XXVII.

NUMBER

To all my dear friends and brethren every

where.

1653.

He that bath the Son of God, hath life; all that have not the Son of God, have not life. The Son of God is He, who makes free from all sin, and is come to deface and destroy the image of the devil, and to renew us up in the image of God; and so to bring us to walk in righteousness. Praises be unto the glorious God for ever, who has sent his Son into the world, to take away the sins of the world.

And all friends, walk worthy of your calling in all holiness, for holiness becomes the saints; without holiness no man shall see the Lord. And every one improve your talents, labouring in the vineyard, dressing in the Lord's vineyard, that ye may be found faithful servants, and all walking in love to God, and one to another.

So, God Almighty be with you all! the dew of heaven is falling upon you to water

C

the lender plants; and the blessing of God be amongst you, which showers down amongst you! the heavenly joy fill your hearts, and comfort you in the inward man in all tribulations. The glorious light is shining, the immortal is bringing forth out of death ; the prisoners have hope of their pardon, the debt being paid, and they freely purchased by Christ's blood; and He is come into the prison-houses; the prisoners begin to sing in hope of their eternal freedom, leaping for joy of heart; and the dumb tongue shall sing praises.

NUMBER XXVII I.

G. F.

1653.

To all you that are enlightened with the light that comes from Jesus, to it take heed, which leads into the right course of nature. Those who act contrary to it, go out of the right course of nature, into drunkenness, rashness, lying, blaspheming, deceit, and uncleanness. All this is out of the right course of uature, and destroys it, and is to be condemned, by that which leads to the glory of the first

body, and leads nature into its right course and right being, which man was in before he fell.

G. F.

Dear John,

NUMBER XXX.

To a suffering Friend.

1653.

The everlasting arm of the Lord hold thee up, and break all thy bonds asunder, and set thee upon the Rock on thy feet, in which thou mayest know his presence, and his everlasting, supreme power. And so the God of life be with thee! And pray for thy enemies, for the Lord to open them and their hearts, and see themselves and thee.

G. F.

NUMBER

XXXV.

To Friends in the Ministry.

1653.

Stand up, ye prophets of the Lord, for the truth upon the earth; quench not your prophecy, neither heed them that despise it; but

in that stand, which brings you through to the end. Heed not the eyes of the world, ye prophets of the Lord, but answer that in them all, which they have closed their eye to; that ye may tell them of things to come, answering what is of God in them. Keep ye in your habitations, ye sons of God, that over all the contrary ye may reign. And ye daughters, to whom it is given to prophesy, keep within your own measure, seeing over that which is without, answering that of God in all; And despise not the prophecy, neither be lifted up in your openings, lest ye depart from that which opened, and so come to be judged by the Son of God, and bidden to depart, as workers of iniquity; for a worker of iniquity is gone from that which leads to the Son of God.

Quench not the Spirit, by which ye may prove all things; and that which is good hold fast; for if the Spirit be quenched, then light is put for darkness, and darkness for light; and evil is put for good, and good for evil: this is when the Spirit is quenched; then cannot ye try all things—then cannot ye hold fast that which is good. For then they cannot see good, when the Spirit is quenched; but

when the Spirit is not quenched, then with the Spirit ye may see to take the good, and to shun the evil. And this brings to put a difference between the precious and the vile, the profane and the holy, the clean and the unclean; the Spirit is that which proves all things.

Friends,

NUMBER XXX VI

G. F.

1653.

Take your heavenly censers, and offer up your spiritual prayers to the Almighty God, and having heavenly fire in your censers, it will consume all false offerings and sacrifices, which are offered in the evil nature.

G. F.

NUMBER

XXX VI I.

To Friends in Cumberland.

Dear Friends,

1653.

Prize your heavenly calling, by which ye are called into holiness and righteousness, without which no one shall see the Lord. And let your conversation be as becometh the Gospel, the holy power of God,