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, the best part of thirty years, since I went forth, and forsook all things; I sought. not myself, 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 have been great, in hungers and colds, when there were 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 myself 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 myself 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 women's meetings, though 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 men's meetings, and the women's, many of which were set up; 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 one's heart, and there are 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 go under the name of truth, and yet go into sin and wickedness, those are out of the gospel order, and government 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.

CCCIX.

Friends, 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 peacemakers, that make 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 strife 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, 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 women's 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 virtuous, and sober; and then whatsoever is of a good report, and is decent and comely, and whatsoever is virtuous, and tends to virtue, 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.

CCCX.

Friends, In every thing give thanks to the Lord; for from him every good thing you do receive; for the apostle saith, 1 Thess. v. 18. In

every thing give thanks: 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 refused, if it be received with thanksgiving,' &c. 1 Tim. iv. 4. And David saith, ‘At midnight I will rise to give thee thanks, because of thy righteous judgments.' Psalm cxix. 62. And David saith, 'O give thanks unto the Lord, for it is good, because his mercy endureth for ever.' Psalm cxviii. 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.

CCCXI-For the men and women's meetings in Barbadoes.

Dear Friends,-Let all things be done in love, and in the spirit of Christ, which is the spirit of the lamb, that must have the victory; 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 highway. 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 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 freeborn, 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 another's weakness; but if any one has any thing to say, let them speak to the person concerned; and if they will not hear, take two or three more, before they are brought into public. 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 one another's good, preferring one another in the truth. And so let the true brotherly love continue, and kindness, affableness, and courteousness, and whatsoever is decent, comely, and of a good report in the eyes of God, and the hearts of all good men, that follow after;

and so, that in your men and women's meetings, nothing may be seen of the old leaven, of the old malice, nor of the old man, nor his deeds, nor his old image, nor his old bottle be drunk of, nor his sour grapes eaten of; for if you do, it will set your teeth on edge, one against another. But mind the royal seed, Christ Jesus, that makes all things new, that new and living way, a new man, after God and his image: so children of the new covenant, having the new leaven, that leavens up into the love of God, which edifies the body, of which Christ is head; and new bottles, full of new wine from Christ the vine; the new wine which makes all your hearts glad to God and Christ, and one in another. So here is the new heart, the new spirit, the new life, in which the living God is served. And therefore, this is the word of the Lord God to you all, 'Let this new way, new covenant, new man, new leaven, new wine, new life, show forth its fruits in the new life, from the new man. So that the fruits of the old may not appear, and that the bond of peace, in the unity of the spirit, may be kept amongst you. So keep in this unity of the spirit, which is the bond of peace; and none to break their peace, and go into the ill behaviour; for that is out of the spirit of God and Christ, which is meek, gentle, &c. So that the Lord God of your lives may be glorified in you all, and above all, who is over all, God blessed for ever and ever.

London, the 15th of the 3d month.

CCCXII.

G. F.

All Friends that are in the power of God, and in his spirit; through this spirit you pray unto God, and ask in the name of Christ Jesus, (which all true prayers are to be in,) and the true singing and rejoicing are to be in the spirit, and the true preaching and ministry are to be in the spirit; for the saints were made able ministers of the spirit, and not of the letter.

Now when a minister, in the spirit of the living God, does minister spiritual and heavenly things, they that receive them, receive them with joy in the assembly; now he that is a minister of the spirit, and ministers spiritual things, if they that receive them, receive them in sincerity, with joy and gladness, and rejoice in the receiving of them, whilst the other is ministering them, he that is a minister of the spirit, does not judge such; but rejoices in them that do receive them, and praises God for the same.

And so likewise they that do sing in the spirit do reach to the spirit in others, whereby they have a sense that it proceedeth from the spirit; for at the hearing of the speech of the true minister, there is joy to all that seek and thirst after righteousness; for the preaching the gospel

is the glad-tidings, the joyful news, and is a comfort both to soul, body, and spirit, to all that receive it in integrity and sincerity, and they cannot but rejoice at the sound of the power, where it is received; and they that preach in this cannot judge such as rejoice in the spirit and power, and in their souls praise God when they hear the sound of it.

Oh! the everlasting gospel, the everlasting power of God, which is liberty, where this is heard (the sound of it,) which is the liberty to the spirit, to the soul, to the creature; if a creature should praise God in his soul, in his spirit, in the very hearing of the sound of this glorious gospel, or make a joyful melody; the minister of the spirit, who preaches the glorious gospel, cannot judge such for that, and say it is a confused noise; for that is the minister of the letter that so judges, who may gather up parcels of the letter, and make a song of that, or preachment of that, to which the gospel ministry of the spirit is the savour of death unto death, and of life unto life.

And concerning praying in the spirit; which 'spirit makes intercession to God, with sighs and groans that cannot be uttered." Now where this spirit is prayed in, (which all true prayer is to be in,) it makes intercession through the veils, through the clouds and thick darkness, by the invisible power, to the invisible God; and this prayer being made in an assembly to the throne of grace, there the assembly (in their spirits) join in this spirit, and do make intercession, and do enter through the veils, clouds, and thick darkness to the throne of grace. And if some of these should praise God in a joyful sound with their souls and spirits, can he that prays in the spirit, and makes intercession therein, judge them that groan in the spirit, and feel the intercession to the throne of grace? No, he cannot; for he feels a unity in the spirit; and in case that some do groan and sigh, when another is praying in the spirit, that makes the intercession easy in the invisible spirit, to the invisible God, and throne of his grace; which the spirit of God operating in the assembly, makes some to sigh and groan, being sensible of their wants; and the power has awakened such; therefore can any judge such that pray in the power and spirit, that has awakened them? Nay, but hears them, and is glad where it stirs; and so having the mind of the Lord, and makes intercession to him by his spirit, who hears the sighs of the needy, and groans of the oppressed, he cannot judge such. And therefore they that do judge such sighers, prayers, and such who make a joyful melody, (from the word dwelling in their hearts,) they who judge such, are not in the spirit that makes intercession; and that which is contrary is to be reproved and admonished in private, by them that are in the spirit of God, lest they pluck up the wheat and tares together, and make a confusion in the church; VOL. VIII.

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