TO
all Friends every where, dwell in the
truth, and walk in the love of the truth, in patience, and every one in
your measure keep your habitations, and learn that good lesson of Jesus
Christ, to be low and meek in heart, giving no occasion to the
adversary
by evil doing. But walk all honestly and uprightly; for the upright and
meek in heart know God, and God delights in the upright and righteous.
And
walking in uprighteousness, ye will be bold as lions, resisting the
wicked
with your spiritual weapons, not by bloody hands, as the wicked are
tearing and rending the just that dwell in the truth. For the lions
want,
and hunger, and rage; but ye that fear the Lord, shall want no good
thing; and they that wait upon the Lord, he will give them their hearts
desire. I
witness the words of the Lord to be true, praised be his name! Oh!
Friends, dwell in the fear of the Lord, and take heed of presumption,
that
your minds run not out into vanity and lightness, that the world may
not
take occasion, and the truth suffer. But every one keep your habitation
where God hath called you; and take heed of deceit, and form nothing in
your own wills or minds, but grow up in the inner man, (putting off the
old man with his deeds,) as trees of right eousness, which the Lord
hath
planted, growing in wisdom and understanding to do the will of God, and
not your own wills. He that doth the will of God, abideth in that which
endureth for ever, and seeth all flesh to be as grass and the glory of
the
world to pass away. Wo unto you proud men, who compass the earth, to
set
your nest on high! all your gods of gold and silver must perish, and
that
mind that holds them up must perish. But all Friends, mind that which
is
eternal, which gathers your hearts together up to the Lord, and lets
you
see that ye are written in one another's hearts; meet together every
where, growing up in the spirit to the Lord, the fountain of life, the
head of all things, God blessed for ever! Let not hard words trouble
you,
nor fair speeches win you; but dwell in the power of truth, in the
mighty
God, and have salt in yourselves to savour all words, and to stand
against
all the wiles of the devil, in the mighty power of God.
For God hath
raised up his own seed in his saints, which seed,
Christ, is but one in all, and spreads over all, and throughout all;
and
we now are thorough him come to have dominion and power over the evil
one,
and to tread upon that which hath been too strong for us, the enemy of
our
peace, and the enemy of our unity with God and one with another. So in
that, which is raised up in us, which trampleth upon the earthly dark
power, have we unity with God, and fellowship with his son, and unity
one
with another; so are known to one another in that, which none, who are
of
the world, knoweth. So our life is hid, and our happiness, joy, and
delight hid from all, who are ruled and governed by the prince of the
air,
from under whose dominion and government we are redeemed by the only
redeemer Christ Jesus, not with corruptible things, neither is our
redemption of man, nor by man, nor according to the will of man, but
contrary to man's will. And so, our unity and fellowship with vain man
are lost, and all his evil ways are now turned into enmity; and all his
profession is now found to be deceit, and in all his fairest pretences
lodgeth cruelty; and the bottom and ground of all his knowledge of God
and
Christ is found sandy, and cannot endure the tempest. For being brought
off from that foundation and having suffered the loss of all, which
seemed
beautiful upon the sand, (which was there builded according to that
wisdom
which was not eternal, but was earthly, upon which the curse of God
was,
and yet doth remain, where it is standing,) we declare against that
bottom
and foundation, by the power of God, in that light of Christ, which
discovers all false foundations, and makes manifest all sandy bottoms,
which man hath builded upon. For where the only true seed takes root,
there all man's plants and plantations are plucked up; for there the
earth, in which the earthly plants grow, is broken up, ploughed up, and
ripped up, and all things made manifest, which have lain hid in it. For
in the earth dwell all the noisome creatures, and the evil beasts,
which
are hurtful to the creation: for in the earth the devil dwells and
walks; but the earth being ploughed up, he is made manifest, and the
seat of his
dwelling is broken up. That mind, which doth speak of God, but lives
not,
dwells not, nor abides in the fear of God, that mind must suffer, and
pass
under the judgment of God, for the curse of God is upon that mind: for
that mind is earthly, and of the earth, upon which the curse of God is.
And that mind may talk of God, and speak of God, but not in union with
God, nor from enjoyment of God in the spirit, nor from having purchased
the knowledge of him through death and sufferings; but from hear-say of
him, and from custom and tradition. But the true fear of God doth
destroy
that mind which speaks of him, but doth not live in his fear: and that
mind is raised up, which doth abide in his fear; and this is acceptable
sacrifice, which is pure, clean, holy, and without spot. Then that
which
knows God, speaks of him, which hath purchased the true knowledge of
him
through suffering; and to such there is no condemnation, but joy and
peace. And this mind sings true praises to God, the other in hypocrisy;
and therefore the wo is unto it. And this mind is stayed upon God, the
other is gadding after the creatures, committing fornication with other
lovers; and speaks of God, but is not subject to God, and must pass
through condemnation.
George Fox,
1653
Epistle 222
A general epistle to be read in all
the christian
meetings in the world. Blessed is he that readeth, and blessed is he
that
heareth and understandeth, and the eyes that see. Read this over, and
you
may read that which you have not read, and see that which you have not
seen.
My dear
friends all every where, in the seed dwell, which is Christ the
top stone over all; feel it laid, in which is life eternal, which is
over
death, and before death was, and the devil, the power of it; every one
sitting under their own vine, which is Christ the life, by whom the
world
was made, that in that ye may all bear fruit to God; and all walking in
the name of the Lord, (which is the power,) then you will walk in
safety.
For Blessed are all you that rise in the power of God, and lie down in
the
same power; your beds are pure, holy, and undefiled, who lie down in
the
power of God, before unholiness was. And so you that are gathered in
the
name of Jesus, who have bowed to the name of Jesus, whose name is
called,
the power of God, and the word, light, life, and truth; and for bowing
to
his name, for his name sake have ye suffered all along by many powers;
his
name is a strong tower. So who have bowed to the name, and gathered in
the name of the Lord, ye are in the strong tower, in which is safety
and
peace; for being gathered in the name of Christ Jesus, whose name is
above
every name, (for all things that were made, were made by Christ,) above
all other names and gatherings are you gathered, who are gathered in
the
name of Jesus Christ, by whom all things were made and created; and
being
gathered in the name of Jesus Christ, by which salvation is brought, by
the name of Christ, and not by any other name under heaven, but by the
name of Jesus Christ is salvation brought, by whom all things we re
made.
So ye being gathered in this name, by which salvation is given, here ye
come to be heirs of salvation, and then to inherit salvation, which is
Christ; and by this you come to fathom all other names under the whole
heaven, and to see them, that there is no salvation in them; and so
likewise all other gatherings in all other names, no salvation in them;
therefore cry people, there is no assurance of salvation upon the
earth,
who are gathered in other names, but not in the name of Christ, by
which
salvation is brought and given; by the name of Christ, by whom all
things
were made; and this is the standing gathering; in the name, in the
strong
tower, where is the safety, where is the salvation given and brought.
Rejoice ye all that are brought into this gathering, and have bowed to
the
name of Jesus.
Now to bow at
the name of Jesus, who is called, the power of God, is to
bow to the power of God; all things in heaven, and things in earth,
must
bow to the name of Jesus, before they be reconciled to God; for all
things
in heaven, and things in earth, are reconciled by him in one. So they
must bow to the name of Jesus, as they have bowed to the evil through
which they are at difference one among another, and not at unity, but
bowing to the name of Jesus brings to reconciliation; for all things in
heaven, and things in earth, must bow at the name of Jesus, must bow at
the power of God, before they be reconciled in one. So bow at the name
of
Jesus.
Secondly. You
must bow at the cross of Christ, which is the power of God,
which since the apostles' days the apostate christians have lost; and
therefore they bow to a cross, a stick, a stone, a piece of iron, a
piece
of wood. Now bowing to the cross of Christ, which is the power of God,
that strikes over the nature of fallen man,; for who bends and submits,
and yields, and bows to the power of God within, feels it to rise over
and
strike over, and work over the carnal part, and that part that turns
int o
ungodliness, and all that is bad, and is a cross to it. So bow to the
power of God. If all Christendom had done this, they had had a
fellowship
in this cross of Christ, which is a mystery; but a cross stick, a cross
piece of wood, or iron, or stone, t his is not a mystery; but the power
of
God, that crosseth down the earthly, carnal, ungodly part in man and
woman, and works over it, and strikes over it, and goes over it, and
crosseth it. There is the mystery of the cross of Christ, the power of
God, in which is the fellowship; which power of God keeps the mind over
all outward things, in the everlasting power of God above them; for the
power of God was before unrighteousness and uncleanness, and the
idolatrous part in man was; which power of God is a cross to it, and in
that is the true glorying in the cross of Christ, by which ye all are
crucified to the world, and dead to the world, and the world is dead to
you; dead to the world through the power of the cross, and the world is
dead from the power of the cross, (in which power is the fellowship of
the
cross of Christ.)
Thirdly. The
fellowship of the gospel, the power of God, expels away all
that which hath darkened the understanding, darkened the mind, darkened
the heart; and by the power of God life and immortality are brought to
light in you; by which power of God ye come to see before that was,
that
hath darkened you from life and immortality, and over that life and
immortality shines, being in the power of God, which was before that
was
that had darkened mankind; and the power of God (the gospel) expels
away
that w hich burdened your spirits, minds, hearts, consciences, and
souls; so that being driven away by the power of God, and the mind set
at
liberty, the spirit, the conscience, the heart, the soul that is
immortal
being brought up by the power of God, here the soul hath its pleasure
in
God; then, by the power of God, man seeth over that which hath
burthened
his spirit, mind, soul, and conscience, and beyond it, and before it
was;
where the spirit, soul, mind and conscience cry "glad tidings." And
here
is the jo yful gospel, and here is the faith in the everlasting gospel,
the power of God; and here is life and immortality come to light
through
the power of God, (the gospel,) which power of God, the everlasting
gospel, was before that was that darkened man from l ife and
immortality,
and hath loaded people's minds, hearts, souls, and consciences; the
power
of God was before that was, and remains when that is all gone. So now,
ye
that are come to be heirs of the gospel, know it your portion; for as a
man is heir of a piece of land or house, it is his portion, (which must
have an end,) and he comes to inherit it; so heirs of the gospel. It is
the portion of man and woman; and they that inherit it, they inherit
the
power of God, which hath no end; which was before the power of darkness
was, which hath darkened people from life and immortality, and loaded
their spirits; but being heirs of that which was before that was, here
you
inherit the gospel, you inherit the power of God, in which is
stability;
here you are church members, and here you are living stones, and here
you
are built up together a spiritual household; here the church in God is
known, the Father of Christ, who is the way to God, where the church
is;
for now, as Adam and Eve were drove from God, and be ing in the fall,
their sons and daughters have their churches enough, heaps upon heaps,
one
against another, and heads of every church, and there they plead for
sin
while they live upon the earth; but the church that is in God, the
Father
of Christ, doth not so; for as mankind were drove from God, they must
come
up again out of that state, where they are defiled, and be washed,
sanctified, and cleansed, and brought up out of the fall, up to God
again. If they come to the church that is in God, and the fellowship
which is the
gospel fellowship, which is the power of God, in which is stability,
before that was that hath unestablished people; the gospel, the power
of
God was, and before the devil was, that hath unestablished people. In
which gospel is peace, stability, life, and immortality, which is come
to
light again. In this is the church fellowship with Christ in God, which
will stand; for the gospel is everlasting; the church of God is the
pillar
and ground of truth. Therefore this will stand, when all other churches
and fellowships amongst the sons and daughters of men in the fall, will
have an end. The church in God will stand, the pillar and ground of
truth, and the fellowship of it will remain. Therefore ye heirs of the
gospel, (and church me mbers of it,) inherit it, and set down in the
fellowship of the same. And this is beyond all the writings,
subscribings, and promisings to the church fellowships that be among
the
sons and daughters of Adam in the fall; that when a storm comes, or a
tempest, they fly from their church and fellowship both. But the gospel
stands, the church in God stands, the pillar and ground of truth; which
the gates of hell cannot prevail against.
Fourthly. The
worship of God is in the spirit and in the truth, that is
the public worship which Christ set up; he preached it when he put down
the worship at the mountain, and at Jerusalem, and said, "God is a
spirit; and they that worship him, must wor ship him in spirit and
truth; and the
hour is come, and now is, that the Father seeks such to worship him."
Then
the hour was, that worship was set up, above sixteen hundred years
since,
when he denied and put down the worship at the mountain and at Jerus
alem,
where the forefathers worshipped. So this worship in the spirit and in
the truth, was contrary to the forefathers. This is the public worship,
and this is not private nor particular; The nation's worships are
particular, which the sons of Adam are broken into, the several
worships
one against another; but this worship in the spirit and in the truth,
hits
all men and women; they must come to the spirit in themselves, and the
truth in the inward parts; this is public, this is not a private
worship,
but brings every man and woman to the spirit of God in their own
hearts,
and truth in their inward parts; in which spirit and truth they must
bow
down, and come into it, if they be worshippers of God in the truth and
in
the spirit. And this is the stand ing worship that Christ preached up,
atop of the hill, where the forefathers had worshipped. And this
worship
is over the worship that was at Jerusalem, and over the worship that
was
at the mountain; so by this must every man, every son of Adam, and
daughter, come to the spirit in their own particulars, and truth in
themselves; by which they must know God is a spirit, and will be
worshipped in the spirit, and in the truth; and so no man must grieve,
nor
vex, nor quench the spirit, but all must worship in it, and they must
come
to the truth in the heart, to the hidden man in the heart, to a meek
and
quiet spirit. And they must not rebel against the spirit, if they
worship
in it; and all coming to it, they have the adorning, that which
beautifies
and adorns them in the eyes of God; none must walk despitefully against
the spirit of Grace, nor turn the grace of God into wantonness, if they
worship God in the spirit; if they grieve, vex, quench the spirit of
God
within, and turn the grace of God into wantonness, and walk
despitefully
against the spirit of God, and rebel against the spirit of God within,
and
are haters of the light. These go from the public worship of God in the
spirit and truth, to the particular, which fallen men have invented;
but
they that worship God in the spirit and in the truth, are in that which
the devil is out of, and the dragon's worship, and the beast's worship,
and the will worship are out of; who worship in the truth and in the
spirit, are over all these worships. For truth is before they all were,
(and the spirit,) and will stand when they are all gone.
Fifthly. To
pray in the spirit, this was public, the public prayer set up
among the christians; the temple was the public place of prayer among
the
Jews; but to pray in the spirit, is the public prayer set up by the
apostles: every man, every woman then must come to the spirit of God in
their own selves; for it will give them understanding and knowledge,
and
give them instruction, it will help their infirmities, it will let them
see their wants. So, in that must every son and daughter of Adam pray
in
th e spirit to God, who is a spirit; then in this spirit have they
fellowship and unity, and a bond of peace: and this moderates all
people,
and mortifies, circumciseth, and baptizeth. Now, who grieves, and
quenches, and vexes, and rebels against the spirit of God within, in
which
they should pray, they are like the Jews, bablers, and go into the
particular forms, and go from the public, which is universal, whereby
all
men and women must pray to God, who is a spirit, in the spirit, and
keep
out of the particular. One hath one set form, another another, that is
particular, as I said before; but the praying in the spirit is general,
by
which every man and woman might see their necessities and wants, and
turn
to God, who is a spirit, for his help: for Christ the quickening
spirit,
and the spirit of the Lord within, is that which brings people to lift
up
their eyes to the Lord in spirit and truth, and to watch and pray, by
which they know temptations; and the spirit giveth them understanding,
and
wisdom, and power to withstand them.
Sixthly.
Singing in the spirit is public; every man and every woman in
the whole world, they must not grieve it, nor vex it, if they sing in
it; and this is public. But they that go from the spirit of God within,
they
go into the particular singing, inventing this thing and that thing,
and
then one will do it, and another will not do it, and so there is no
true
fellowship, because it is not done in the spirit; and there is no true
fellowship in their worshipping, nor in their praying, because it is
not
done in the spirit; for the true fellowship in singing, in praying, in
worshipping of God, is in the spirit of God, which the devil is out of;
for in that is the bond of peace.
Seventhly.
The teachers of the world told us (who called themselves
ministers of Christ) that they had received a gift from Christ, who
ascended on high, and led captivity captive; and this gift was for the
work of the ministry, and for the perfecting of the saints, and that
they
were to bring people to the knowledge of the son of God, from whence
they
had received this gift, and to the unity of the faith, which faith
gives
the victory, and brings to have access to God, and also to a perfect
man's
state, and to the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ. And
thus people followed them, and were glad that they would bring them to
a
perfect man's state, that is to the state of Adam and Eve before they
fell, for they were perfect then; and when we had followed them, some
twenty, some thirty, some more, some less years; then they told us
again,
that they hoped we would not look for perfection while we are upon the
earth, on this side the grave, for we must carry a body of sin about
us; and they hoped we would not look for perfection, and would not hold
the
erroneous doctrine of perfection; and yet told us, as before, that they
would bring us to a perfect man's state; and so we looked they would
have
fulfilled their words; for we had given our money, and had spent our
labour in following after them, and hoped they would have fulfilled
their
words, and brought us to the knowledge of the son of God, and so to the
unity of the faith, and to a perfect man's state, to our father Adam's
and
Eve's state before they fell; and now they have gotten our money, they
hope we will not look for perfection here. Oh, deceivers! We will never
set foot more after them, who will neither fulfill their words, nor
give
us our money back again; for we gave our money, that they should bring
us
to the knowledge of the son of God, and to the unity of the faith, and
bring us to a perfect man's state, and to a measure of the stature of
the
fulness of Christ: and now the scriptures that speak of sin and
imperfection, they bring to prove that we should not be perfect,
against
their own promises and words; and all the scriptures that speak of
perfection or overcoming, they tell us there must be a meaning put to
them: and thus they deceived us, instead of bringing us to the measure
of
the stature of Christ, who never fell, the second Adam, the Lord from
heaven, who said, they would bring us to his stature; and now they
cannot
bring us to the measure of the stature of the righteousness and
holiness
of our father Adam and mother Eve, that they were in before they fell;
for
they had no body of sin before they fell, nor spot, nor wrinkle, nor
blemish: so, the deceivers have got our money, and now call that an
error,
which they said they would bring us unto, (a perfect man's state,) and
so
will not fulfill their words, nor give us our money back again neither.
Therefore now mark which of these three states the shepherds, the
teachers, and leaders kept their flock in, and do keep them in. Whether
is it in the state of Adam and Eve in the fall, where the body of
death,
the curse, wrath, and wo are, imperfection, spots, wrinkles, and
blemishes, and tell them that must be there for term of life? Or,
whether
or no can they keep them in the measure of the stature of Christ, who
never fell.
Now consider
which of these three states do these
shepherds pretend to keep their flocks in, that deny perfection, and
say
their sheep must carry a body of death on their backs while on earth;
for,
"As the tree falls, it lies," and there is no repentance in the grave.
Whether it be not in Adam and Eve in the fall, with his sons and
daughters? Or, in that state before they fell, which was a good state
in
righteousness and holiness? Or, whether it be in Christ that never
fell,
whom it cost his blood and h is life to fetch Adam and Eve, and his
sons
and daughters, out of that state in the fall, (out of the unjust
state,) to set them in the state before they fell; and not only there,
but to
bring them into himself that never fell. Now what value, and price, and
worth have they made of the blood of Christ, that cleanseth from sin
and
death; and yet told people that they would bring them to the knowledge
of
the son of God, and to a perfect man, and now tell them they must not
be
perfect on the earth, but carry a body of sin about them to the grave?
As
much as to say, they must be in the state of their father Adam and
their
mother Eve in the fall, under the wrath, curse, and wo, and must not
come
to the state they were in before they fell, to the image of God, in
righteousness and true holiness. And thus the deceivers are not worth
the
setting foot after. And yet ask them for what end Christ came? they
will
say, to destroy the devil and his works. And then ask them if the body
of
sin and death be not the devil's works and imperfection? they will say,
yes; and are in confusion: Christ came to destroy the devil and his
works,
they say, and yet they must carry them to the grave; and yet people are
saved by Christ, they will say; but while you are upon earth, you must
not
be made free from sin. This is as much as if one should be in Turkey a
slave, chained to a boat, and one should come to redeem him to go into
his
own country; but say the Turks, thou art redeemed, but while thou art
upon
the earth, thou must not go out of Turkey, nor have the chain off thee.
So
say satan's messengers, you are redeemed, but must carry a body of
death
about you, and cannot go to your father Adam's house before he fell,
but
you must live in your father Adam's house in the fall, while ye be upon
earth. But I say you are redeemed by Christ; it cost him his blood to
purchase man out of this state he is in, in the fall, and bring him up
to
the state man was in before he fell; so Christ became a curse, to bring
man out of the curse, and bore the wrath, to bring man to the peace of
God, that he might come to the blessed state, and to Adam's state he
was
in before he fell; and not only thither, but to a state in Christ that
shall never fall. And this is my testimony to you, and to a ll people
upon the earth. And so the teachers of the world cried, men are
redeemed,
but while on the earth they must have original sin in them, and that is
the devil, for he is the original of sin, and of the body of death, and
that they are redeemed; but they must never come to the state of their
father Adam before he fell, while on the earth. This is sad tidings!
Are
these messengers of God, or messengers of satan? So you may see by this
where the shepherds have brought their flocks, and in what they sit, in
Adam and Eve in the fall; not in Adam and Eve before they fell, a good,
blessed state, but in Adam and Eve in the fall, a bad, cursed state,
and
not in Christ that never fell. Now mark, the apostle said, "He hath
quickened us, who were dead in s ins and trespasses, and hath made us
to
sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus; that in the ages
to
come he might show forth his exceeding riches and kindness towards us."
Now the ages are come, glory to the Lord God over all, in the highest
for
ever, that this kindness and these riches are seen, that the apostle's
preaching is fulfilled, who said, "He hath quickened us, and made us to
sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus." So mark, in
Christ
Jesus, us the church, us the saints, us the believers and true
christians,
made us to sit together. Here was their meeting, here was their sitting
in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus the second Adam, the Lord from
heaven, him that was glorified with the Father before the world began,
him
that never fell, but fetched man and woman out of the fall, to the
state
that man and woman were in before they fell; and they not to sit there
in
Adam in the fall, nor in Adam before he fell, but in heavenly places in
Christ Jesus, before Adam fell. And there is the safe sitting, in
Christ
the new and living way, the word of God, the power of God, the light,
the
life, and truth, in the first, and in the last, in the begining, and in
the ending, in him in whom is no shadow of turnings nor variablenesss;
in
him the saints sit, (the church,) in Christ the head, and there are the
exceeding riches and kindness known again. For are not here kindness
and
riches, for man and woman to be brought out of that state in the fall,
to
the state of Adam and Eve before they fell. And he that doth bring them
thither is Christ, and it is by his blood, it cost him his blood, his
life, and he doth not leave them in the state that Adam and Eve were in
before they fell, but he sets them down in himself, who never fell, a
safer state than Adam was in before he fell. Now who sit here in the
heavenly places in Christ Jesus, the first and the last, the beginning
and
ending, the safe place, in the wisdom of God, 1. They see where Adam
and
Eve sat before they fell; blessed, and in a good state, in the image of
God, in righteousness and holiness. 2. They see where Adam and Eve sat
in
the fall, with their sons and daughters fallen from righteousness and
holiness, and the image of God, where they have no peace, neither do
they
see God, nor have dominion over the creation. 3. They see where the
Jews
sat, in the types, figures, and shadows, and the temples, and oaths, in
the offerings and sacrifices, and there were to sit till Christ the
substance came to end them all; which C hrist the substance was before
they were. 4. They see where the apostles sat in the heavenly places in
Christ Jesus, the substance of all the types, figures, and shadows, who
ended them all, and was before them all, and will be when they are all
gone. 5 .They see where the Gentiles sit, in the traditions,
inventions,
idols' temple, which God never commanded. 6. They see where all the
apostate christians have sat since the apostles' days, in the
rudiments,
inventions, handiworks, and traditions, and cannot sit long in them,
therefore turn one against another. 7. Now the age is come that the
kindness and riches of the Lord are seen, which were manifest among the
apostles and saints who sat in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
where
many sit now, in Christ the seed, the first, the last, the beginning,
and
the ending; and who sit in him, as I said before, see where all the
apostatized Christians have sat since the apostles' days; who have
removed
their seat from the apostles, and have not sat in the seat the apostles
and saints sat in; for had they sat in the heavenly places in Christ
Jesus, him that destroyed the enmity, the devil, and his works, they
had
all sat in unity and peace. And they see where Jews sit, where Gentiles
sit, and where Adam and Eve sat before they fell, and where they sat in
the fall, with their sons and daughters, and where the apostles sat, in
the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. They that sit in Christ, they sit
in
him the apostles sat in, who is the first and the last, the beginning
and
the ending; they see the top and corner stone over all set, in which
the
life flourisheth over all which was before the devil, the power of
death,
and the power of darkness were; which seed (Christ) bruiseth and
destroyeth the serpent's head, the devil, and his works; and in him
(Christ) the saints sit, in whom they have the pastures of life, that
floweth over all death, and was before it was, and the power of it. 8.
So, as new born babes desire the sincere milk of the word, that you may
gro w thereby, (mark,) the milk that comes from the word which was in
the
beginning, by that milk is the growth, and not in the traditions,
handle
not them, nor the rudiments, nor the vain inventions of men neither,
touch
them not, taste them not, for they perish with the using of them; so
then
they do not grow by them. But they may say thou deniest the means,
because thou dost not handle the doctrines, the commandments, the
rudiments that perish with the using. Now that is not the means, but
that
is the me ans, the milk that comes from the word, by which thou must
grow,
thy growth is not by that which perisheth; but as I said, by the milk
that
comes from the word, which was in the beginning, before the false
doctrines, traditions, rudiments of men, false churches, false ways,
false
teachings, worship, and religion were; before all these were the word
of
God was; thou dost not grow by any of those, if thou shouldst teach
them
all thy life time, and spend thy days, thou art never the nearer,
neither
dost thou grow by them, nor by the toungues, which make their divines,
the
beginning of which was Babel, which builds up, and throws down, as you
may
see: did they not build up the church faith and directory, and now
throw
them down again? Here is Babylon; and were they not offended because
you
would not touch their ordinances, and told you, you denied the means.
Now
doth not the word of God live, abide, and endure for ever, when they
are
all gone. So feed upon the milk of the word, that you may grow by that
milk that comes from the word, that was before their toungues; and when
you are redeemed from the toungues, and see the beginning of tongues,
Babel, thou that seekest for the milk of the word, thou must seek to be
before Babel and Babylon was; for the word was before Babel was, and
stands when Babylon is down. So the milk which cometh from the word, is
it by which thou must grow up in the things of God; and this keeps the
eye
pure, and nourisheth thee up in the word of wisdom, word of life, word
of
patience, by the milk that comes from it, up into the word of wisdom,
(for
wisdom is with the gray hairs,) and so up into the life, up into a
living,
abiding state; for the word liveth and abideth for ever; and by the
milk
that cometh from the word which was in the beginning, before the fall
of
man was, with all the confusions, false ways, worships, churches; the
word
was before they all were, and abides when they are all gone; feed of
the
word, the milk of it, and be quiet with the milk by which thou growest
and
art nourished up to everlasting life, by which thy fruits will be unto
holiness, and the end everlasting life, feeding upon the milk that
comes
from the word which was before unholiness was, and stands and remains
when
all that is gone; by this you are all nourished, by this you all grow
in a
living and abiding state, up into the word Christ, whose 'name is
called
the word of God,' in whom is the sitting down; so heirs of Christ, and
of
salvation, inherit salvation, and heirs of the power of an endless
life,
and heirs of a kingdom that hath no end, and of a power of a world to
come. So know this to be your portion every one, that you may be hiers
of
the blessings and inherit them, that with them you may be clothed,
meeting
in the name, in the strong tower, meeting in the spirit, in which you
may
pray unto and worship God, and sing, which is the public worship of
God,
which hath been lost since the apostles' days, by and amongst the
inward
raveners from the spirit of God, which have been got up into particular
worshipping and praying; which if they come to the public, they must
come
to the spirit of God, which their forefathers inwardly ravened from,
and
to the public praying in the spirit. So dwell in the love of God, and
build up yourselves in the mos t holy faith, and keep the unity of the
spirit in the bond of peace; and worship God in the spirit and truth,
(which the devil is out of,) and in that meet in the truth, in the
power
of God, which was before the devil was, in which is the perfect
fellowship, the gospel fellowship, which stands in the power of God,
which
was before the devil was, or the fall of man either, where all
imperfection was, and is, which the power of God expels away, in which
is
the perfect fellowship, as I said before. The worship of God is a
perfect
worship, it is in the truth, in the spirit; so the truth is that the
devil
is out of, and all imperfection, which truth was before imperfection
was. The worship in the truth never changeth, which is of the God of
all truth,
who is a spirit; and this is the perfect standing worship, which will
stand when all the worships in the fall are gone, devil, dragon, beast,
and will worship; for the truth was before they all were; for they are
not
perfect, being out of the truth, out of that which is perfect. So all
Friends, be faithful and valiant for the truth of God upon the earth.
For
there are religions only for the summer, while the sun shines, amongst
the
sons of Adam in the fall; but when the storm comes, their flight is in
the
win ter. So this day manifesteth every birth of what sort it is, and at
that look; it is not professing God, nor Christ, nor scriptures, nor
the
ordinances, but mind the birth, he that is born of the flesh, and he
that
is born of the spirit, together with each birth's fruits. For he that
is
born of the spirit is the royal birth of God, whose fruits are above
him
that is born of the flesh below, not in righteousness and love, nor of
the
spirit; and so each birth hath its religion, hath its worship, hath its
praying, and its singing; but when the winter comes, then is its
flight,
and then the wall makers are discovered, the hireling fleeth because he
is
a hireling; but ye, mind the power of God, which was before winter
storms
were, and such religions as are while the sun shines and the summer is;
but when the winter comes are gone. Therefore mind ye the power of God,
that ye may bear fruit in winter, and sit under your vine, Christ
Jesus,
that ye may see before winter storms and tempests were, and to that
which
shall never have an end, nor change; in this is the pure religion. And
so
in the name of the Lord being gathered, having bowed to it, then ye are
in
the strong tower, in the deepest storms and tempest, being in the name
of
the Lord, by whom all thin gs were made; there is the strong tower,
then
ye are safe in all waves, tempests, winds, hail, floods, being in the
name
of the Lord, your strong tower. And so feel the seed of God, (friends,
and brethern, and babes,) over all that set that makes to suffer, which
was before that was, and will stand and remain, when that is gone that
makes to suffer, that in that you may know Christ's reign, and the seed
to
reign, in which there is life eternal, and therein ye will have life
eternal; and so feel the top stone over all laid; and hearing the voice
of
Christ, which is the light, the light's voice, the life's voice, the
truth's voice, the power of God's voice, which goes before you, through
which ye may have life eternal, in Christ's fold, where his sheep carry
no
body of sin upon their backs, for that is carried in satan's fold,
which
Christ's sheep are put out of, in which life (Christ) did foresee the
hirelings flying, when the wolf comes. And so christendom have more
minded the hireling's voice, than Ch rist the light's voice, the
truth's
voice, the voice of the life and power of God in themselves; they have
gone from that, and gone to the voice of the hireling, who flies when
the
wolf comes, and leaves his flock, and cares not for it. Therefore you
that have heard the voice of Christ, who are his sheep, and follow him,
who hath put you forth, who goeth before you, and ye have followed him;
follow him still, and he will give you life eternal, for he is the
rest;
and know the sitting down in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, being
heirs of grace, which grace comes by Christ. Now the grace of God that
brings salvation, hath appeared unto all men; which if all men minded,
this is public, it would teach them to live righteously, soberly, and
godly, and to deny the contrary, and then come to be heirs of this
grace,
and inherit it, and so inherit their teacher that bringeth salvation,
and
so come to enjoy salvation, and inherit Christ, in whom are the light
and
life, and in him is the sitting down in the salvation.
All keep to
the beauty of holiness; for in holiness lies your beauty; and
the fruits of righteousness is a tree of life, and the name of the Lord
is
a strong tower, and the righteous flee into it, and are safe.
George Fox
From Cockford in Essex the 12th day of the 11th month, 1662.
EPISTLE 227
Sing and rejoice, ye children of
the day and of the
light; for the Lord is at work in this thick night of darkness that may
be
felt. And truth doth flourish as the rose, and the lilies do grow
amongst
the thorns, and the plants atop of the hills, and upon them the lambs
do
skip and play. And never heed the tempests nor the storms, floods nor
rains, for the seed of Christ is over all, and doth reign. And so be of
good faith and valiant for the truth: for the truth can live in the
jails. And fear not the loss of the fleece, for it will grow again; and
follow
the lamb, if it be under the beast's horns or under the beast's heels;
for
the lamb shall have the victory over them all. And so all live in the
seed Christ, your way that never fell; and you do see over all the ways
of Adam's and Eve's sons and daughters in the fall. And in the seed
Christ, your way, you have life and peace; and there you do see over
all
the ways of Adam in the Fall, in which there is no peace. So in the
seed
Christ stand and dwell, in whom you have life and peace; the life that
was
with the Father before the world began.
George Fox
9th month, 1663
Epistle 236
All my dear friends, in the
everlasting power, life,
and truth live, for you cannot live without it in the winds and storms.
And though the hills and the mountains are burned, and the trees are
become fruitless, and winter hath devoured the former fruits, and you
do
see that persecution hath choked them, and the heat hath scorched them;
whereby the untimely figs are fallen, and the corn is withered on the
house-top, and the night is come, and the evil beasts go out of their
den. But truth lives, and the power of God is over them all; and Christ
ruleth,
and there is bread of life, and water of life in him, and in his house;
though the caterpillars and locusts are agreed to eat up all the green.
But, as you are in the truth, you are in its day; and they in the
darkness, are in the day of darkness. And all who are in the truth,
rejoice through Christ, in the God of truth, and never heed prisons,
for
they are but for a time; and mind him who hath all times and seasons in
his hand. And never heed the raging waves of the sea, nor be troubled
at
his tongue that speaks nothing but tribulation, anguish, and bondage;
nor
be troubled at the cords of the ungodly; for the cords of love, the
power
of God are stronger. And what doth he that sits in heaven, but laugh
them to scorn? And so be valiant for the truth upon the earth, for the
power is the Lord's. And so my love to all Friends in the everlasting
seed, that never fell nor changeth.
George Fox
1664