that of God in all that so the Fruits of the Spirit of God may shew themselves forth in Meekness and Kindness and Humility from the holy Understanding and the pure heavenly Wisdom and the Word of Life and Patience by which all things were made in that you will be able to bear all things and endure all things through him that strengthens you And whatsoever things are lovely decent or comely and honest and of a good Report that answers the Truth in all That mind and practice that God Almighty may be glorified through you in the Seed in which all Nations are blest which bruiseth the Head of the Serpent that brought the Curse in which Seed no Enmity nor Strife can come in wich Seed Christ Jesus your heavenly Vnity and Fellowship is preserved And whatsoever Storms or Tempests should arise in the World keep in the Seed Christ Jesus your Sanctuary Christ our Sanctuary who was before the World was who is your Saviour that destroys the Destroyer in whom you have all Life Peace Rest Safety and Salvation in him who is the Amen the First and Last in him Farewell and from him the Blessings of the Lord rest upon you G. F. To Friends in Holland DEar Friends in the peaceable Truth The Glory of God all mind Epist 393. in all your Lives and Conversations and that the heavenly Fruits of the Holy Spirit of God you may all bring forth to his Praise living in Righteousness Godliness and Meekness Lowliness and Humility To live in Righteousness c. learning of Christ Jesus your Saviour who is meek For the humble God doth teach and they grow up in his Grace and Favour And therefore all take heed of going back again into the World's Ways Spirit and Words but keep to the holy Spirit of God that doth lead you in the narrow way that is to Life Eternal And in the Lord's Light Power and Spirit meet together and keep your Meetings in the Name of Jesus Christ who hath all Power in Heaven and Earth given to him that you may feel his living and divine Presence among you and in his pure gentle and heavenly Love and Wisdom you may be valiant for the Name of Jesus and his Truth upon the Earth Not to be ashamed of Christ and not to be ashamed of Christ your Teacher and Prophet that God hath raised up in his New Covenant and Testament whom you are to hear neither be ashamed of Christ your Shepherd who hath laid down his Life for his Sheep whose Voice you are to hear who doth feed his Sheep and give them Life Eternal and none is able to pluck his Sheep out of his Hand his Power neither be ashamed of your High Priest who hath offered up himself for you and doth sanctifie you who is a Priest made higher than the Heavens neither be you ashamed of your Bishop and the chief Shepherd of your Souls to whom now ye are returned by his Grace and Truth who doth oversee you with his heavenly Eye that you do not go astray from God So in him let your Faith stand who is the Author and Finisher of it So with my Love to you all in the Lord Jesus Christ who is your Sanctuary in whom you all have Life Peace Rest and Salvation who is the Amen Greet ye one another with a Kiss of Charity Peace be with you all that are in Christ Jesus Amen This Charity keeps all God's People in the heavenly Love and Unity Amsterdam the 14th of the 4th Month 1683. G. F. DEar Friends and Brethren who are Elect and Chosen in Christ Jesus before the the Foundation of the World Epist 394. in Christ you have Peace and in the World you have Trouble But be of good cheer Christ hath overcome the World Christ hath overcome the World that lieth in Wickedness and all the Persecutors in it and in him you all overcome the Devil and his Works and without him you can do nothing but through Christ and his Power and Strength you will be able to do all things according to the Will of God And though for a time ye may suffer for the Name of Jesus and for his Truth and be cast into Prison and suffer the spoiling of your Goods the Eternal God knows and his Son Christ Jesus it is for him alone and his Truth 's sake we suffer and not for any evil doing or doing wrong to any Man And so the Lord hath given us not only to believe but also to saffer for his Name and Truth
Spirit and Truth And thereforefore Friends you that have been turned to the Light and Truth and Grace of Christ and know the Power and Spirit of Jesus walk in the same and in it keep your Fellowship and your Dominion over all that which is out of the Truth and abides not in the Truth And that your heavenly Light may shine and you may all be kept in Love and Vnity in the same Light Power and Spirit to the Glory of God and the Comfort one of another Amen London the 27 of the 3d Month 1684. G. F. To the suffering Friends of Dantzick FRiends Epist 396. With my Love in the Lord Jesus Christ to you who is your Saviour and Prophet Christ the Prophet Shepherd High-Priest and Bishop of Souls that God has raised up for you to hear in all things your Shepherd that has laid down his Life for you whose Voice ye must hear who will seed you in his Living Pastures of Life who is your Priest that offered himself for you who sanctifies you that he might present you to God So is become your High Priest who is made higher than the Heavens so is a higher Priest than the Priesthood of Aaron and all the Priesthoods upon the Earth that are made by Men below For he is a High-Priest made higher than the Heavens Hebr. 7. And so is the chief Shepherd and Bishop of your Souls to Oversee you that you do not go astray from God who is your Sanctuary in whom you are preserved from the Destroyer who destroys the Devil the great Destroyer and his Works and bruises his Head and breaks his Power He namely Christ is your Saviour in him you have Rest and Peace Salvation and Life Eternal Now Dear Friends We do hear and understand that the Magistrates have cast you into Prison again in Dantzick and that they have proffered you your Liberty upon Condition that you would go away or forsake your common Meeting-place or divide your selves into several little Meetings Truly Friends we have had many of these proffers made to Us within this Twenty or Thirty Years but we never durst make such Bargains or Covenants to forsake the Assembling of our selves together as we used to do but did leave our suffering Cause wholly to the Lord Christ Jesus To Commit our Cause to God in whose Name we were gathered who has all Power in Heaven and Earth given unto him And the Lord at last did and hath tendered the Hearts of many of our Prosecutors both in England and other Places and therefore in the Spirit and Power of the Lord Jesus Christ it is good to be faithful who is God all sufficient to support and supply you all in whatever you do and strengthen you in all Conditions For if that should get a little Advantage upon you and get you into Weakness it would not rest so but get more upon you And therefore it is good to stand fast in the Liberty in Christ Jesus the Second Adam the Lord from Heaven who hath made you free out of the Snares and Bondage and Limitations of the Wills of the Sons of Old Adam And whereas some of the Magistrates have alledg'd That Christ departed out of the Coasts of the Gadarenes upon their Request after he had cast the Devils out of the possest Men and they enter'd into their Swine and run into the Sea This Argument is of no weight for you to go out of their Coasts or City who are settled Citizens and have Wives and Families for Christ went up and down from Place to Place and preached as he said The Son of Man hath not where to lay his Head though the subtle Foxes had Holes and the high-flown Fowls had their Nests And would they take it kindly themselves if the King of Poland their Protector who is of a contrary Profession should use the same Argument to them and say Be gone or else do not meet at your great Publick Places of Worship but meet in small Companies or else to depart out of these Coasts as Christ did out of the Coasts of the Gadarenes And if ye do not then you are disobedient to Christ's Example as they do apply it upon you And so let them weigh the Matter and their Argument with the just Law of God to do unto you as they would be done unto themselves And now Dear Friends I desire however that you walk wisely To walk wisely before all and gently and lovingly and meekly and soberly to all the Magistrates and all People that they may have no just Occasion in any thing against you For the Good must overcome the Bad as the Apostle says Overcome Evil with Good and dwell in that Love that can bear all things and endure all things And nothing can separate you from this Love which you have in God through Jesus Christ In this Love build up and edifie one another that by it you may answer the Good in all People and spread his Truth abroad and be valiant for that upon Earth So in his Holy peaceable Truth and his Seed Christ Jesus in which all Nations are blest God Almighty preserve and keep you to his Glory Amen And now Dear Friends To take beed lest Flattery prevail more than Cruelty you that have stood such hard and cruel Sufferings so long for the Lord's Name and Truth and could not be overcome by Cruelty take heed now lest you be overcome by fair Words and Flattery for in that there is a greater Danger G. F. An Epistle to Friends against Pride Haughtiness and the vain Customs and Fashions of the World FRiends Epist 397. Here you may see how the holy Men of God testifie against Pride Against Pride Haughtiness c. Haughtiness High-mindedness and the abominable Customs and Fashions and the ungodly Lusts of the World which is not of the Father but of the World And how Man and Woman came into these things by forsaking the Lord and so falling from his Image And how Christ renews them up into the Image of God again to serve him in Humility And all that are in the Image of God are of one Mind To all Friends and Brethren every where Peace from God and the Lord Jesus Christ be multiplied in you who by his Grace Light and Spirit are turned towards the Lord to receive it from him and that by it you may grow up in the Lord Jesus Christ out of the Worlds Nature and Spirit For Christ said unto his Believers and followers Ye are not of the World even as I am not of the World I have given them thy Word and the World hath hated them because they are not of the World And therefore as the Apostle saith love not the World nor the things of the World for the love of the World is Enmity to God And in the beginning God created Man in his own Image So in the likeness of God created he him Male and Female
the Chaff of the Summer Threshing-Floor and the Wind carried them away that no place was found for them and the Stone that smote this Image became a great Mountain and filled the whole Earth Christ filleth all things with his Divinity Dan. 2. Is not this Christ Jesus who hath all Power in Heaven and Earth given to him that he filleth the whole Earth with his Divinity to whom God gave the Heathen for an Inheritance and the attermost parts of the Earth for his Possession and his Seed doth inherit the Gentiles Isa 54. And doth not Christ now inherit the Gentiles or Heathen Yea the uttermost parts of the Earth he possesses with his divine Power Light and Seed who filleth the whole Earth and hath all Power in Heaven and Earth and Ruleth with his Spiritnal Divine Rod of Iron Not a Rod of corruptible Iron but he Ruleth them with his Divine Rod and dashes them to pieces like a Potters Vessel they that are the Children of the Kingdom see this and know Christ to rule in their Hearts and sit down in the heavenly Places in Christ Jesus who is the First and Last the Beginning and Ending by whom all things were made G. F. DEar Friends in Holland Friezland Hamborough Frederickstad Dantzick Palatinate and all other places there-aways where God's Truth and Ensign is set up Epist 403. Peace Grace and Truth be multiplied among you from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ the Fountain of all Life Peace Grace and heavenly Wisdom and Vnderstanding and the God of all Power and Peace through our Lord Jesus Christ fill you with it and his heavenly Riches and that you may all walk worthy of his heavenly Calling in all Holiness Righteousness and Godliness c. in Life and Conversation and that by the Word of Life and Patience you may answer the Truth in all both High and Low so that you may be of good savour to God in the Hearts of all People For you know there is no other Way to God but by Christ Jesus No Way to God but by Christ Jesus and you know that God has raised up Christ to be a Prophet in his New Testament to be heard in all things and you know He opens and none can shut and he shuts and none can open and you know that Christ is the Bishop of your Souls to oversee that you do not go astray from God And you know that Christ is the true Shepherd and has laid down his Life for his Sheep and they know his Voice and they follow him and he gives them Life Eternal And also you know that Christ is your High Priest made higher than the Heavens by the Power of an Endless Life and by him you are made a Spiritual Priesthood to offer up Spiritual Sacrifices to God And as for our Yearly Meeting the Presence of the Eternal God Was amongst us and his Glory which shines over all and all was quiet and peaceable and it was the Lord's doing blessed be his Name for ever And your Epistle was read in the Yearly Meeting and Friends in the Lord's Power Read it and had Unity with your Spirits and are Sensible of your Spiritual Care in the Lord 's Eternal Power concerning Truth 's Affairs in those Parts In which God Almighty preserve you and increase you both in his Wisdom Knowledge and Vnderstanding that you may spread his blessed Truth abroad and answer it in all People Amen London the 10th of the 4th Month 1685. G. F. To Friends in Pensilvania DEar Friends Epist 404. I am glad to hear of the good Yearly Meeting at Road-Island and that the Lord's Power and Presence was there among you and it would be very well to Visit the Generation of the Righteous and to see how their Seed and Vines do grow in their heavenly Vineyards and Plantations and what heavenly Riches they have laid up in Store in God's Kingdom and to see how the Wheat is gathered into God's Garner and that all keep in the Worship that Christ set up in his Spirit and Truth and that all walk in the New and Living Way over all the Dead Ways in the World and all walk in the pure undefiled Religion that keeps from the Spots of the World and to see that all are guided in the pure and gentle Wisdom that is easie to be intreated and in the Love of God that can bear all things by which all peevish short and brittle Spirits may be kept down so that all may have their good Conversation in Christ Jesus all striving for Unity in the Spirit and the holy Faith that giveth and keepeth Victory over the Enemy And so that all may have a care of their Minds running into the Earth and Carnal Things For to be Carnally-minded is Death but to be Spiritually-minded is Life and Peace and let all take heed of neglecting the Gift of God but stir up the pure Mind one in another and the Lord with his Eternal Arm and Power preserve you diligent in his heavenly Work and Service in his Vineyard that it may not grow over with Briars Thorns and Thistles to choak the tender Plants And so my Desires are That you may live and walk in Christ Jesus and that you may answer the Truth in all the Professors and the Heathen And prize your Liberty both Natural and Spiritual while you have it and labour in the Truth while it is Day Remember me to all Friends as though I named them and as for the State of Friends here we are under great Sufferings and spoiling of Goods and Imprisonments and they have of late increased in spoiling of our Goods but God is All-sufficient who doth support us Glory to his Name for ever So with my Love in Christ Jesus to you all in whom you have all Eternal Rest and Peace with God Amen Bednal-Green the 10th of the 9th Month 1685. G. F. To Friends of the Ministry in Pensilvania and New-Jersey DEar Friends With my Love to you all Epist 405. and all the rest of Friends I was glad to hear from you but you gave me no account of the increase of Truth amongst you nor what Meetings you have had amongst the Indian Kings and their People abroad in the Countries and of your visiting Friends in New-England Virginia and Carolina nor of your Travels and Labours in the Gospel who hath in all those Countries liberty to serve and worship God and preach the Truth And I understand many have a desire to live in it especially in Carolina and you who travel now from Friends to Friends thither it is thought strange that you do not visit them therefore I desire that you may all improve your Gifts and Talents and not hide it in a Napkin lest it be taken from you and not to put your Candle under a Bushel lest it go out and not to be like the foolish Virgins which kept their Name of Virgins but neglected having
Oil in their Lamps Such were not diligent in the Work of God nor in the Concerns of the Lord nor in their own Particulars And therefore my desires are That you may all be diligent serving the Lord and minding his Glory and the Prosperity of his Truth this little time you have to live and be not like Adam in the Earth but use this World as though you did not use it for they that covet after this World fall into divers Snares and hurtful Lusts And therefore consider that you are but Sojourners here that you may pass your time in the Fear of God and you being many and having many of the Friends of the Ministry going over into those Parts you may be a hinderance one unto another if you do not travel in the Life of the Vniversal Truth taht would have all Men to be saved and come to the Knowledge of the Truth And if you would have them come to the Knowledge of Truth let them know it and where it is to be found So I desire that you be valiant for it upon the Earth that you may give a good account unto God at the last with Joy So I desire that all Friends in the Ministry may see this in Pensilvania and New-Jersey And so with my Love to you all in the Holy Seed of Life that reigns over all Amen Enfield the 30th of the 5th Month 1685. G. F. To Friends in Wales DEar Friends and Brethren In the Lord Jesus Christ Epist 406. whom he hath gathered by his glorious Hand and Power to himself who is the Rock of Ages and the Foundation of many Generations that cannot be shaken in which you have all Life Peace Rest Salvation and Eternal Happiness Your Epistle dated the Second of the Second Month 1685 by Order of your Yearly Meeting signed in behalf of that Meeting was received and publickly read in our Yearly Meeting and well accepted of in Love and Unity with the Spirit that gave it forth And Friends are very glad to hear feel and see your Fellowship and Unity in the Lord's blessed Truth and your Communion in the Holy Ghost and your Care in the Concerns of the holy pure peaceable Truth And how that you are and have been preserved over those unruly Spirits that have been as Trees without Fruit and Wells without Water inwardly ravening Wolves that have got the Form of Godliness and the Sheeps Cloathing but are out of the Spirit and Power and Life of the Sheep of Christ And over such Spirits we praise God that he hath given you Dominion And our desire is That you may all live and walk in Christ and sit down in him in his Grace and Truth and that you may answer the Truth of God in all People with the Word of Life and also answer the Good in all with a Godly and an Holy Life and Conversation And likewise all the Magistrates and Officers that are in Power you may answer the just Principle in them all To answer the just Principle in all Men. and live in the Spirit of Supplication and pray for all that you may lead a righteous and a godly Life under them all So that God over all and through you all and by you all may have the Glory the Thanks and the Praise To whom all is due God blessed for ever Our Yearly Meeting was peaceable and the Lord 's glorious Presence was amongst us whose Glory shines over all God blessed and praised for ever Amen Nowe all Dear Friends You know your Teacher and Leader Christ Jesus and you know him your High-Priest that 's made highter than the Heavens by the Power of an Endless Life by whom you are made a Royal Priesthood to offer up spiritual Sacrifices to God by Jesus Christ And you know there is no other way to God but by Jesus Christ and you know that God hath raised him up a Prophet in the New Testament who is to be heard in all things who opens and no Man can shut and shuts and no Man can open And ye know that Christ is the Bishop of your Souls to Oversee you that you do not go astray from God And ye know that Christ is the true Shepherd and has laid down his Life for his Sheep and is to be heard and followed who gives unto his Sheep Life Eternal And so abide in him who is your Life Eternal and Everlasting in whom you have Peace with the Everlasting God Amen London the 10th day of the 7th Month 1685. G. F. To Friends in Dantzick DEar Friends Epist 407. I am glad to hear of your Welfare in the Lord And my desires are To be valiant for Truth That in the Eternal Power of God you may be valiant for his holy pure Truth upon the Earth and his holy Religion that keeps from the Spots of the World and the new and living Way Christ Jesus that will keep you out and over all dead Ways that are in the World and the Worship of God in his holy Spirit and pure Truth which Christ Jesus set up above all the Worships in thd World And all Men and Women must come to the Spirit of God in their Hearts if they serve and worship God that made them And my Desires are That you may live in Peace and Love one with another and in the pure gentle Wisdom of God that is easie to be intreated And let your Faith stand in the Power of God and feel that in your Hearts which will keep you until the Day of Salvation And let all your Conversations be according to the glorious Gospel of Life and Salvation so that you may come to answer the Truth in all People and in your Words and Actions you may preach Truth Righteousness Vertue Pureness Godliness and Holiness without which none shall see the Lord. And now Friends consider the Lord's great Mercy and Kindness towards you who hath brought you through great Sufferings To praeise Gode Mercies Tribulations and Persecutions and that you have your Meetings peaceable it is a great Mercy of the Lord to you for you to prize and be faithful So with my Love to you all in the Lord Jesus Christ that reigns over all in whom you have Eternal Rest and Peace Amen And as for the Affairs of Truth here we are under great Persecutions Imprisonments and spoiling of Goods but the Lord does support his People above them all And of late the chief Magistrates have shewed some Favour towards us Bednal-Green the 11th of the 9th Moutb 1685. G. F. To Friends in Pensilvania East and West-Jersey THE Lord God who created Man and Woman in his Image Epist 408. and after his Likeness in Righteousness and Holiness he blessed them and said unto them Be fruitful and multiply and replenish the Earth and subdue it and have dominion over the Fish of the Sea and over the Fowl of the Air and over all Cattle and over all the Earth and over
Meetings as I said before with the Indian Kings and Peopie so that all the Earth may come to look unto the Lord for Salvation For if ye should seetle down in the Earth and have plenty and be full Not to set our Hearts on the Earth and at ease for a time and not keep in the Power and Service and Spirit of God you would quickly come to lose your Condition as some did in Road-Island when settled down in the Earth after a while and then turned to Jangling about it and some ran out one way and some another And therefore I desire that the Lord may grant that you may be all kept and preserved by his holy Power on his holy Mountain that ye may be of the holy Camp of God that with his Power Light Spirit Grace and Truth all that is contrary may be kept out from among you so that the Lord God Almighty and his Son may walk in the midst of you and may delight to do you good So with my Love to all faithful Friends My Desire is that you all may keep in the Power and Spirit of the Lord in the heavenly Unity that you may all shine forth to his Glory and Praise to whom all belongs God over all blessed for over Amen Edmunton the 27th of the 11th Month 1687. G. F. DEar Friends Epist 413. my Desire is that all Friends may prize the Mercies of the Lord and live in Humility in his Power that is over all To prize God's Mercies that you may answer God's Witness in all People in his Spirit and Truth in a Righteous Godly Life and Conversation and let not Liberty lift them up nor Sufferings cast them down but live in the Seed of Life that no Man can make higher nor lower for that is the Heir of God's Everlasting Kingdom So in this Seed which is your Sanctuary God Almighty keep you in whom you have Life and Wisdom that it may be justified of all her Children and they exercised in it in this Day of Christ Amen G. F. ALL my dear Friends and Brethren in the Lord Jesus Christ who by his Eternal Arm and Power Epist 414. hath supported upheld and preserved you stedfast to himself so that neither Reproaches Imprisonments nor spoiling of your Goods to the almost Ruining you outwardly and besides long and tedious Imprisoning of you and many to Death Persecutors could not drive the Faithful From Christ And yet all these Persecutors could not make you turn from Christ your Life Priest Bishop and Shepherd and through him you have been made more than Conquerers And so live and walk in him who is the same to day yesterday and for ever who doth overcome and will have the Victory in whom you have Life and Salvation and Peace with God So no more but my Love Goosey in Essex the 18th of the 12th Month. 1688. G. F. DEar Friends Epist 415. my Love is to all Friends in the Truth in the Eternal Life and my Desires is that in the Everlasting Life you and I may live To live in Christ even in the Lord Jesus Christ that is over all from Everlasting to Everlasting Amen G. F. To the Quarterly Men and Womens Meetings in London All Friends Strive to keep in Unity in the holy Spirit of Christ which is the Bond of the heavenly Peace Epist 416. and that you Elders may be Examples in the heavenly Wisdom To keep in the Vnity of the Spirit and Word of Life and of Power and Patience to all the younger that hardly know the right Hand from the left so that they may be trained up both by the Word and Law in their Hearts and good Example from their Elders in Grace Truth Virtue Modesty and Sobriety as becoming Men and Women professing and possessing Godliness being adorned with a meek and a quiet Spirit which is with the Lord of a great Price and keep that Eye blind and that Spirit under that would go into the Fashions of the World for that will blind and burden and will not bear sound Doctrine and therefore that must be kept down with the Spirit of God by which all may have Power over their own Spirits and they that have not are like unto a City whose Walls are broken down that any thing that is evil or had may come in And therefore the Power and Spirit of God is as the Wall that preserveth Therefore be Wise for when Lust is conceived it brings forth Sin and Sin when it is finished it brings forth Death Now here you may see what brings forth Sin and Death in Man and Woman which by the Spirit of God is to be mortified The Spirit of God mortifies Sin and by it their Affections to be changed and set on things above where Christ sits at the Right Hand of God so that you may come to fit in the heavenly Places in Christ Jesus which is a holy pure and safe Sitting in which all may keep that heavenly Feast of Christ our Passover not with the old Leaven of Malice and Wickedness but with the heavenly unleavened Bread of Sincerity and Truth for Christ our Passover hath been sacrificed for us and therefore he is the heavenly Bread which the Feast of him our Passover must be kept withal by the clean and circumcised in Spirit in the New Testament and Covenant For the Jews in the Old Testament and Covenant they were to be clean and circumcised outwardly before they eat of the outward Sacrifices which Sacrifice and Circumcision Christ our Sacrifice hath ended and therefore keep to him our Circumcisor and the Feast of our Passover and let all the old Leaven of Malice and Wickedness be purged out that you may become a new Lump in Christ Jesus Amen Goosey the 29th of the 10th Month 1689. G. F. DEar Friends and Brethren in Christ Jesus Epist 417. whom the Lord by his Eternal Arm and Power hath preserved to this Day all walk in the Power and Spirit of God that is over all in Love and Unity For Love overcomes and builds up and unites all the Members of Christ to him the Head for Love keeps out of all Strife Love keeps out of all Strife and is of God and Love and Charity never fails but keeps the Mind above all outward Things or strife about outward Thins and is that which overcomes Evil and casts out all false Fears and it is of God and unites all the Hearts of his People together in the heavenly Joy Concord and Unity And the God of Love preserve you all and settle and establish you in Christ Jesus your Life and Salvation in whom you have all Peace with God And so walk in him that you may be ordered in his peaceable heavenly Wisdom to the Glory of God and the Comfort one of another Amen London the 27th of the 3d Month 1689. G. F. To the Six Weeks Meeting in London 1690 THe
and undefiled Life all Live Page 305 275. All Friends every where in the living Spirit and living Power c. Ibid. 276. Dear Friends live in Peace and Love Page 308 277. My Dear Friends when you were formerly in a Profession Ibid. 278. And Friends see that all Apprentices that are bound amongst you c. Page 310 1670. 279. The Substance of a General Epistle Page 311 280. All Dear Friends every where who have no helper but the Lord Page 315 281. Dear Friends the Truth of God mind Ibid. 282. Friends in the Seed that bruises the Serpent's Head c. Page 316 283. To Friends at Bristol in time of Suffering Page 317 1671. 284. Dear Friends and Brethren see that all live in the peaceable Truth Ibid. 285. Dear Friends this is the Counsel of the Lord to you all Page 319 286. Friends when you are met together in the Name of Jesus Ibid. 287. Friends consider you that have known the Mercies of the Lord Page 320 1672. 288. To Friends in Carolina Page 321 289. Dear Friends every where be faithful to God Page 322 290. Dear Friends live in Love for that is of God Ibid. 291. To all the Womens Meetings that are Believers in the Truth Page 323 292. To Friends in New-England virginia and Barbadoes Page 324 293. To Friends in Barbadoes Page 326 1673. 294. Friends the Truth is above all c. Page 327 295. Friends at the first Convincement there is not so much danger Ibid. 296. Friends all keep your Meetings in the Power of the Lord God Page 328 297. Dear Friends keep in the Power of the Lord Ibid. 298. Dear Friends to whom is my Love in that which changes not Page 329 299. To Friends at Jamaica Ibid. 300. Dear Friends let your Faith stand in the Power of God Page 330 301. To all the Womens Meetings Page 333 302. To all Friends that live in the Truth Page 334 303. Dear Friends all be faithful c. Page 335 304. To Friends in Virginia Ibid. 305. My Dear Friends live in the Seed c. Page 336 1674. 306. To Friends in Holland Page 337 307. My dear Friends who feel the Precious Truth Page 338 308. My dear Friends in England and all parts of the World Page 340 309. Friends seek the Peace of all Men Page 342 310. Friends in every thing give thanks Page 343 311. For the Men and Womens Meetings in Barbadoes Ibid. 312. All Friends that are in the Power of God Page 344 313. Friends all that are sensible of the Power of God c. Page 346 1675. 314. To all my dear Friends Elect and Precious in America Page 352 315. To Friends in Barbadoes Page 353 316. Dear Friends all that feel the Life and Power and Spirit of the Living God Page 354 317. To all the Elect and Chosen of God in Christ Jesus before the Foundation of the World Page 357 318. All Dear Friends and Brethren keep up your Testimony c. Page 361 319. To Friends in Nevis and the Caribby Islands Page 363 1676. 320. An Incouragement to all the faithful Womens Meetings c. Page 368. 321. To all the Men and Women's Meetings that are gathered in the Name of Jesus Page 389 332. To Friends in Cumberland Page 394 333. To Friends in Barbadoes Page 395 334. To Friends in the Isle of Man Page 397 335. To Friends in Virginia and Maryland Page 398 336. To Friends at Dantzick Ibid. 337. To Friends in Holland Page 399 338. To Friends in Maryland and Virginia Page 400 339. All my dear Friends and Brethren c. Page 401 340. To Friends in New-Jersey in America Ibid. 341. My Friends all you that know God and Christ your Teacher Page 402 342. My dear Friends and Brethren that Faith which is the Gospel of God c. Page 403 343. Friends in the Power and Image and Truth c. Page 405 1677. 344. An Epistle to be read in the Men and Womens Meetings c. Page 409 345. My dear Friends to whom is my Love in the Everlasting Seed Page 411 346. To Friends at Sussex Page 412 347. Concerning the Subjection of the Spirits of the Apostles one to another c. Page 413 348. Dear Friends to whom is my Love in the heavenly Seed Page 414 1678. 349. To Friends in the County of Oxford Page 416 350. To the Yearly Meeting in Yorkshire Ibid. 351. Friends know what the Lord doth require of you c. Page 417 352. An Epistle to Friends to keep in the Power of God c. Page 418 353. My dear Friends whose Faces are set towards Zion Page 420 354. And dear Friends my Love to you all in the Seed of Life Page 423 1679. 355. To Friends in America concerning their Negroes and Indians Page 426 356. Dear Friends every where that have received the Truth as it is in Jesus Page 428 357. Dear Friends all live in the Life of the true Christians Page 430 358. Dear Friends with my Love to you all in the holy peaceable Truth Page 431 359. An Epistle to be read among Friends Ibid. 360. To all the Men and Womens Meetings every where Page 434 361. An Epistle to Friends for them to read Page 439 And now my dear Friends concerning true Liberty Page 443 1680. 362. And now Friends you who are called into the Glorious Liberty Page 450 363. Dear Friends and Brethren in the Lord Jesus Christ Ibid. 364. To Friends in America Page 453 365. To Friends in Yorkshire Page 454 366. A Letter to the Captives who meet together to worship God in Algier Page 455 1681. 367. To Friends in Burlington West-Jersey Page 456 368. To suffering Friends at Horsham in Sussex Page 458 369. To the Flock of Christ Jesus every where Page 459 370. To suffering Friends at Leicester Page 460 371. To Friends in Carolina Page 462 372. An Epistle concerning the Government of Christ Page 463 1682. 373. To Friends in Jamaica Page 470 374. To Friends in Holland Page 471 375. To Friends in Barbadoes Ibid. 376. To Friends in New-Jersey and Pensilvania Page 473 377. To Friends that are Prisoners in York Page 474 378. To all the Elect of God chosen and faithful c. Page 476 379. An Epistle to all Planters c. in foreign Plantations America Page 477 380. To all Christians to keep to Yea Yea and Nay Nay c. Page 478 381. A Way to prevent the Indignation and Judgments of God Page 480 382. An Epistle to the Houshold of Faith Page 482 1683. 380. To the Quarterly Meeting at York Page 486 384. To the Six Weeks Meeting in Barbadoes Page 488 385. To suffering Friends in Prison at Bristol Page 489 386. To Friends in Charles-Town in Carolina Page 490 387. To the Monthly and Quarterly Meeting in England c. Page 491 388. To Friends that are Captives at Algier Ibid. 389. To the Houshold of Faith which is the Church of Christ Page 493 390. An Epistle to all