CCCLIX.-An epistle to be read amongst Friends.

Friends,-You that are believers in the light, which is the life in Christ, and are grafted into him who is ascended far above all principalities, powers, thrones, and dominions, by whom all things were made and created, all the children in the new covenant do gather together in the name of Christ Jesus, whose name is above every name under the whole heaven, and in whose name they have salvation, and not by any other name under the whole heaven. And at this name must every knee bow, and every tongue confess Christ Jesus, to the glory of God the Father; and they that have bowed their knee to the name of Jesus, and do confess him to the glory of God the Father, cannot gather in any other name under heaven, below the name of Jesus; but, gather in the name of Jesus, which is above every name under heaven, in whom they have salvation, and so cannot gather in any name below Christ; for, they do know that they have not any salvation in whatsoever name that they do gather together in below the name of Jesus. And being gathered in the name of Jesus, he is in the midst of them, the Prince of life and peace, and captain of salvation, and a prophet to open the book of conscience, and the book of the law, and prophets, and gospel, and his book of life to them, and a bishop to oversee them, and a heavenly shepherd to feed them in his heavenly pasture of life, and a heavenly King to rule in their hearts, and in his glorious kingdom, amongst them that are born again; and that seeth and entereth into his everlasting kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy in the holy ghost. And all these children in the kingdom, and in the new covenant of grace, light, and life, cannot feed of any bread for their immortal souls that is made by man, which he hath leavened with the sour leaven; for that sour leavened bread will make their hearts to burn, and the Jews were not to keep their feasts with leavened bread in the old covenant; then much more the Jews in the spirit, in the new covenant, who have their bread from heaven, their unleavened bread, who in the new covenant do keep their feast with unleavened bread from heaven, and cannot feed their souls with any bread, but that which cometh down from heaven. And this bread from heaven giveth life to the soul, and is the staff of their heavenly life; this heavenly bread, as the outward bread is the staff of the natural life, in this world that must have an end, but the bread from heaven is the heavenly staff of life, that doth nourish up into a heavenly life, and a world, and a kingdom that is without end. And such as feed on this heavenly bread cannot feed their souls with any bread below that which comes from heaven, for it doth not give them life. So that they can neither touch,

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taste, nor handle that which is below, which perisheth; for the bread of life from heaven doth not perish, but giveth life eternal; and this bread is sure, and they that feed upon it shall hunger no more. So all eyes are to look up to heaven for this bread of life, which giveth them life; and not below heaven; for neither are they to follow them that cry, Lo, it is here,' and 'lo, there;' or to drink of their cup that are whored from the spirit of God, nor to eat of their leavened bread; for they that do believe in the light, which is the life in Christ, are grafted into him the true vine. So the believers do feel a living spring springing up in them to eternal life, from the fountain from whence it cometh. And so here all the true believers have the upper and the nether springs in themselves; and such may drink freely and eat freely of the bread and water of life, and do hunger and thirst no more, but eat and drink that which is eternal, which nourisheth them up to eternal life, and so bear heavenly spiritual fruits, to the praise of the eternal God; which plants he hath watered by his upper and nether springs, which trees or plants, their fruits are unto holiness, and their end is everlasting life. So none of the children of the new covenant need go to the world for bread or water, to give them life everlasting, to keep them from the world's storms; or weapons to defend their church or worship, for they have them from heaven, and heavenly bread and water, and spiritual weapons and armour, and the righteousness of Christ, the fine linen, their clothing. Glory to the Lord for ever, who makes all his spiritually rich, and to be lenders and not borrowers, and givers and not receivers, who is more blessed than the receiver.

And the Jews in the old covenant were to wash their clothes, and to sanctify themselves when they did appear before the Lord, and so the children of God in the new covenant of life, light, and grace, who do appear before the Lord, are to be washed and cleansed, and sanctified, and to put on the righteousness of Christ, their fine linen that never will wax old; and so to put off all the old Adam's garments, that he hath covered himself and his sons and daughters with in the fall and transgression, which will wax old and rot; but that which God and Christ doth put on and clothe his saints withal, is everlasting. So man's righteousness and his filthy rags must be put off, and they must come into the righteousness of Christ, and put it on, which doth exceed the righteousness of the law, if they do enter into the kingdom of God, which doth stand in righteousness, and peace, and joy in the holy ghost.

Now in the Old Testament it is said, 'The priests' lips are to preserve the people's knowledge:' but the New Testament saith, that Christ is the treasure of wisdom and knowledge.' The Old Testament saith, that you must offer your sheep, goats, bulls, and heifers, and other creatures, which God commanded by the law in the Old Testa

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ment, for your sins and cleansing:' but the New Testament saith, that 'Christ is offered up once for all:' and the Old Testament saith, that 'the blood of bulls and other creatures cleanseth from sin:' but the New Testament saith, that Christ's blood cleanseth from all sin.' And in the Old Testament it is said, 'You must carry your offerings, and firstfruits, and tithe, to the store-house:' but the New Testament saith, 'Freely you have received, freely give ;' and forbiddeth bag or staff. And in the Old Testament the priest was to light the candles and lamps in the tabernacle and temple, and to circumcise the men children: but the New Testament saith, Christ doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world with his heavenly light:' which is the life in Christ the word; and the spirit of man is the candle of the Lord: so he doth enlighten the candle and lamp in the tabernacle, and saith, Believe in the light, that ye may become children of the light;' and Christ doth minister the circumcision in the spirit, that putteth off the body of the sins of the flesh, that came upon man and woman by transgression. So that the children are the circumcision of the spirit in the new testament, and not of the flesh and letter, as they were in the old testament. And in the Old Testament it is said, that the priests put the Testament, and the law, and the pot of manna into the ark, in the tabernacle and temple:' but in the New Testament, God poureth out of his spirit upon all flesh, and the holy ghost proceedeth from the Father and the son into the hearts of his people, to lead them into all truth, and reproveth the world of sin; and the bread of life that they have from Christ, is in their arks and hearts, or in their temples; and God doth write his law in the hearts and minds of his people. So in the new testament they have the law written in the heart and mind, and the old they had in the letter and tables of stone; and in the new they have the testament and testimony, the spirit of Christ in their hearts, and the heavenly, unleavened bread in their hearts, which they do keep the everlasting feast with. And in the old testament, the clean and circumcised outwardly did eat of the passover, the lamb without blemish but in the new testament, the clean and circumcised in heart do eat of the passover, Christ, the heavenly bread and flesh, and so do keep the feast of their passover in the new testament. And the old testament had the outward temple and tabernacle, and outward lights: but in the new testament, the saints' bodies are the temples and tabernacles of God, and his light doth shine in their hearts, to give them the knowledge of the glory of God, in the face of Jesus Christ. And in the old testament it is said, 'Do this and live;' and the new saith, Believe in the light (Christ) and be saved.' And the old testament saith, Thou shalt swear, and perform thy oaths to the Lord:' but Christ saith in the new, 'Swear not at all.' And the old testa

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ment saith, Thou shalt not kill, nor commit adultery:' but Christ in the new saith, Thou shalt not be angry without a cause, and thou shalt not lust after a woman.' And the old testament saith, • Thou shalt stand and curse but the new saith, Bless, and curse not.' The old testament saith, 'Thou shalt hate thine enemy: but the new saith, Thou shalt love thy enemies, and do good to them that hate thee and despitefully use thee.' So the new covenant and testament is not according to the old. And in many things besides these, it might be shown how one doth exceed the other in glory.

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G. F.

CCCLX-To all the men and women's meetings every where.

All the faithful men and women are to be as Abraham and Sarah; Abraham, the father of the faithful; and Sarah, a mother in Israel, to give suck, and to nourish up the seed, the heir of the promise. Likewise, to be as Adam and Eve, before they fell, meet-helps, in the image of God, and in the power of God, with which they were to subdue the earth: in which power and image of God, they were not only to subdue the earth, but subdue unrighteousness and all ungodliness, and that which they know doth dishonour God.

And likewise all the faithful women are to be as Dorcas, a disciple of Christ Jesus, that their good works of the spirit and faith may follow them and also they are to be as Phebe, who was a minister of the church at Cenchrea; and she was such a faithful trusty minister, that the apostle sent his epistle by her to Rome, from Corinth, with a recommendation of her. And also all the faithful men and women are to be as Aquilla and Priscilla, who were the apostles' fellowhelpers in Christ Jesus, and had a church in their house, and were instructers concerning the things of God, and Christ Jesus, (in his new testament and new covenant,) and of his kingdom: and likewise to be as Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary, the mother of James, and other women that were with those women, who first preached and declared to the apostles the resurrection of Jesus Christ. And Christ said unto those women, 'Go and tell my disciples that I am risen from the dead;' so these women were the first messengers of the glad tidings. Matt. xxviii. Luke xxiv. Mark xvi. And these tidings did astonish the apostles at first; for they said, Certain women of our company, (which were of the disciples,) made us astonished, saying, that Jesus was risen from the dead;' this two of his disciples said when they were talking with Christ, but they did not perceive it till he opened their eyes, as in Luke xxiv. So the women continued in their firm belief; and then afterwards the apostles came to believe also. And therefore it is good for every one to have a sense of the resurrection of VOL. VIII.

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Christ, and not seek him below; but seek him above, for he is risen from the dead, and lives, and sits at the right hand of the living God. And also all the faithful are to be as Miriam the prophetess, to encourage the church, and praise God. And also to be as Huldah the prophetess, who instructed the king, his princes, and priests, in the law of God, and the old covenant. So they should be much more diligent to teach and instruct in the new covenant, and testament, which doth exceed the old in its glory. And also to be as Anna the prophetess, an ancient woman of eighty-four years old; and she gave thanks, and spake of Christ to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem; and so here was a general and a public preaching of Christ Jesus. And also to be as Hannah, in the Old Testament, who consecrated her son Samuel unto the Lord; and the Lord accepted her prayers, tears, and offerings. So she had not a mind to let him run wild. And likewise as Deborah, who was a prophetess in the old covenant, and a judge in Israel. What victories, with outward weapons, the Lord did give her, and how she praised the Lord, which was by faith, in the time of the old covenant. But in the time of the new covenant the true believers wrestle not with flesh and blood, but are all to be diligent in the spiritual judgment and warfare in the spiritual Israel.

And the apostle writes to Titus, how he had left him in Crete, that 'he should set in order the things that were wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as he had appointed him.' And after he had spoken many things to Titus concerning overseers and teachers, that they must be blameless; he saith, that the aged men must be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, and in patience. And the aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour, as becomes holiness, not false accusers, &c. but to be teachers of good things; and that they teach the younger women to be sober, to love their husbands, and to love their children, and to be chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient, &c. that the word of God be not blasphemed.' And likewise Titus was to exhort the young men to be sober-minded. And here you may see the apostle, who did forbid one sort of women to be teachers, who were usurpers of authority, which both the law and the gospel forbids; yet the law, and Christ, and the apostles in the gospel, encouraged the honourable women to preach and to teach. For Christ sent the faithful women to declare and preach his resurrection to his disciples; and likewise the apostle encouraged the aged, and honourable, and faithful women to prophesy and teach, and to be teachers of good things, as before. That is his charge to them in general. Then he comes to particulars, charging them, that they should teach the young women to be sober and discreet, chaste, and good, to love their husbands, and their children, that the word of God be not blasphemed.' So these were to be as mothers