fore be still in the power of God, which is your keeper, as I said before; for it is your keeper in the night, before you come to the day, and it keeps you to the day of salvation; for the virgins lamps did burn in the night, and it was their light, and they that were wise, that got oil in their lamps, entered; for the voice of the bridegroom was at midnight, and bid them arise. And so as outward midnight is a great while off the day star's arising; yet here is a lamp burning. Therefore every one see that you get oil in your lamps, that you may not go forth, that you may arise at the hearing of the heavenly voice of the bridegroom, and enter with him; though satan's messengers have told you, there is no hearing his voice now-a-days. Sad messengers they are, and have been, they see who have received the true message of the Messiah in his power, through which they see over them, and see their own foundation, Christ Jesus, who was the foundation of the prophets and apostles. G. F. Let this be read in your men's and women's meetings, and copies kept in their books. Worcester Prison, the 2d of the 7th month, 1673.

CCCI.-To all the Women's Meetings.

Dear friends, This is the day for all to take your possessions, that know the gospel, the power of God, which brings life and immortality to light in them. I say, this is the day for all to take their possessions of this gospel order, which was the apostles' doctrine to the church in the primitive times, that they should keep the comely order of the gospel. The words are general to men and women; and now you being heirs of the gospel, as was said before, that hath brought life and immortality to light in you, by which you see over the devil, that has darkened you, and before he was, in whom is all disorder. Therefore keep this comely order of the gospel, the power of God, the everlasting order and gospel, it will outlast all other orders in old Adam; in which order of the gospel you have joy, you have peace and comfort. So every one take your possessions of this holy, everlasting, joyful, and peaceable gospel and order; for the peace is in the power of God; so it is called the gospel of peace, that keeps all in the peace, which you have from the Prince of peace, that the world cannot take away from you; and likewise that you may be heirs and possessors of Christ, and of his government, which is pure, holy, righteous, and heavenly, of the increase of this heavenly man's government there is no end; but there will be an end of old Adam's and the devil's, which began in time, and will end in time, but there will be no end of his, that was set up from everlasting to everlasting. So all be possessors of this heavenly government, and of this heavenly, glorious, and comely order.

And whereas it hath been said by them which are without, you must come to hear the gospel preached; the answer is, and will be from the possessors of the gospel, I am an heir of the gospel, and do inherit it; for it is my portion, and do know it and possess it, and need not thee to tell me of it, and of my portion.

And whereas it hath been said by them without, you must come and hear Christ preached. The answer is from the possessors of him, I have examined myself, and proved myself, and have found Christ Jesus in me, and he rules in my heart by faith; and I am in him, and he is in me; ' and behold ye' (that is as much as to say, take notice) all things are become new.'

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And whereas the saying has been by them that are without, why do not you come to hear the word preached? The answer is, and will be, from the possessors of him, the word is nigh me, in my heart and mouth, to obey it and do it; and need not say to any, who shall ascend to bring it down from above, or who shall descend to bring it up from the grave; for I am come to the righteousness of faith's speaking, (mark, faith's speaking,) that saith on this wise, The word is nigh thee, in thy heart and mouth, to obey it and do it ;' by which word I am born again of the immortal seed, which lives, and abides, and endures for ever; by which word I have milk to give freely to babes and sucklings. So the possessors have breasts; and the possessors' breasts are not dry; glory to the Lord for ever. So no more but love; and God Almighty preserve you in his wisdom, that is pure and gentle from above, by which you may be all ordered, and order all that you have under your hands to his glory. And keep in the unity of the holy spirit, which is the bond of peace, of the Prince of princes' peace, which is every one of your duty to keep this heavenly peace of the Prince of princes, which none can take away from you; for you are bound with the spirit to keep it, so that your praise may be in the gospel; that you may admonish and exhort all that do profess the truth of the gospel, that they may walk in the truth, as becomes the gospel, and that every one that does profess Christ Jesus, and has received him, may walk in him in the new and living way, out of the old way. G. F.

CCCII.

To all Friends that live in the truth, and by it are become God's freemen and women, and by the truth and power of God are brought out of the world's vain fashions and customs, in their feastings, and revelings, and banquetings, and wakes, and other vain feastings, where they spoil the creatures, and dishonour the Lord God more those times and days, which they call holy days, and feast days, than any other

times and days; and therefore you that are brought out of such things, and do see the vanity and folly of them; and likewise you that are brought out of all the extravagant feastings of companies in corporations, and of making of feasts, when the masters of companies are chosen, and constables, and head-boroughs, you see their vanity, and their folly, and madness, in their destroying of the creatures, to the reproach of christianity, and the dishonour of God, and the blaspheming of his name; and many times through the abusing of themselves by excess, are more like beasts than men, in these things and doings; and therefore as you do see the folly and vanity of all such doings, in their voluptuous and vain feastings, and cannot observe their evil customs, then that vain spirit is in a great rage and fury, because you have, and do, break off fellowship with them in all these their vain customs. And therefore you that are redeemed from these things by Christ, and from the feasting of the rich, and all other their vanities, and voluptuous dishonouring of God therein; I say to you, mind and practise Christ's words, as you may read in Luke xiii. 14. Christ saith, When thou makest a dinner, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither kinsfolks, nor thy rich neighbours, lest they also bid thee again, and a recompense be made thee; but when thou dost make a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, and the blind, and thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee again, but thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.' So here you may see how Christ ordereth thee to make a feast or a dinner, and to whom, contrary to the world; and though it be a cross to them, yet it is to be obeyed, and observed, and practised; for it is the heavenly man's doctrine, and command, and will, and he that doth it shall know his doctrine; and this will judge the world in their vain feasts, dinners, and suppers, which they make for the rich, for which they have self-reward. But Christ's command being obeyed, denieth self, and hath the Lord's recompense; and all that call him Lord, should do as the Lord commandeth; and they that are his disciples, and do love him, will keep his commands; for saith Christ, If you love them that love you, what thank have you? For sinners also love those that love them. And if you do good to them that do good to you, what thank have you? For sinners also do even the same. So give and it shall be given unto you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over into your bosoms;' and the Lord is kind to the unthankful, and therefore, 'be ye merciful, as your heavenly Father is merciful.' Luke vi. And therefore as you have forsaken all the world's vain feastings, and dinners, and suppers, (if so,) give the blind, the lame, the maimed, the widow, the fatherless, and the poor, a feast or a dinner, and obey Christ, the heavenly man's doctrine, though it do cross old earthly

Adam's will and practices; and though he be angry, never heed him, but obey the Lord.

G. F.

CCCIII.

Dear friends,-All be faithful in the eternal power of God that is over all; I say, keep in this power of God, that you may answer that of God in all, and not that which is contrary; for the kingdom standeth in power, and in righteousness, and joy in the holy ghost: so that which doth not live in the power, and righteousness, and joy in the holy ghost, cometh not into the kingdom. So this kingdom, and power, and righteousness, and holy ghost, in which is the joy, is over all; and this kingdom standeth not in word, but in power. So know one another in the power, and in the spirit of God, (who is a spirit,) know and confess Christ in his death and sufferings, and in his resurrection. So no more but my love in him.

Worcester Prison, the 21st of the 9th month, 1673.

CCCIV.-To Friends in Virginia.

G. F.

Dear friends, to whom is my love, I am glad to hear of the increase of truth amongst you, and the Lord prosper his work, and increase people in his knowledge, who will fulfil his promise, 'that the knowledge of the Lord shall cover the earth as the waters cover the sea,' in the new covenant; though in the old covenant, the word was to Jacob, and the statutes to Israel; the like was not to other nations, but the new covenant is to all nations, Jews and Gentiles; For I will give him for a covenant of light to the Gentiles, and he shall be my salvation to the ends of the earth;' therefore he saith, 'Look unto me all ye ends of the earth, and be ye saved:' and there is no salvation by any other name under heaven, but by the name of Jesus, which signifies a saviour. And in his name keep your men's and women's, and all your other meetings, that you may feel him in the midst of you, exercising his offices; as he is a prophet, which God has raised up to open to you, and as he is a shepherd, who has laid down his life for you, to feed you, so hear his voice; and as he is a counsellor, and a commander, follow him and his counsel; and as he is a bishop to oversee you, with his heavenly power and spirit; and as he is a priest, who offered up himself for you, who is made higher than the heavens, (and that is higher than all the priests that are made upon the earth,) who sanctifies his people, his church, and presents them to God without blemish, spot, or wrinkle: so, I say, know him in all his offices, exercising them amongst you, and in you. I am glad to hear of some of your diligence, in taking that great journey to Carolina through the woods; for if you visit them

sometimes, it would do well: and there is a people at that place you call New Country, as you go to Carolina, who had a great desire to see me, amongst whom I had a meeting. I received letters, giving me an account of the service some of you had with and amongst the Indian king, and his council; and if you go over again to Carolina, you may inquire of captain Batts, the old governor, with whom I left a paper to be read to the emperor, and his thirty kings under him of the Tusrowres, who were to come to treat for peace with the people of Carolina : whether he did read it to them or not, remember me to major general Benett, and colonel Dew, and the rest of the justices that were friendly and courteous to me, when I was there, and came to meetings; and tell them, that I cannot but remember their civility and moderation, when I was amongst them: and so the Lord redouble into your hearts, and theirs, the love and kindness which they and you showed unto me. I have been a prisoner here about these eight months, and now I am premunired, because I cannot take an oath; but the Lord's seed and power is over all, blessed be his name for ever, and glory and honour to him, who is over all, and is worthy of all, G. F.

Read this amongst Friends in their meetings,

Worcester, 1673.

CCCV.

My dear friends, live in the seed that bruiseth the serpent's head, who is the head of all false teachers, and ways, and false worships, and religions: but Christ is the head of all the true worshippers; and in his name keep your meetings, in whom you have salvation, and not by any other name under heaven. And sit under your teacher, Christ Jesus, that doth bring your salvation, the grace of God, that you may all witness that you have a teacher, from God, that doth bring your salvation; and in your hearts you have received him, and believed in him, and with your mouths confession is made to salvation, that your teacher hath brought you; that you all may witness his salvation to be your walls and bulwarks, that doth surround your camps and tabernacles.

London, 1673.

CCCVI.-To Friends in Holland.

G. F.

Friends, Do not grow barren, but in the root abiding, ye will spring upward, and bring forth much fruit in this life, and in the life to come inherit life eternal; and so your lives being hid with Christ in God, you will be made conformable to his image, and know the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship with him in his sufferings, and the fel