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that, they prolonged that time to half a year; but that time being long expired, and we mightily increased in number, they now gave forth, that we would eat out one another. For many times after meetings, many tender people having a great way to go, tarried at friends' houses by the way, and sometimes more than there were beds to lodge in; so that some have lain on the bay-mows; hereupon Cain's fear possessed the professors and world's people. For they were afraid, that when we had eaten one another out, we would all come to be maintained by the parishes, and so we should be chargeable to them. But after a while, when they saw that the Lord blessed and increased friends, as he did Abraham, both in the field and in the basket, at their goings forth and comings in, at their risings up and lyings down, and that all things prospered with them, then they saw the falseness of all their prophecies against us; and that it was in vain to curse, where God had blessed. At the first convincement, when friends could not put off their hats to people, nor say you to a single person, but thou and thee, nor could not bow, nor use flattering words in salutations, nor go into the fashions and customs of the world, many friends, that were tradesmen of several sorts, lost their customers at the first; for the people were shy of them, and would not trade with them; so that for a time some friends that were tradesmen, could hardly get money enough to buy bread. But afterwards, when people came to have experience of friends' honesty and faithfulness, and found that their yea was yea, and their nay was nay; that they kept to a word in their dealings, and that they would not cozen and cheat them, but that if they sent any child to their shops for any thing, they were as well used as if they had come themselves; the lives and conversations of friends did preach, and reached to the witness of God in people. And then things altered so, that all the inquiry was, where was a draper, or shop-keeper, or taylor, or shoemaker, or any other tradesman, that was a Quaker? Then that was all the cry, insomuch that friends had more trade than many of their neighbours, and if there was any trading, they had a great part of it. And then the envious professors altered their note, and began to cry out, if we let these Quakers alone, they will take the trade of the nation out of our hands. This hath been the Lord's doings to and for his people; which my desire is, that all, who profess his holy truth, may be kept truly sensible of, and that all may be preserved in and by his power and spirit, faithful to God and man; first to God, in obeying him in all things; and then in doing unto all men, that

which is just and righteous, true and holy, and honest, to all men and women in all things, that they have to do or deal with them in; that the Lord God may be glorified in their practising truth, holiness, Godliness, and righteousness, amongst people in all their lives and conversations.

Now friends being grown very numerous in the northern parts of this nation, and divers young-convinced ones coming daily in among us, I was moved of the Lord to write the following epistle, and send it forth amongst them, for the stirring up the pure mind, and raising an holy care and watchfulness in them over themselves, and one another, for the honour of truth.

Το

you all, Friends every where, scattered abroad.

"In the measure of the life of God wait for wisdom from God, even from him, from whence it comes. And all ye, who be babes of God, wait for the living food from the living God, to be nourished up to eternal life, from the one fountain, from whence life comes; that orderly and in order ye may all be guided and walk; servants in your places, young men and young women in your places, and rulers of families, that every one, in your respective places may adorn the truth, every one in the measure of it. With it let your minds be kept up to the Lord Jesus, from whence it doth come, that a sweet savour ye may be to God, and in wisdom ye may all be ordered and ruled, that a crown and a glory ye may be one to another in the Lord. And that no strife, nor bitterness, nor self-will, may appear amongst you; but with the light, in which the unity is, all that may be condemned. And that every one in particular may see to, and take care of, the ordering and ruling of their own family; that in righteousness and wisdom it may be governed, the fear and dread of the Lord in every ones heart set, that the secrets of the Lord every one may come to receive, that stewards of his grace you may come to be, to dispense it to every one as they have need, and so in savouring and right-discerning you may all be kept; that nothing, that is contrary to the pure life of God, may be brought forth in you, or among you, but all that is contrary to it, may by it be judged; so that in light, in life, and love, ye may all live, and all that is contrary to the light, and life, and love, may be brought to judgment, and by that light condemned. And that no fruitless trees be among you, but all cut down and condemned by the light,

and cast into the fire; so that every one may bear and bring forth fruit to God, and grow fruitful in his knowledge, and in his wisdom. And so that none may appear in words beyond what they be in the life, that gave forth the words. Here none shall be as the untimely figs, and none shall be of those trees whose fruit withers; such go in Cain's way, from the light, and by it are condemned. And that none amongst you boast yourselves above your measure, for if you do, out of God's kingdom you are excluded; for in that boasting part gets up the pride, and the strife, which is contrary to the light; which light leads to the kingdom of God, and gives every one of you an entrance thereinto, and an understanding to know the things that belong to the kingdom of God. And there the light and life of man every one receives, him who was, before the world was, by whom it was made, who is the righteousness of God, and his wisdom; to whom all glory, honour, thanks, and praise, belongs, who is God blessed for ever. Let no image nor likeness be made; but in the light wait, which will bring condemnation on that part that would make the images, for that prisons the just. So to the lust yield not the eye, nor the flesh, for the pride of life stands in that which keeps out of the love of the Father; and upon which his judgments and wrath remains, where the love of the world is sought after, and a crown that is mortal; in which ground the evil enters, which is cursed; which brings forth bryars and thorns, where the death reigns, and tribulation and anguish is upon every soul, and the Egyptian tongue is heard; all which is by the light condemned. And there the earth is, which must be removed: by the light it is seen, and by the power it is removed, and out of its place it is shaken, to which the thunders utter their voices, before the mysteries of God be opened, and Jesus revealed. Therefore all ye, whose minds are turned to this light (which brings condemnation upon all those things before-mentioned, that are contrary to the light) wait upon the Lord Jesus for the crown, that is immortal, and that fadeth not away.'

G. F.

[This is to be sent amongst all Friends in the truth, the flock of God, to be read at their meetings in every place, where they are met together.]

While yet friends abode in the northern parts, a certain priest of Rexham in Wales, whose name was Morgan Floyd, having heard reports concerning us, sent two of

his congregation into the north to inquire concerning us, and to try us, and bring him an account concerning us. But when these triers came down amongst us, the power of the Lord seized on them, and they were both convinced of the truth. So they staid some time with us, and then returned back to Wales, where afterwards one of them departed from his convincement; but the other, whose name was John-ap-John, abode in the truth, and received a part of the ministry, in which he continued faithful.

Now were the priests in a great rage at Newcastle, and at Kendal, and up and down in most of the northern counties. And there being one Gilpin, that had sometimes come amongst us at Kendal, and soon run out from the truth into vain imaginations, the priests made what evil use they could of him against us; but the Lord's power confounded them all. And the Lord God cut off two of those persecuting justices at Carlisle; and the other, after a time, was turned out of his place, and went out of the

town.

About this time also the oath or engagement to O. Cromwell was tendered to the soldiers; and many of the soldiers were disbanded, because in obedience to Christ they could not swear; as John Stubbs for one, who was convinced when I was in Carlisle prison, and became a good soldier in the Lamb's war, and a faithful minister of Christ Jesus, travelling much in the service of the Lord in Holland, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, Egypt, and America: and the Lord's power preserved him out of the hands of the papists, though many times he was in great danger of the inquisition. But some of the soldiers who had been convinced in their judgments, but had not come into obedience to the truth, took O. Cromwell's oath; and going afterwards into Scotland, and coming before a garrison there, the garrison thinking they had been enemies, fired at them, and killed divers of them; which was a sad judg

ment.

Now when the churches were settled in the North, and friends were sate down under Christ's teaching, and the glory of the Lord shined over them, I passed from Swarthmore to Lancaster (about the beginning of the year 1654) and so through the countries, visiting friends till I came to Synder-hill-green, where there was a meeting appointed three weeks before; leaving the North fresh and green, under Christ their teacher. But before I came to Synderhill-green, we passed through Halifax, a rude town of professors, and came to one Thomas Taylor's, who had been a captain, where we met with some janglers; but the

Lord's power was over all, for I travelled in the motion of God's power. And when I came to Synder-hill-green, there was a mighty meeting, some thousands of people, (as it was judged) and many persons of note were there, as captains and other officers; and there was a general convincement; for the Lord's power and truth was set over all, and there was no opposition.

About this time did the Lord move upon the spirits of many, whom he had raised up, and sent forth to labour in his vineyard, to travel southwards, and spread themselves in the service of the gospel to the eastern, southern, and western parts of the nation; as Francis Howgill and Edward Burrough to London; John Camm and John Audland to Bristol, through the countries; Richard Hubberthorn and George Whitehead towards Norwich; Thomas Holmes into Wales, and others otherways; for above sixty ministers had the Lord raised up, and did now send abroad out of the north country. And the sense of their service being very weighty upon me, I was moved to give forth the following paper, directed thus:

'To Friends in the Ministry.

'All friends every where, know the seed of God, which bruiseth the seed of the serpent, and is a top of the seed of the serpent, which seed sins not; but bruiseth the serpent's head, that doth sin, and tempts to sin which seed God's promise and God's blessing is to; which seed is one in the male and in the female. Where it is head, and hath bruised the head of the other, to the beginning you are come; and the younger is known, and he that is servant to the younger. And the promise of God, which is to the seed, is fulfilled and fulfilling; and the scriptures come to be opened and owned: and the flesh of Christ known, who took upon him the seed of Abraham according to the flesh; the everlasting priesthood known, the everlasting covenant. Christ takes upon him the seed of Abraham, and is a priest after the order of Melchizedeck; him that is without father, without mother, without beginning of days (mark) or end of life: this is the priest that ever lives; he that is the covenant of life, of light and peace. And the everlasting offering here is known once for all, which offering overthrows that nature which offered; out of which the priesthood arose, that could not continue by reason of death. And here is the other offering known, the everlasting offering, which perfects for ever them that are sanctified; which offering blotted out the hand-writing

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