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 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 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to have the same act renewed again, and to clear yourselves from that spirit which was the cause that the act was repealed.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 show forth christianity in the possession of it, above the outside professors.

From Dolston, the 24th of the 7th month, 1682.

G. F.

CCCLXXIV.-To Friends in Holland.

Friends and brethren, in the holy seed of life, that reigneth over all; in it walk, and in the power, and spirit, and truth of God, that all you 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 edify 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 Lord's 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-Year's Meeting in Ireland; and a testimony from Scotland, that Friends are in love and unity there, and the truth prospereth and spreadeth; and by letters from America, that Friends are pretty well there; and at Algiers, in the Turks' country, 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 mas

ters do 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.

London, the 17th of the 4th month, 1682.

CCCLXXV.-To Friends in Barbadoes.

Amen.

G. F.

Dear friends,-In all your meetings, see that the Lord God be glorified, and have an eye to his glory, 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 another's 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, that he doth shed abroad in your hearts; for that love which cometh from God doth edify 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 shineth and rain 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 glorify 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 showeth 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, after that your meetings are settled and seasoned by the power of the Lord, if 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 are 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 there be any difference between brother and brother, do not reflect one upon another in meetings, but speak one to another between yourselves, 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; so that 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 any to go beyond its motion; for, if you do, you will both bring trouble and burthens upon yourselves, and others, and run out, that so you can 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 yourselves in the church of God, to the glory of God. And let all your lives and conversations preach virtue, purity, righteousness, holiness, and godliness, else you cannot be the lights of the world, nor the salt of the earth. And when any do badly or wickedly, they, instead of being lights or salt, are unsavoury, 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 savour, 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 yourselves, 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 baptizing holy spirit of God; the fruits of which spirit are love, peace, long suffering, gentleness, meekness, temperance. And bear one another's burthens, and so fulfil the law of Christ; and forgive one another, as Christ hath forgiven you; and strive to excel one another in holiness, and righteousness, and godliness, and meekness, and modesty, in virtue, truth, and love, that you may all live to the praise and glory of God. Amen. And the Lord saith, Isaiah xlix. 8. speaking of Christ, I will give thee for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, 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 make a profession of the scriptures of truth, and dishonour God, and cause his holy name to be blasphemed, by their not obeying the word, nor walking in the light, spirit, grace, and truth,

whose candle is gone out, and now cannot endure to hear talk of the light. And therefore let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven;' and then you will have 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. G. F.

The 26th day of the 8th month, 1682.

CCCLXXVI.-To Friends in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

Dear friends,-With my dear love to you all, in God's holy peaceable truth; and my desires are, 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 gentle, and kind, and easy to be entreated one of another, that will preserve you out of heats, or extremes, 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 yourselves, 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 go over to your countries, some poor and some rich; and so, many eyes are upon you, 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 righteousness, 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 Meetings; and let us know how truth spreads 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.

CCCLXXVII.--To Friends that are Prisoners in York.

Dear friends, 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, 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 angels. 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 that 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 these thirty-six years. 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 come 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, neither can they bind the word of God; it is at liberty, it abides and endures for ever; it will make you all rich, though they think to make you poor with their bonds, and cast 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 persecution' by the ungodly; 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 the holy men of God went through; and how by faith they subdued the mountains; and consider the faith of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and the faith of Abel, and Enoch, and Noah, and the faith