検

to the younger women, and were public women in their public services, and charge that was committed to them. And a bishop, and an elder, or a deacon, was to order and rule well his own house, and to have his children in subjection, with all gravity. For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God? So every man and woman is to teach, instruct, and order their own children and families, as the Jews did in the old covenant; then much more they should train them up in the new covenant, which exceeds the old; so that in all things they might give thanks and praises to God, that in all things the Lord might be glorified in all their families. So all christian families are concerned in these particular services, before they come to the general service, (to wit,) to be overseers and ministers, faithful men as fathers, and faithful women as mothers, and teachers of good things; and the young men and women as brethren and sisters in purity. And so let none spoil their families with bad lives, and unruly tongues, with letting the poison of asps be under their tongue, by which they spoil and corrupt their families; which begets into a loose and bad language; but that is to be bridled by the word of God; for a soft tongue breaketh the bone,' 'the tongue of the just is as choice silver, and the tongue of the just is health, and useth knowledge aright, and a wholesome tongue is a tree of life; and who keepeth his mouth and his tongue, keepeth his soul from trouble.' And after that Solomon had spoken of a virtuous woman, he saith, In her tongue is the law of kindness, and her children rise up, and call her blessed; and her husband also praises her.' He that hath an ear to hear, let him hear. And therefore all are to keep in this law of kindness, and there your candle doth not go out by night, and your virtue will flow; for the hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness; and, better is he that rules over his own spirit, than he that takes a city; for he that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, without walls;' then the security and strength are gone. And therefore let every one keep his own little city with the spirit and power of God, by which you have power over your own spirits; and then the power of God is your strength, and keeps you safe in it, that, be led by the spirit of God.

6

And so that all men and women may exercise their talent, their gift that God hath given them, in the true light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world;' that is the light in Christ, that they may become children of the light, and grafted into Christ, and walk as children of the light and of the day. And that all may profit in the manifestation of the spirit that God hath given them; and be led by the spirit, that you all may be the sons and daughters of God in this day of his new covenant, and new testament, wherein God poureth forth

of his spirit upon all flesh, which none are to grieve, vex, nor quench, nor rebel against, but obey it. And the grace of God that brings salvation hath appeared unto all men,' to teach them to live godly, righteously, and soberly, and to deny ungodliness and unrighteousness. And therefore all are to be faithful stewards of this grace of God, which teaches them, and brings them their salvation. For the apostle saith, As every one hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God, that the God of all gracé, and Christ by whom it comes, may be glorified in all his people, who gives unto them freely the spiritual and heavenly gifts.' And the gospel of peace and glad tidings, God and Christ hath sent to be preached to every creature under heaven. And all you that have received it, by which life and immortality are brought to light in you, by which you see over him that hath darkened you; by the everlasting gospel, the power of God, and are come to be heirs of this everlasting gospel, the power of God, so you are heirs of the everlasting order of the gospel; for the power of God is the order and authority of all your meetings. This everlasting gospel, the power of God, is an unlimited order; and this glorious order of the gospel, the power of God, is beyond the order of Aaron, and beyond all the orders of the heathen. And the power of God cannot be limited, though it may limit that which is contrary to it, and out of the truth. So our order and government are of Christ, and his gospel, and in his light, and holy spirit, and we are heirs of it, being heirs of Christ, and grafted into him by belief; and all his sons and daughters do know his glorious liberty, and their rest in him. For we have received the spirit of adoption, whereby we can cry Abba, Father; for the spirit itself beareth witness with our spirits that we are the children of God; and if children, then heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ.

And now, friends, (as I said before,) train up all your children in the fear of God, in this new covenant of light and grace, that they may know Christ, who is their baptizer ́and circumciser; and he sprinkles your consciences and hearts with his blood to cleanse you from all sin, and the Lord writes his heavenly law in their hearts, that they may obey it and do it. For, do not all people in their several false religions, ways, and sects, yea, the very Turks and heathens, train up their children in their own ways? And likewise, did not the Jews train up their children in the old testament and old covenant of works; which old testament and covenant Christ hath abolished, and hath established the new covenant of light, life, and grace? And therefore must not all the Jews in spirit, in this new testament, train up their children in this new covenant of light, life, and grace? Or else do they not bring themselves under condemnation? For, doth not the beasts and

the fowls teach their young to pick, suck, and feed their young? And will not the young ones cry after the old ones for their food? All these things might teach people. Now you having your food from Christ, and God your Father Father; yea, your bread, your milk, your water, your wine, your honey, your fine linen, your clothing, your breath, your life, your souls, and the image of God, which he made you in, which man and woman hath lost by transgression, but are to be renewed into again by Christ, your redeemer, and sanctifier, and reconciler, and mediator, who makes your peace between you and God, from whom you have your light, grace, and truth, who gives you his gospel, and faith, and spirit, in whose name you have salvation, and not by any other name under the whole heaven, who is your heavenly spiritual rock and foundation; and have not you all these things from above freely, and none of them from below? And also your heavenly armour, and spiritual weapons, in which you stand witnesses for God and Christ. And cannot you train up all your children in the fear of God, and tell them from whence you have all these good things, that they may come to receive of all these good things which you receive from the good God, and Christ the treasure of wisdom and knowledge, that you may say, the children of your children are the crown of your old men in the truth, and the glory of their fathers in God; and that you may say, your wives are as fruitful vines by the sides of your house, and your children like olive plants round about your table. Thus shall they be blessed, that fear the Lord; that you may say, your sons are plants of God, growing up in their youth, and that your daughters may be as corner-stones, polished after the similitude of a palace; and that your garners are full, and afford all manner of store, so that there is no complaining in your streets: and happy is that people whose God is the Lord.'

And now, my friends, if there happen any difference among Friends, either with Friends or the world, let it be put to reference, if it cannot be ended between themselves: and all that are concerned to end any difference, let them have but one ear to one party, and let them reserve the other ear to hear the other party; so that they may judge impartially of matters, without affection or favour, or respect of persons. For you may see how the Jews in the old covenant did judge of things among themselves, as long as they kept the law of God, and did not go to other nations, or to the heathens, for them to judge of their matters; and therefore the apostle reproves the Corinthians for that fault, for going to law one with another before unbelievers,' and told them, that the saints should judge the word,' yea, angels; and then how much more might they judge of things appertaining to this life? And therefore the apostle exhorted, 'If then ye have judgment of

things pertaining to this life, set them to judge that are least esteemed in the church:' and Christ saith, If thy brother trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between him and thee alone; if he should hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother: but if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established: and if he neglect to hear them, tell it to the church; and if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as a heathen and a publican. Verily I say unto you, whatsoever is bound on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.' And farther Christ said, If two of you shall agree on earth, as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven for where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.' Matt. xviii. And Christ saith, "If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him and if he tréspass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times, if he turn again, saying, I repent, thou shalt forgive him.' Luke xvii. Here you may see what instructions Christ, (who is the King of kings, and Lord of lords,) gives to his church, and much more, which is too large to write. And they had elders in the old covenant then; much more ought there to be elders in the new covenant, which are grown in the truth. And they had the assemblies of the women in the law, who were concerned in the things about the figures and shadows, and they wrought about the holy things, and they brought of their clean things to be offered; all which Christ, the Holy One, hath abolished, and put an end to in the old covenant. So, much more the believers in Christ, in the new testament, in the time of the gospel, are to have their assemblies and meetings; besides their instructing and looking into their own families, whether they walk in the fear of God. And then after, in the general service of the church of God, the aged men, and aged women in the truth, are to be teachers of good things, as the Lord shall order them with his spirit, to teach and instruct, exhort, admonish, reprøve, rebuke, with the holy spirit; for the least member hath an office, and every believer in the light, (which is the life in Christ,) is a member of Christ's church, and grafted into him; and so he is the holy head of the church, and they are heirs of his order, and of his government, of the increase of which there is no end, in his eternal power and spirit.

And therefore, all that deny the men and women's meetings that are established in the light, power, and spirit of Christ, by which we are gathered together, he being in the midst of them, they may as well deny Christ, as deny his heavenly order of his gospel, and his heavenly spiritual government.

And all they that deny the men and women's meetings, in the new covenant, in the restoration out of death and darkness, by Christ, and in his gospel of light and life, they may as well deny the preaching of the gospel, if people shall not come into the possession of that which is preached, and practise it.

For the faithful men and women that are restored into the image of God, by Christ Jesus, as Adam and Eve were in before they fell, they were meet-helps in righteousness, and in the image of God, and in Christ Jesus; yea, they were meet-helps one to another; and Christ makes them as kings and priests to reign upon the earth, over the serpent and the devil, the destroyer, in the power of God, which was before he was, in which is the holy order. And they, that offer the spiritual sacrifices to God, and are his heavenly witnesses, stand for God and Christ, and his righteousness, in his light and life, by which they are grafted into Christ; and so by and in his power, light, and life stand over death, and darkness, and the prince and power of it, and in it reign over him. And so do praise God, and his son that liveth for ever, and sing Hallelujah.

Swarthmore, the 10th month, 1679.

CCCLXI.-An Epistle to Friends, for them to read.

G. F.

My dear friends,-The peaceable truth live in, which you have received from Jesus your saviour, that by the grace and truth that is come by him into your hearts, you may all abide in Christ, and grow up in him, from whence it comes. For, as Christ saith, Except you abide in me, ye cannot bring forth fruit.' And there is none that abide in Christ, but who abide in his light, grace, and truth.

6

And Christ saith, Without me ye can do nothing;' who is the heavenly and spiritual man, the second Adam, the Lord from heaven, who hath all power in heaven and earth given to him.

So without this truth, and grace, and light, and power, and spirit of Christ Jesus, which you receive from him, you cannot abide in him. This brings you to abide in him, and to have his presence to strengthen you, so that through him you may do all things which he commands and requires of you.

And now, dear friends, to the light, and grace, and truth in your hearts you were turned at the first, and now as you do all walk in the light, and are established in the grace and truth, in your hearts, minds, and souls, it brings you to Christ, the heavenly spiritual rock and foundation, and to build upon him, with the light, grace, and truth that come from him; and then you will see such as Christ speaks of, that did profess him and preach him, but did not abide in his light, grace,