tion: then ye grow up in peace, and no trouble shall move you. David fretted himself, when he looked out; but when be was still, no trouble 'could move him. When your thoughts are out abroad, then troubles move you: but come to stay your minds upon that Spirit, which was before the letter; here ye learn to read the Scriptures aright. If ye any thing in your own wills, then ye tempt God; but stand still in that power which brings peace.

do

NUMBER XV.

G. F.

To the Church of God in Lancashire.

Friends,

1652.

Every one in particular, who are of God, and not of the world, walk out of the world's vain customs, ordinances, and commands; and stand a witness against them all, in the testimony of Jesus, and witness Him the substance of all, waiting in the Light of God, and walking in it then will ye have unity one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ will cleanse you from all sin; for through it and by it we do overcome; which blood of the New Covenant is but one. There shall ye

witness the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world. O wait all in that which is pure, to be fed alone of God with the eternal, living food! as ye have received Christ Jesus, in Him walk, that ye may all honour the Lord Jesus Christ, and adorn his Gospel. And be famous in his Light, and bold in his strength, which will carry you above the world, and above all the deceits of it.

O in love watch over one another for good, and for the better, and not for the worse! And dwell in that which is pure of God in you, lest your thoughts get forth; and then evil thoughts. get up, and surmising one against another, which arise out of the veiled mind. But as ye dwell in that which is of God, it guides you up out of the elementary life, and out of the mortal into the immortal, (which is hid from all the fleshly ones,) where is peace and joy eternal to all that can witness the new birth. in Christ, born again of the immortal Seed, in it wait; my life is with you in perfect unity; bow down to nothing, but the Lord God. Satan would have had Christ to have bowed down, but He would not; the same Seed now, the same birth [is] born in you now, which is the same to day, yesterday, and for ever. The tempter will come to you; and if ye look forth, and hearken to his words, and let them

Babes

in, then ye bow down under him, and worship him. But I say unto you, and charge you in the presence of the Lord, mind the pure Seed of God in you, and the mighty power of God will cherish you up to the Lord God above all temptations, not to bow down to any thing; but feeding upon the immortal food, ye will feel yourselves supported and carried over him, by your Father and your God, who is over all, blessed for ever! who is the virtue of all creatures, the wisdom of all things; all holy praises be unto the holy, glorious Lord God for ever!

NUMBER XVI.

G. F.

1652.

To all you, my dear friends, who have tasted of the immediate working power of the Lord, and do find an alteration in your minds, and do see from whence virtue doth come and strength, that doth renew the inward man, and doth refresh you; which draws you in love to forsake the world, and that which hath form and beauty in it to the eye of the world; and hath turned your minds within, which see your houses foul, and corruptions strong, and the way narrow and strait which leads

to life eternal: to you all I say, wait upon God in that which is pure. Though you see little, and know little, and have little, and see your emptiness, and see your nakedness, and barrenness, and unfruitfulness, and see the hardness of your hearts, and your own unworthiness; it is the Light that discovers all this, and the Love of God to you, and it is that which is immediate, but the dark understanding cannot comprehend it. So, wait upon God in that which is pure, in your measure, and stand still in it every one, to see your Saviour, to make you free from that which the Light doth discover to you to be evil. For the voice of the Bridegroom is heard in our land; and Christ is come amongst the prisoners, to visit them in the prisonhouses; they have all hopes of releasement and free pardon, and to come out freely, for the debt is paid; wait for the manifestation of it, and he that comes out of prison shall reign.

So meet together, all ye that fear the Lord God, and think upon his Name. His mercies endure for ever; his mercies are in temptations and troubles; his mercies are in affictions, in reproaches and in scorns. Therefore rejoice, ye simple ones, which love simplicity,

and meet and wait together to receive strength and wisdom from the Lord God; and in de parting from sin and evil, ye will be able to speak to the praise of the Lord. And meeting and waiting in his power, which ye have received, in it all to improve your measure, that God hath given you; for ye never improve your measure, so long as ye rely upon any visible thing without you; but when ye come alone to wait upon God, ye shall every one have a reward according to your deserts, and every one your penny, who are called into the vineyard to labour. Therefore be faithful to God, and mind that which is committed to you, as faithful servants, labouring in love; some threshing, and some ploughing, and some to keep the sheep: he that can receive this, let him: and all to watch over one another in the Spirit of God. So God Almighty bless, guide, and prosper you unto his kingdom, where there is no tribulation.

G. F.

NUMBER XVII.

Dear Friends,

1652.

Prize your time, and the love of the Lord to your souls, above all things; and mind that light in you, that shows you sin and evil;