meetings, though it may come under pretence to set up a better way; or, under pretence only to alter them to another day; and, it may be, pretend their fear of the corruption of observing a day. All this is but from a corrupt spirit of darkness, which God will blast; for we put no holiness in the usual and constant days of Monthly and Quarterly Meetings. For I would have them all to know, that they who are heirs of the gospel, and of Christ Jesus, are redeemed out of the vain observa tion of days, and out of the Jewish and apostate christians' holy days, to God by Christ, who made all days, and every thing good, and their eyes are to the supernatural day of Christ; and they are the children of this day.

And that is a creeping spirit, that would go to alter the usual and constant meeting days, under pretence to prevent people from the corruptions of observing a constant day, or under a pretence of keeping people out of a form, and so would father their deceit upon God. For they who are in the possession of the power, by which all true forms and all things are upheld, (which word and power gives form and being to all things,) and all they that are in it, are above all such things, and judge all such dark spirits. And they that are in the observation of days, are not heirs of the power, nor of Christ, who was before days were, and such cannot sit in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, to do his churches' business. So, I say, that after people were turned to the light, power, and spirit of God; and they all come into the light, power, and spirit of God; all such are to make up the men and women's meetings; and in it to feel the wisdom of God, by which all things were made and created, and with it to be ordered, and to order all things to God's glory: so that wisdom may be justified of her children.

Now concerning laying all marriages before the men and women's meetings. Some have darkly objected, this is not as was in the beginning. Whereas in the beginning we were but few in number, and could not presently be so sensible of the service of them, as when grown more numerous, and a body of people; but in the beginning there was a care things might be kept clear: for, in 1653, several Friends came to me, concerning marriage, and to know what they should do in that case. And I waited upon the Lord, and saw in his eternal light, that all that did marry, they should lay it before some faithful Friends, in the wisdom of God, that they might see into it. These were my words then, as in a paper of mine, given forth that year, may be seen.

And afterwards I was moved to go round the nation, to advise to the setting up the men and women's meetings, and to write to those places where I could not go: that all the faithful might keep their meetings in the power of God, and in it be settled, and established: and that all marriages might be laid before the men and women's meetings, who VOL. VIII.

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were in the wisdom of God, and in the possession of his gospel order, who had the care of the church of Christ's business, that they in the wisdom of God might look into it, and see that they were clear from all other persons, &c.

And therefore now that pretence is generally taken away from all, they cannot say now, that they cannot tell where to find a meeting of the faithful, to lay their marriages before them, before they declare it in the common public meetings. Now that the men and women's meetings are settled in the power of God, to look after the churches' affairs; for all know where they may be found at certain days, times, and places, to lay it before them. And they that go together in the truth and power of God, will be willing to lay their marriages before them that are in the same truth and power of God: so that all things may be done in truth, love, and unity, and pureness, clearness, and holiness, to the praise and glory of God. And all, whosoever they be, that oppose this good order, are loose spirits, out of the power of God; and their work tends to looseness, and to draw into a loose liberty, under a deceitful pretence of keeping people out of forms.

So the same power and spirit, that directed all marriages to be laid before the faithful, at the first, when there were but few Friends, in many parts of the nations, and no men's nor women's meetings: I say, the same power of God that did convince Friends at the first, the same power and spirit directed to the setting up the men's and women's meetings, that they might be in the possession of the gospel, and its order. And the same power and spirit of God set up our order for marriages in our men's and women's meetings: and that all are to speak first to their parents, and have their consent, before they engage the affections of the children; and this order is settled by the power of God, in the men and women's meetings. For some formerly did speak to neither father nor mother, till they had drawn out and entangled the affections of the daughter; and that brought great troubles and discontent upon the parents, and among Friends. And therefore this is to be inquired into, in the men and women's meetings, where their marriages are to be spoken of. So as Friends come to truth, which the devil is out of, and to the power of God, which was before the devil was; all being heirs of life, and the gospel, and heirs of Christ; I say, take your possession of life, and come into the order of life, and into the order of the gospel, and then you will have a witness in yourselves, and will say with me, our order is not of man, nor by man, but by Jesus Christ, and his gospel; and of his government, of the increase of which there is no end. And so all be faithful, keeping in your possessions, and in your inheritance, in that where no apostacy can come : for I must tell you, here is the same spirit stirring, if it could prevail, that would lay

waste God's heritage, and bring you out of your possessions, that it might rule over you: but if you keep your possessions of the gospel order, the power of God in Christ Jesus, you will rule over it, being in and upon the foundation of God, that stands sure; though some earthly loose spirits it may draw after them. But mark the end of it; for the power remains, and will remain, and the seed reigns over the head of all such false spirits, and orders, and governments, that are not set up by Jesus Christ, and it will grind them to pieces: that is the word of the Lord God to you, let whoever will oppose it; for the power was before they were, and will stand when they are gone. For all our men and women's meetings, which are set up by the power and spirit of God, these meetings are for the practice of religion, and to see that all that do profess truth, do practise it and walk in it. And all such as are against them, are begetters of people into talking, and not walking, and of saying, but not doing; and such always were judged by all them that walked in the truth, and in the pure religion, that is undefiled before God, that kept and keeps from the spots of the world. And all such are never like to prosper, that are against the practice of the pure religion.

And therefore, as I said before, live in the possession of the gospel and its order, the power of God, which was before the devil was, or the apostacy either; and know his government, of the increase of which there is no end, who is set up from everlasting to everlasting, the Amen.

And live in love and unity one with another; for that edifies the body of Christ, and that is it, which will bear all things; and in the patience run the race, and have the crown, and keep in the meekness of the Lamb, that will have the victory.

And such opposers as cry against forms, and prescriptions, and edicts of men, they are the most in it themselves this day, and gather into a separation, by prescriptions and subscriptions; and under a pretence of crying against such things, oppose the power, and them that are in the possession of it. But the power will blast them, and make them to wither, like the grass and corn on the house-top, as it did John Perrot and his company; to whom it was the word of the Lord then, and so it is to these now; and the word lives, and abides, and endures for

ever.

So with my love in the Lord Jesus Christ to you all, in whom is my labour and travail for your eternal good and settlement upon the eternal rock. Amen. Farewell.

G. F.

Let this be read in the men and women's meetings, when Friends are assembled together.

Swarthmore, the 12th of the 12th month, 1675.

CCCXVIII.

All dear friends and brethren, keep up your testimony in the light, power, and spirit of God, for the worship, that Christ set up above sixteen hundred years since, in the spirit and truth, (which truth the devil is out of, who is an unclean spirit,) which is a worship that cannot be shaken. And keep up your testimony, against the anti-christian ministry, that is inwardly ravened from the spirit of God, and the light of Christ, and his anti-christian tithes, and maintenance, which he hath set up, by that inwardly ravening spirit, who hath ravened from the spirit of Christ, who said, 'Freely you have received, freely give;' and Christ's ministers coveted no man's silver, nor gold, nor apparel. And keep up your testimony in the power of Christ, for the church that is made of living stones, (which he is the head of,) who are the first-born written in heaven, a spiritual household, a royal priesthood, that offer up spiritual sacrifices. So that every one may have something to offer from the spirit to God, who are of the church that is in God; gathered by the power and spirit of Christ to him; who feed on the bread that comes down from heaven; and drink of the heavenly wine, and so become flesh of his flesh, and bone of his bone, and sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus; who is the heavenly and spiritual head of his church, which is written in heaven, &c. And also keep your testimony, for your pure and undefiled religion, &c. and for the wisdom that is above, &c. And keep your testimony for the cross of Christ, which is the power of God, by which the world is crucified to you, and you to the world. And you that were dead, and are risen with Christ, keep-your testimony for those things, that you have sought, and have found, and received from above, (those heavenly things,) where Christ sits, at the right hand of God.

And likewise, keep your testimony for the new and living way, Christ Jesus; and likewise for the light of Christ, which you believe in, and become children of the light and of the day.

And keep your testimony for your men and women's meetings, in the power of God, by which you are gathered out of the apostacy, and over it, into the everlasting gospel order, as was in the apostles' days. Which gospel order is not of man, nor by man; but by Christ, the spiritual man.

And all ye that are ministers of this gospel, help and encourage all those women in their meetings, that labour in the gospel; and the women may in the same power of God (the gospel) help and assist you.. So that you may be helps-meet together, in the restoration by Christ, in his glorious gospel and order, who never fell, nor changed, nor will

change. So that all the plants that God hath planted, may flourish, bud, and spring, and bring forth fruit, to the praise and glory of God, in his power. And this gospel of Christ Jesus, is everlasting, and holy, and glorious; which you all, that feel it, are heirs of; which hath brought life and immortality to light in you; which gospel, the power of God, was before the devil was, that had darkened you. Now, in this power of God, the gospel, is all your comfort, and glad tidings; and an everlasting joy, in this everlasting gospel; and an everlasting possession and comfort, in the everlasting order, which is the gospel of Christ Jesus, who is the first and last, the spiritual heavenly man; his spiritual and heavenly order, for his spiritual and heavenly ones to keep and walk in.

And, friends, keep your testimony against the world's vain ways, words, fashions, customs, and worships, as you did at first, and to your proper, sound, plain language.

And, friends, keep your testimony to the Lord in all your sufferings and afflictions; for by the testimony of Jesus, and the blood of the Lamb, did and do the saints overcome; and the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy; by which they see him that gives them their victory; and they feel him that suffered for them; and in all their sufferings and afflictions, he suffers with them, and is afflicted with them; who is able to save to the uttermost, and to help and succour you in all distresses; who is blessed for ever. Amen.

And, friends, keep your testimony (who are children of the new covenant, and are taught of God; in whose hearts God hath written his law, and put it in your minds) for your counsellor and leader, which God hath given you; and for your prophet, which God hath raised up, whom you ought to hear; and for your shepherd, that God has given, who laid down his life for you, who hath redeemed you from the world's hireling shepherds, and feeds you in his pasture of life, and brings you to rest in his fold. And keep your testimony for Christ, your priest, who is made higher than the heavens, who laid down his life for you, and sanctified you, and presents you to God, without spot or wrinkle ; who is holy, harmless, and separate from sinners. And so keep your testimony for your heavenly spiritual bishop, Christ Jesus, who is the bishop of your souls, who doth oversee you with his light, power, and spirit.

And keep your testimony, for the sufferings and resurrection of Jesus Christ; for they that suffer with him, shall reign with him. But they that shuffle, and flee in the time of persecution, and deny him before men, such he will deny, or be ashamed of, before his heavenly Father. Who deny him, or are ashamed of him, before earthly men, such fear the wrath of men, more than the wrath of God; and such are the stony