all be left to their faith, which Christ is the author of? and the mystery of faith is held in a pure conscience, then must not their consciences be free for Christ, and at liberty for the mystery of faith which is held in it, which faith, Christ the spiritual and heavenly man is the author and finisher of, who was persecuted by the Jews, and they delivered him to the Gentiles.

So, see what liberty he had amongst them, who suffered the contradictions of sinners.

And Christ was buffetted, and spit upon, and struck, and smitten, and mocked, and a crown of thorns put on his head, and reviled and blasphemed, yet did he not revenge himself, who had all power in heaven and in earth given unto him; did he or his disciples whip, buffet, scourge or imprison, or crown any with thorns? but preached and proffered unto them the crown of life, and glory.

And so, follow ye Christ and the apostles' examples, both in life, practice and doctrine; which is every true christian's duty.

And doth not the apostle say, that they had not power over any man's faith, but Jesus Christ was the author and finisher of it, and in it they were to have their liberty, and what was not of faith was sin?'

So they did not say, they had power to make them believe this or that, or to force them to a faith; but they were to look unto Jesus the author and finisher of their faith; and God opened Lydia's heart, and she believed.

So the heart must be opened by the Lord, if they be true believers, by his light and spirit.

And the gospel which is preached to every creature, which is the power of God; are not all to have their liberty in this gospel, which gospel was sent from heaven by the Holy Ghost?

So in this gospel are not all to have their liberty in the power of God? And they were not compelled to receive it; for if they did not receive the gospel, nor obey it, the wrath of God was revealed upon them from heaven.

And if the world did not receive the gospel, which Christ sent his disciples into all nations to preach, then God would judge the world by the man Christ Jesus, according to the gospel the power of God, which had been preached to them; and God would render vengeance in flames of fire, unto all them that did not receive and obey the gospel? and that was punishment enough.

And you may read in the Revelations, what John the divine tells you, what became of the dragon, that gave power to the beast, that compelled to worship, and the whore that drank the blood of the saints, and made war with them,' doth not he tell you, that they shall be cast into

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the lake of fire, that burns with brimstone, and that the whore's flesh shall be burnt? Rev. xiii. 4. xvii. 6.

And doth not Christ tell you, that he is the seedsman, and after the good seed was sown, the enemy sowed his tares, and they that had that sight as to discern the tares from the wheat, and saw both come up, went to the Lord, and would have had a license from him to go and pluck up the tares, but the Lord's answer was no, lest they plucked up the wheat also, but let them both grow together till the harvest and the harvest is the end of the world:' and then, saith Christ, I will send my angels, who shall gather the wheat into the garner, and the tares into bundles, and cast them into the fire to be burnt.'

So you may see Christ gave no commission to men, to gather the wheat or the tares, but it was the angels' work to gather the wheat into the garner, and the tares into bundles for the fire.

And therefore, they that go to gather either, have no commission from Christ; for he gave them a caution, lest ye also gather the wheat with the tares, and lest their zeal should blind them.'

So men are to mind their duty, which is to love mercy and to do justly, and to walk humbly with God: and not to take the angels' work upon them, and go to reaping before the time, which is the end of the world.

And likewise when Christ sent forth some of his disciples to prepare for him, and some would not receive them; Lord, (said they,) shall we command fire to come down from heaven to consume them, as Elias the prophet did?'

⚫ Christ turned about, and rebuked his disciples, and told them, they did not know of what spirit they were of: and told them, he did not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them.'

So ye may see here, the disciples of Christ had a zeal, and would have had fire to have come down from heaven, to have consumed them that would not receive Christ: these disciples would have been plucking up tares, but Christ rebuked them, and stopped them; and told them, they did not know of what spirit they were of, that would have commanded fire to come down from heaven, to have consumed them that would not receive him.'

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And now do all you that have persecuted, imprisoned, and spoiled the goods of the people of God in Christendom, because they would not conform to your religion, know what spirit you are of yourselves? and they that do not know what spirit they are of themselves, must be in the blind zeal, and will be doing that which Christ rebukes; and they that do not know what spirit they are of themselves, are not like to watch for people's souls.

And people are not like to trust their bodies, much less their souls into the hand of such, that know not what spirit they are of themselves.

And therefore, consider what spirit ye and they have been of, that have persecuted, put to death, spoiled the goods, and imprisoned such as would not conform to your way and worship; and yet call yourselves christians, and ministers of Christ.

I say, Christ who rebuked his disciples, who would have had fire to come down from heaven, upon them that would not receive him, will rebuke you also.

And as Christ told his disciples, they did not know what spirit they were of;' neither do ye know what spirit ye have been of: and [mark,] there were more in the apostles' desire, to have fire come down from heaven to consume them that would not receive the substance, the Lord of glory, than for you to force, imprison, persecute, banish, or put to death, or spoil the goods of such as will not receive your way, and worship, and religion, that you have set up. So, how can you but expect a greater rebuke to come upon you, that persecute and destroy such as will not receive your forms of religion and worship, when they were rebuked that would have fire to come down to destroy them that would not receive Christ, the substance and the life?

For they were told by Christ, they did not know what spirit they were of,' and that he came not to destroy men's lives, but to save them.'

And therefore, consider how many men's lives have been destroyed since the apostles' days, by those that profess themselves christians in Christendom, because they would not receive their religions and ways; they that have done so, have not known of what spirit they are of, nor followed the mind of Christ, to save men's lives; and do not know what spirit they are of, that would destroy men's lives.

So weigh and consider this, all people in the whole world, that profess God and Christ, now in this the day of your visitation.

G. F.

THE PEOPLE OF GOD, IN SCORN CALLED QUAKERS,

THEIR LOVE TO ALL MANKIND ASSERTED.

For as God's love through Christ hath been shed abroad in our hearts, we cannot but in the same love desire the eternal good, and the Salvation of all mankind, and would have them repent, and turn to Jesus Christ, whom God hath given in his love to be their Way, Leader and Captain of their Salvation, and hath tasted death for every man, and hath bought them with a price, therefore, that they all might serve and live to him, and glorify God with their bodies, souls and spirits, which are the Lord's that he hath made, and Christ's, who hath redeemed and bought them.-By G. F.

Ir hath often been said, that the people of God in scorn called Quakers, love none but themselves.'

To this I answer, such are mistaken in their judgment, and I fear it is their own conditions, for we love God that created all things, and his Son, by whom all things were made, who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of a virgin, who made a good confession before Pontius Pilate, who was crucified without the gates at Jerusalem, and rose the third day, and sits at the right hand of God; by whom God will judge the world according to the gospel, that is, according to the invisible power which is preached to every creature.

Secondly. We love all men and women, simply as they are men and women, and as they are God's workmanship, and so as brethren and children of Adam and Eve by generation.

Thirdly. We love them all as they come to be the sons of God by adoption, and can say, Abba Father, in the heavenly brotherly fellowship, and we are commanded to do good unto all, especially to the household of faith for Christ commands us to love one another, and not so only, but to love enemies, and it is a mark by which his were known to be his disciples, viz. by their loving each other.

And we are to pray for enemies, and our persecutors, by the command of Christ and the apostles.

'For God hath made of one blood all mankind to dwell upon the face of the earth.' Acts xvii. 26.

'And the earth is the Lord's and the fulness thereof.'

And the Lord saith in Job xxxi. all under the heavens is mine,' who hath created all to his glory; and the Lord saith unto Ezekiel, 'say unto them, as I live saith the Lord God; I desire not the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn you, turn you, from your evil ways, for why will you die, oh, ye house of Israel,' VOL. V.-28

saith the Lord; here ye may see God's mind, and his love to people, which all his people is to be in, who would have people turn from their wicked ways and live. Ezek. xxxiii. 11.

And further, the Lord saith, I desire not the death of him that dieth, cause therefore, one another to turn and live;' see here the love of God to mankind, who would have them to turn and live. Ezek. xviii. 23. And so he would have all that is called Christendom, to turn to the new covenant and live, which is our desire also.

And further he saith, have I any desire that the wicked should die, saith the Lord God? or shall he not live, if he turn from his ways?' here ye may see what the Lord's desire is, and his goodness to wicked mankind, in the same chapter. And in Isa. i. 18. come now and let us reason together, (saith the Lord,) though your sins were as crimson, they shall be made white as snow, though they were as red as scarlet, they shall be as wool, if you be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good things of the land, but if you refuse and be rebellious, ye shall be devoured with the sword; for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it:' here you may see the love of God to man and woman, who would reason with man, and have him to obey and consent, and shews him the good in obeying, and shews him the judgments in disobeying. Isa. xix. 20.

And in Isa. xlv. 22. look unto me, and ye shall be saved, saith the Lord, all ye ends of the earth, for I am God, and there is no other,' So all ye ends of the earth must look unto the Lord for salvation.

And Isaiah saith, 'cease you from man whose breath is in his nostrils, for wherein is he to be accounted of?' Isa. ii. 22. And therefore, all ye ends of the earth must look unto the Lord for salvation, these are the words of the Lord to the ends of the earth, and to all people upon it.

And thus saith the Lord, I will give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the world,' (speaking of Christ,) as in Isa. xlix. 6.

Who is the salvation to the end of the world? Christ Jesus, the covenant of light, which prophecy of Isaiah was fulfilled in Christ, of whom it is said in John i. in him was life, and the life was the light of men, and the light shined in the darkness, and the darkness comprehended it not, and John said he was not that light, but was sent to bear witness of the light, and that was the true light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world, he was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not,' (to wit,) Christ the light, that lighteth every man that cometh into the world, and grace and truth cometh by Jesus Christ, as the law came by Moses, for the grace of God which bringeth salvation unto all men hath appeared,' [mark,] unto all men hath appeared this grace of God which bringeth salvation.