These are not perfect copies. OCR software can do some strange things. You will find that "h" and "b" can be switched making "hath" to be "bath". Another common error is "d" can become "cl" so that doth becomes "cloth". Then there some things that have no explanation. However, these files are still useful. If you find something that you just can't decipher, let me know and I will look it up for you. Let me know if you have any trouble getting into the files. They should open in a text editor, microsoft word, libre office writer, open office, and other word processing programs. Ellis Hein ebhein@vcn.com - A COLLECTION OF MANY SELECT AND CHRISTIAN EPISTLES, LETTERS AND TESTIMONIES, WRITTEN ON SUNDRY OCCASIONS, BY THAT Ancient, eminent,faithful Friend, and minister of Christ Jesus, MO246 -1 (_),) IN TWO VOLUMES. VOL. II. What thou west, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches.—Rev. i. 11. For we write none other things unto you than what you have read and acknowledged, and I trust you shall acknowledge even unto the end.-2 Cor. i. 11. PHILADELPHIA, MARCUS T. C. GOULD, No. 6, NORTH EIGHTH STREET. NEW YORK, ISA AC T. HOPPER, No. 420, PEARL STREET 1 HARDING, PRINTER. 1831 A COLLECTION oI MANY SELECT EPISTLES TO FRIENDS, OF THAT ANCIENT, EMINENT, AND FAITHFUL MINISTER 01' JESUS CHRIST, GEORGE FOX. EPISTLE CCLXV. ALL you that are believers in the light of Christ, which manifesteth darkness, ye are kept by the power of God unto the day of salvation. So, though your salvation is not yet completed, yet you have your keeper, the power of God, which neither slumbers nor sleeps, and it will keep you unto that day. For those virgins, in the parable, they had their keeper, by which they were preserved in their virginity, which they were never accused of losing ; for it is said, that the cry was at midnight ;' that is, the mid-time of darkness ; for darkness is call- ed night, and the voice of the bridegroom was at midnight, Arise.' Now they that had no oil in their lamps did not enter with the bridegroom, but they that had oil did. Now that which doth keep is the power of God, and preserves pure unto him in the virginity, from that which would defile the virgin mind, and the virgin soul and spirit. For it is all from the same man of sin that defiles the mind, and the spirit, that leads them out to defile their bodies, and corrupt them ; therefore all are to mind their keeper, the power of God, which was before the devil, the man of sin, was; by which power of God they have oil in their lamps, through which their lamps may be always burning in their temple, and such come to be the temple of God; for they that defile the temple, defile their souls and bodies, they let in the defiler and destroyer, and so their lamps go out, and they go from God and his power, the keeper, and such God will destroy. And so many as are kept by the power of the Lord unto the day of salvation, though the day of salvation 6 [1669 is not yet completed, yet in the day of salvation the people of God are a willing people, even in this day of his power. And so they are to abide with their keeper, which is the power of God; for while they be in the night, and not in the day of salvation, nor day of power, though they may be in the wilderness of temptations and trouble, yet may feel the power, the keeper, to lead through all these things, out of Egypt, through the Red Sea, through the wilderness, through Jordan, the river of Judgment, and over the Canaanites; and therefore every one's faith is to stand in the power of God, and believe in the power of God, that will bring to the day of God's power, and to the day of his salvation. For the outward Jew did not enter, because of unbelief; and so this great foul man of sin hath defiled all mankind outwardly and inwardly. And therefore all to have their faith to stand in the power of God, their keeper; for the defilement is in the night, by the power of darkness, and through it. Therefore let thy faith stand in the power of God, thy keeper, which will keep body, and soul, and spirit clean and blameless to the day of redemption, and day of salvation; and by the power of God such will have a dominion over the foul man of sin, the devil; for it is he in people that leads and tempts to outward defilement of their body, and so to lose their virginity; and it is he that draws their minds from God and Christ, and from God's ways, and his worship, and his truth, and his spirit, and his grace, and his faith that he works in people. Therefore if thy faith stand in the power of God, all by it is preserved in this, body, soul, and spirit, in purity and a hidden mind, soul, and spirit, secret to the Lord, who is a spirit ; and they are preserved by his power, their keeper. For, as is the saying of some of the world, that are the most modest, that they will keep their outward virginity to the day of their death, or of their marriage, but such as before that have no esteem of their bodies, no more than unruly beasts, give up their bodies to uncleanness, and themselves to work wickedness, and so forsake their keeper, the power of God, which should keep both inwardly and outwardly. And so all the inward virgin minds, and souls. and spirits, that are hidden to the Lord, they will die before they will lose their inward virginity, but will keep it to the marriage of the Lamb, as the wise virgins did ; by which power they are preserved over the man of sin, whom Christ their husband bruises the head of, and destroys him and his works. For Christ was before the man of sin was, (the devil, or his works either,) who was glorified with the Father before the world began ; and there- fore all such virgins as are come to Christ, and are married to him, Christ your husband, he will deal with the foul man of sin, and bruise his head, and break his power and strength to pieces, and will take him and cast him into everlasting fire. And therefore keep your faith in the 1669] 7 power of God, which will bring you to the marriage of the lamb ; by which power of God, which was before the devil was, you may have oil in your lamps, that your lamps may burn always ; by which power of God you may come to the day of God's power, and all to be a will- ing people, to serve God, and walk in truth, and to obey him ; and so by the same power of God, which is your keeper, you may come to the day of salvation ; you may have the song of salvation, and joy of salva- tion, and comfort of salvation, and the possession of salvation, and be heirs of the same. And so here you have your keeper, to wit, the power of God. And Peter's words answer to this, You have a light which you do well to take heed unto, that shines in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts ;' signifying it is sufficient, which you must take heed to, it will lead you to the day dawning, the light that shines in the dark place of your hearts, in the dark place of your minds. Now you do well to take heed to this light, for it leads you to the day star, and day dawning. Out of Egypt have I called my son,' saith the Lord; and Israel was called God's son, who was called out of the house of darkness and bondage; they had light in Goshen, when the children of Egypt were in darkness, and could not see one another. For now the children of light have light, and can see one another ; the children of Egypt, Sodom, and Babylon cannot see one another. And so, they do well that take heed to the light, but they do ill that do not take heed to the light, for they walk in darkness, and know not whither they go, and stumble at noon day, the highest time of light ; for this light leads to the day dawning, and day star arising in their hearts, which is a sure word of prophecy. A prophet is a seer, and so with the light he will see, that which doth make manifest is light; by it you shall see the day dawning, and the day star arising, and when that ariseth, the sons of God sing together, because of the joyful day ; and the saints sing, who have long been in the brambly, briary wilder- ness, and in the house of bondage, of darkness and trouble, and of sor- row and misery. Therefore, there is joy when the day star appeareth and the day dawn ; there is great cause of joy for all the sons of God, when the day star appears, and for them to sing together; for long nights of trouble and travel have they been in. The path of the just is a shining light,' the path of the unjust is darkness. So there are but two paths. Now the unjust cannot abide to hear talk of the light, but call it natural, and created and made, or conscience, they do not know what to call it, whose darkness cannot comprehend the light, though it shines in the darkness ; and so, the path of the just being 'a shining light, which shines more and more unto the perfect day signifying that the day is come, that the just bath his path, and his path is a shining light; and so increaseth, shineth more and more unto the perfect day. Now S [1669 the unjust being in darkness, they hate the light, and love darkness rather than light ; the just man's path, the light, because their deeds are evil; for the light will reprove them. So the just man's path is sufficient, a shining light : for it shines more and more, it increaseth, it it is sufficient, and brings to the perfect day. Now the unjust, whose path is darkness, say, 'It is not sufficient,' but such cannot abide the light, cannot abide the just man's path, nor the just neither, but hate both, and speak against him and his path, with his darkness, that cannot com- prehend the light, though light shines in his darkness ; and therefore if he cannot comprehend the light with his darkness, (how can he com- prehend the prophets', and apostles', and Christ's words ?) but calls light darkness, and darkness light, and calls it natural, or created, or made, or conscience ; and so this comes to be fulfilled on them, as John said, who with their darkness could not comprehend the light, yet they would be talking of the saints' words, law and prophets, with their darkness, which could not comprehend the light. They would call light, darkness, saith Christ, If that light that is in you be darkness, how great is that darkness You neither know the scriptures nor the power of God. How should they know the scriptures or the power of God either, whose darkness does not comprehend the light ? A dark man, is a blind man. A blind man hath not true judgment. Therefore how should they call it otherwise, but a natural light, a created or made light ? So the Pharisees believed that Christ was to come, and preached him to come; as the Protestants and Papists preach him, that he is come and to come; and can tell by scripture where he was crucified, as the Jews could tell by scripture where he was to be born. But they were all against Christ, the light. When he came, they said, Christ had a devil.' The Pharisees said of him, who was light, that he was the prince of devils ; who was the light, and the truth, and the life ; and that he was the carpenter's son. So without the light they could not see him, nor his works, with their darkness ; neither can they now, neither can they know the scriptures nor the power of God, whose darkness cannot comprehend the light. And John was a man sent from God, the greatest prophet born of a woman, who came for a wit- ness, to bear witness of the true light, which lightetli every man that cometh into the world, that all through him might believe ; and it is said, in Christ was light ; and this light was the life of men. And so the life that is in Christ, is the light of men. So this is a heavenly light, a divine light, a spiritual light, a saving light ; which is the life of Christ, which is the light of men ; though the professors in Christ's time, and these times, Papists and Protestants, with their dark- ness, cannot comprehend the light, so not the life ; so no true preachers of Christ without the light and life. John said, he was not the light, but was sent to bear witness of the light. That he was not worthy to unloose 1669] 9 the latchet of Christ's shoes. And yet John, who had seen Christ, the lamb of God, that taketh away the sins of the world, pointed his disciples to him, and showed them Christ ; and they forsook him and went to Christ. For John came for a witness, to bear witness of him who was the true light ; and that he that was to came after him, was preferred before him, for he was before him. Yet when John was cast into pri- son, he questioned whether Christ was he, or whether he should look for another ; and sends to Christ. And Christ answers his messengers, and saith unto them, the blind receive their sight, and the poor receive the gospel, &c. And as for these Papists, and Protestants, and Jews, they question whether Christ, the light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world, be the spiritual, divine, saving, and heavenly light. And further, mark Christ's own words. John xii. 46. He saith, he is the light of the world, that teacheth you how to believe ;' to wit, all his disciples, as Christ hath taught them, who saith, believe in the light. Now, believing in the light, you believe in that which doth make manifest all things ; for that which cloth make manifest is the light ; and therefore to believe in the light, is to believe in that which doth make manifest Christ to be their way, their teacher, priest, media- tor, interceder, saviour, and redeemer. And he that believeth in the light, believes in that which makes manifest all false ways, and false religions, and false worship, and false teachers, and antichrists. For they that believe in the light, it manifests all true ways, and true reli- gions. And so, they are no true believers, neither Protestants, nor Pa- pists, who only believe Christ is come, from scripture, as the Jews believed Christ was to come, from scripture. But, I say, they are no true believers, but as they also believe in the light as Christ the hea- venly man doth teach. For the Jews, may teach their people to be- lieve from the scripture, the Papists and Protestants may teach their children to believe from the same ; but, not believing in the light, they are no true believers, as Christ hath taught ; for Christ, who is the sa- viour, he teacheth people how to believe, and saith, believe in the light. Which is plain, that they are no true believers that do not believe in the light, neither Jews, nor those that have got the name of christians ; for believing in the light, they become children of the light. And so it is plain, they are no children of light but who believe in the light, nor children of the day. For children of darkness may profess scrip- tures, the devil may bring scriptures, and Protestant, and Turk, and Papist, and Jew may bring scriptures, with a dark spirit, and hold them in the unrighteousness; but there is no true believer in God, nor in Christ Jesus, but who believes in the light, which the scripture testifies of; showing there is no salvation, redemption, justification, sanctifica- tion, but to them who believe in the light, that manifesteth all things VOL. VIII. 2 10 [1669 nor seeing Christ, who died, and is risen for them. And therefore the heavenly man, the second Adam, the Lord Jesus Christ, teacheth how to believe, and saith, 'believe in the light, while you have it ;' and this light will manifest him to be their way, their truth, and life; which light comes from him who enlighteneth every man that cometh into the world, that all through the light might believe. And so they that believe not in the light, as Christ hath taught, are no true ministers, nor true messengers, nor true disciples, nor true christians, nor true preachers of Christ Jesus, who believe not, as he hath taught them ; but they that lay away Christ's teaching, and teach one another to deny the way that Christ hath taught to believe in, are keepers of people in darkness, out of the light, and call it natural, created, and made, and conscience, and so with their darkness and blindness give the light such names, who with their darkness cannot comprehend it ; for he that believes in the light, it lets him see the scriptures, the prophets, Christ and the apostles' words, and by it they do distinguish the true prophets' words from the false, the holy men's words from the unholy, the sanctified from them that are not sanctified, Christ's words from antichrist's, the true apostles' words from the false. So Christ the light teacheth his people to believe in that which manifests all things ; and they that be- lieve in the light have the witness in themselves of Christ, in whom they do believe, they have the witness in themselves, that he is their redeemer, and saviour, and their way, their truth, and their life ; for with the light they see him, they believing in the light that doth make manifest ; and after they believe in the light, become children of the light ; they witness themselves, that they are sealed, for their be- lief in the light stands in Christ the light, who bath bought and pur- chased them ; and after that they are sealed by the spirit of promise, having God's mark or stamp set upon them, they can set to their seal, that God is true in all his promises, in all his prophets concerning Christ Jesus,'who taught them to believe in the light. With the light they see, and come to know the three that bear record in heaven,' and the three that bear record on earth, the spirit, the water, and the blood.' First, the spirit that beareth witness in the earth, which mortifies them, which circumcises them, which leads them into all truth; in which spirit is their fellowship, and a bond of peace, that keeps down that which troubles them ; by which spirit the believers are baptized into one body, brought out of the many bodies; and so by the spirit they are brought to the one head, which is Christ Jesus, (though there are many heads in the world,) by which spirit they are sanctified, by which spirit they are instructed, by which spirit they worship God, by which spirit they are covered, by which spirit they pray, and by which spirit they sing praises to God who is a spirit, by which spirit they have an 1669] 11 understanding, the spirit of wisdom and knowledge, which is to know God, and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent, which is life eternal. 2dly. They come to know the water, which is a witness in the earth; by which water they are washed, their minds, their souls, their spirits, and in their bodies, with this pure water. And this is a witness in the earth with the light; they that believe in it, it manifesteth these two wit- nesses in the earth, and with the light they see the pope's counterfeit holy water, which he hath set up since the apostles' days, who with the light bear witness against it, not to be God's witness, nor God's setting up. And so the children of the light, that believe in the light, their bodies, their souls, their spirits, and their minds are washed clean in this pure, clean, holy water, that comes from above, from the pure holy God, which is one of these witnesses in the earth. The third wit- ness is his blood, with which the hearts of people are sprinkled, and their consciences are sprinkled with the blood of Jesus. As Moses sprinkled the outside of the posts, &c. with the blood of bulls and goats; which blood of bulls and goats, Christ's blood ends, which sprinkles the heart and conscience of people. So this blood of Jesus Christ, the hea- venly man, is felt in the hearts and consciences of people ; by which blood they are sanctified, they are cleansed from all their dead works, to serve the living God, and to serve their dead works no longer. So by this blood they are cleased from all sin. They that walk in the light, and believe in the light, they are children of the light, and children of the day; and the blood of Jesus Christ, the son of God, cleanseth them from all sin ; and their garments are made white in the blood of the Lamb ; by which they come to testify of Jesus, they overcome the beast, the whore, the false church. And so every true believer, be- lieves as Christ ha th taught them, to believe in the light, that so they may become children of the light. They have these three witnesses that bear witness in the earth, to bear witness in themselves ; and they can set to their seal, that God is true in all his works, in prophets and apostles, and his son ; and they shall come to know, and do come to know, the three that bear record in heaven, and the three that bear record in the earth. G. F. CCLXVI. And all ye believers in the heavenly light, as Christ hath taught, you seek that which is lost and driven away ; but the false prophets, false ministers, and teachers, they did not seek that which was lost, and driven away from God; they put no difference between the precious and the vile, but mash all together, like the priests and prophets of our times. Therefore, seek that which was lost and driven away. Some May 12 [1669 be driven away by the storms, some may be driven away by the great winds of the wicked, and storms of the ungodly ; some may be driven away by tempests and foul weather, and some may be lost in the foul weather, and lost in the sea of the world ; for it is this wicked one that raiseth all this foul weather and these storms. Therefore seek that which is lost, ye that believe in the light, by which you see, then you are dis- tinguished from the false prophets and teachers, and by the light you put a difference between the precious and the vile ; for Jacob was found in a desert land, and you see all the prophets, how they sought that which was lost, and the apostles, and how Christ encouraged to seek that which was lost. And when the lost sheep was found, what joy there was, more than of the ninety and nine. And who are they that make the land desolate, but the rough Esaus, and wild Ishmaels, and Cores ? And who makes the world as a wilderness but the devil? and who brings the whole world to lie in wickedness, but the devil, that wicked one ? And if you should not find that which is lost and driven away, at the first, nor second, nor third time of seeking, if you should not find him that is lost, go again, that you may have your joy, and rejoice others ; for Christ in the parable saith, the prodigal son was lost, yea, was dead, and is alive again ;' when he had been feeding among swine, and upon husks, and could never fill his belly. When any such come back again, they will tell you how hungry they were, they could never fill their bellies among the husks, while they went astray, and tell you long declarations of the citizen that they were joined to : and therefore when the lost is found, and brought back again to the Father's house, where there is bread enough, there is joy, and the heavenly instruments of music, and the heavenly feast of the heavenly fat things, and the heaven- ly robes of righteousness are enjoyed. And so all be diligent, ye be- lievers in the light, as Christ bath taught you; look up and down, in the light you will see where the lost sheep are, and such as have been driven away, you will spy them out, out of the woods, or brambles, or pits, where there is no water, where they are ready to be famished, where they are tied with thorns and briars ; and so with the light you will see, and.put a difference between the precious and the vile. For whatso- ever makes manifest is light ;' for by that you see, and you will see with it, how the false prophets, and ministers, and teachers drive peo- ple away ; they drive them away from God, and his way, from Christ, and the covenant of light. How angry they are with them that be- lieve in it ! With their clubs, how have they beaten many, and wounded many, and imprisoned many, because they would not be driven by them into the devil's pit-fold, or prison ! But do you. never give over seeking, for the light shines over all, which believe in, and walk in the path of the just, which is as a shining light ; for it hath been the work of all 1669] 13 the false teachers and ministers to drive away from God, and his truth, and light, and those have been the devil's servants, and the wages he gives them is death. This hath been the way of all true ministers, to seek that which was lost, and that which was driven away ;' as you may see Christ and the apostles, and all the true prophets did, and to bring them to feed in the pastures of life, and gently to lead them, whose wages is life ; and he gives them their heavenly penny of life eternal. G. F. CCIAVII.— To ministering Friends. Friends,—All ye that believe in tne light, as Christ bath commanded, that are become children of the light, and of the day, and of the pro- mise, and do minister therein, do not judge one another in public meet- ings, you that do minister, as you have received the grace, and have the word of the Lord God committed to you, that minister abroad, or go abroad in cities, towns, countriO, or nations, do not judge one an- other, nor reflect one upon another in public meetings; for that hurts the hearers, and you do more hurt than you do good, and that makes confusion. If you have any thing to say, have patience, let that gift be exercised, and speak to one another by yourselves alone ; for that was the way before any thing was spoken against any of the church, and that will show the spirit of order and government, and the spirit of love, and of patience and humility. And keep down passion, and that part in yourselves that cannot bear all things, nor endure all things, whereby the love comes up that will endure all things, and bear all things, which edifies the body, and by which the body is edified ; for the spirit of the prophets is subject to the prophets.' This shows the true spirit, for that which cannot bear all things, many times, is for- ward in judging, that cannot bear all things, nor endure all things, and so goeth out of the true love and edification ; which breeds confusion and distraction, and destroys more than ever it will beget to God. And also goes out of the church order, first speak to him alone;' for by that he may win his brother. Speaking publicly makes strife, some owning and some disowning, and that spirit must be shut out by the true spi- rit, that keeps order, and unity, and fellowship, and the true love which edifies the body. And so all who feel the power stirring in them to minister, when they have done, let them live in the power, and in the truth, and in the grace, that keeps in the seasoned words, and that keeps in a stablished and seasoned life: and so all may minister as they have received the grace ; so every one is a steward of the grace of God, if he do not turn the grace of God into wantonness ; and so to minister in that love, and grace, and power, that keeps all things in 14 [1669 subjection and order, and in unity in the life and in the power, and light, by which you may see that of God in every man, and answer to that which God hath showed unto people : for the true labourers in the vineyard do answer that of God, the true ministers bring people to that which is to instruct them, viz, the spirit of God, and so are ministers,of the spirit, and ministers of the grace; they answer the spirit, and the grace, and truth in all, in which all that do minister have unity, and through which they have fellowship with God and Christ. G. F. CCLXVIII.—Not to be over thoughtful of the things of this world. Friends,—Did not God provide for man and woman before he made them ? Did he not make all things in six days? And the sixth day he made man in the image of God, in righteousness and holiness. And therefore Christ, who is the son of God, who comes to restore man up again into the image of God, and leads man up into his image in righte- ousness and holiness, as he was in before he fell : doth he not reprove such as take thought, and fold them of their little faith, and that they could not add one cubit to the stature that God had made ; and it was the practice of the heathens and of the Gentiles to take thought? So it is clear, before God made man, he took care for him ; but after man was fallen from the image of God, and his righteousness, he took care and toiled, though he cannot add one cubit to his stature in the Lord's work. For thou mayst sow thy seed in the ground or garden, thou mayst have much cattle, and other things, but yet there is no increase but by the Lord, neither of thy seed, nor of thy cattle ; for is not the earth the Lord's and the fulness thereof? Mark ! and doth he'not give the increase, who upholds all things by his word and power, who is the Creator of all, and provided for man before he made him, and set him in dominion over all the works of his hands ; which dominion man lost. Man lost righteousness and holiness, in his disobeying the command of God, which Christ comes to restore man to, and sets man above all again, as he was in the beginning, and