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j FROM THE LIUK«RY OF
SELE^eK^UI.CQFHH IE" ¦ 1917
I CHICAGO ILLINOIS
" lfttOK  
THE EPISTLES

GEOEGE FOX.

By SAMUEL T U K E.

SetonD TEKitfon, toltl) IHJBitlons.

LONDON :
EDWARD MARSH, 84, H OUND SDITCH.
1848.

LONDON :
RICHARD BARRETT, PRINTEK.
13, MARK LANE.

INTRODUCTION.

The volume of Epistles from which the present selection
is made, was published in folio, in the year 1698. It is
now extremely scarce. The letters which it contains
were written, from about the year 1648 to 1690. They
embrace a period of full forty years ; and, being com
posed at such different times, and on sueh various occasions,
they serve materially to illustrate the early history of our
Society, and the real character and views of the chief in
strument of its formation. This character and these itiews
are, in the present day of ease, well worthy of our study.
George Fox had received very little scholastic instruc
tion, but he possessed a mind of no ordinary powers,
cultivated too, in a particular direction, in a very remark
able manner. The true knowledge of God, not as an
intellectual speculation, but as that which gives rest to
the awakened conscience was the great object of his
longing search from youth to manhood; and in this
search his almost constant companion was the Bible.
There he conversed with Patriarchs and Prophets, with
the Lord Jesus and his Apostles, till he became most inti
mately imbued with the contents of the Holy Scriptures.
But, though every word of Inspiration was precious to
him, his great desire was to know the mind of the Spirit,
— the true harmony of the various parts of the divine
records. He conversed extensively with esteemed religi
ous teachers of various classes, but he found they were no
a 2

IV INTRODUCTION.
physicians in his case. More and more, he was brought
with child-like submissiveness to look to Christ as his
only helper ; and thus, after a course of deep spiritual
discipline, his eye was opened more fully to see in the
light of the Holy Spirit, the character of his Saviour,
and to rejoice in Him exceedingly.
Having partaken largely of the spiritual baptism of his
Lord, many divine truths were opened upon his mind
with great clearness. Unshackled from human ties, and
from all the religious systems of men, the great elements
and characteristics of the Christian dispensation, in its
native simplicity and purity rose gradually before him.
As he travelled onward in his experience, he found that
what was from time to time unfolded to his mind was
in the fullest harmony with Holy Writ. Many things
in the so-called religious world now appeared to him in a
new light, and grieved in spirit with its multiplied cor
ruptions, he felt himself required by a divine impulse to
proclaim to others the Truth which he had found to the
blessedness of his own soul. His great mission, was not
to found a sect, but to speak truth to all, and to call all
out of every untruth to the knowledge for themselves, of
Him, who is the Truth. The acknowledgment of Christ
with the lip as a divine person, and the talking about
faith in Him, and of his various offices were prevalent
enough in many circles ; but the true belief in Him with
the heart unto righteousness — the acceptance of Him as
the only Lord of the soul, and dependence upon Him for
continual guidance by his Spirit — these were things
which appeared to George Fox sadly deficient in his day.
As the work of the Holy Spirit on the soul of

INTRODUCTION.

man, is the great means by which it is stimulated
and enabled to resist the world, the flesh, and the
devil, so had all these powers combined to stultify its
authority and to give the name of Christianity to the
dogmas or appointments of men, or too much to limit
divine power to the agency of the inspired letter which
the wisdom of man was so able to bend to its own pur
poses, but which his unassisted wisdom was wholly un
able truly to unfold. He saw that the corruptions of
the Christian Church had always been indicated by the
increase of dependence upon man, in the work of religion
— " the priests of old time ruled by their means, and the
people loved to have it so." These words appeared to
him descriptive of a great human tendency, forming part
of those lusts of the flesh, against which the Holy Spirit
ever warreth, and he spake much of that divine light
given to man, by which the inward working of these
lusts was manifested, and of that inward warfare with the
soul's enemies, in which every one must be a soldier for
himself, under Christ his Captain, — denouncing all those
arts which he saw to be so prevalent, by which man was
persuaded that he could gain the crown, without enlisting
under the banner of the cross. Man's alienation by nature
from God, andjiis reluctance to come to Him in truth,
notwithstanding the drawings of his love, and the free
offers of his mercy in4Christ, the propitiation for the sins
of the world, were the basis of his appeals. He was
eminently ajpreacher of the free grace of God to all who
repent, and who^in subjection to his Spirit, truly come
unto Christ. The experimental work of the Spirit in
bringing the soul in living faith to Christ as its Lord and

VI INTRODUCTION.

Saviour, was indeed the great theme of his ministry ; it
was that which he felt himself called to urge upon all,
that the foundation might be sound, and the superstruc
ture solid.
We do not hesitate then to say, that, however ignorant
George Fox might be of many things which rank high in
the worldly scale, he was a scribe well instructed, and that
he was eminently qualified to know of Christ's doctrine, by
an exemplary obedience and devotion to his will, and by
an humble reliance upon his all-sufficient aid. " He had,"
says William Penn, " an extraordinary gift in opening
the Scriptures. He would go to the marrow of things, and
show the mind, harmony, and fulfilling of them, with
much plainness, and great comfort and edification."
The writings of such a man are an object of interest to
the serious professor of religion of any name ; but they
have a peculiar and strong claim to attention from the
members of that Society, which he was instrumental in
forming. The Epistles now presented to the reader ex
hibit this good man in one uniform character, that of a
Christian Apostle, ever labouring to promote " glory to
God in the highest — peace on earth — and good will to
man." With what zeal he watched over every part of
that flock of which he was more peculiarly a shepherd,
will appear, from these pastoral letters. But his Christian
love and zeal were not confined by any sectarian boun
daries ; they extended to every part of the human family:
and many of the letters evince a great desire for the ex
tension of Christ's kingdom in the heathen world. He
had himself been in the West Indies and North America,

INTRODUCTION. Vll
in both which countries the instruction of the African
slaves in the great truths of the Gospel, and the im
provement of their condition, deeply interested him .
The state of the Indians also claimed much of his
attention. Looking upon the Gospel of Christ as adapted
to the spiritual wants of man universally, his letters to
his friends in America show how desirous he was that
the Indians should be instructed in the truths of Chris
tianity. The want of civilization does not appear to have
occurred to him as an objection to the instruction of the
Indians, in " that way wherein the wayfaring man though
a fool need not err" " All Friends everywhere," says
he, " all that have Indians or Blacks, are to preach the
Gospel to them and other servants, if they be true Chris
tians ; for the Gospel was to be preached to every crea
ture. You must instruct and teach your Indians and
negroes and all others, that Christ by the grace of God
tasted death for every man, and gave himself a ransom
for all men to be testified in due time ; and is the propi
tiation for the sins of the whole world."
The same enlarged views are evinced in his letters to
the friends who, from being engaged in a seafaring life,
had become captives on the coast of Africa. He wishes
them to acquire the language of the Turks, that they
might be able to communicate to them the glad tidings
of salvation, by speaking, and by translating books into
their language. The horrors even of Algerine slavery
appear to have been lessened in his view, by the hope
that it might be the means of good to the captors. It
seems that the captives were allowed to meet together for
the purpose of divine worship. George Fox exhorts

Vlll INTRODUCTION.
them to the firm support of their Christian testimony,
and in one letter observes : " I think you have more
liberty to meet there than we have here, for they keep us
out of our meetings, and cast us into prison, and spoil
our goods."
The religious Society of Friends was, at that time, a
laborious, and in England, a very suffering body : many
of the letters in the present collection are addressed to
friends under persecution. These letters are remarkable
for their high tone of Christian feeling. The sympathy
of the writer towards the sufferers is, if possible, ex
ceeded by his meekness towards the oppressors ; and
every feeling is subordinate to that of spreading the know
ledge of the Truth, in the service of which he counted
not his life dear. After urging upon some of his suffer
ing friends the steady support of their Christian prin
ciples, he says : " I desire, however, that you walk
wisely, gently, lovingly, meekly, and soberly to the
magistrates and to all people, that they may have no
occasion in any thing against you ; for the good must
overcome the bad, as the apostle says, ' Overcome evil
with good ;' and dwell in that love that can bear all
things, and endure all things." — p. 276.
The letters from which this Selection is made, were
originally published with a Preface by George White
head, one of the earliest and most esteemed coadjutors of
the writer. In this preface he notices some misrepre
sentation of his opinions, and gives some explanations of
terms frequently used by George Fox, which claim a
place in this Introduction.
" I am concerned," says he, " to recommend the

INTRODUCTION. IX
serious reading and perusal of the ensuing collection,
unto all who sincerely desire the promotion of Christ's
kingdom, and prosperity of his Church, in true love,
union, and order, in and by Christ Jesus himself, the
Head and Foundation thereof.
" In many of the ensuing Epistles, he [G. Fox] often
mentions the Seed, the Life, the Power of God, and the
like ; whereby he intends no other than what the Holy
Scriptures testify of Christ ; which, we know, he truly
loved and esteemed, and was often conversant in reading
of them, and had an excellent memory and spiritual
sense thereof given him of the Lord. By the pure holy
Seed, he meant and declared Christ, the promised Seed ;
wherein all the promises of God are yea and amen.
And as Christ is the Word of Life, the Word of Faith,
He is that immortal and incorruptible Seed, of which all
true and spiritual believers and children of the light are
begotten to God, and born again ; and which Seed, or
Word of eternal life, abideth in him that is born of God,
and he sinneth not because thereof. — 1 John iii.
" This our deceased friend and servant of Jesus Christ
truly testified of Him in all respects, both as come in
the flesh and in the spirit, both as Christ was and is our
only Mediator and Advocate, and as He was and is God
over all, blessed for ever ; whom he so dearly loved and
honoured, that he often offered up his life, and deeply
suffered for Him ; and that in dear and constant love
to his seed, that a holy generation might be raised,
strengthened, and increased in the earth among the chil
dren of men. And his knowledge and ministry of our
Lord Jesus Christ, being after the Spirit in life and
a 3

X INTRODUCTION.
power, did no ways imply any lessening of the dignity or
glory of Christ, nor any defect of faith or love to Christ,
as He came and suffered in the flesh for mankind ; as
some adversaries have injuriously misrepresented and
aspersed him ; for he highly esteemed Christ's sufferings,
death, resurrection, and glory ; and powerfully testified
of the virtue, power, blessed and spiritual design, fruit,
and effects thereof, as revealed and witnessed by his
Holy Spirit."
" Christ Jesus being our spiritual Rock, Foundation,
and Head, He is truly precious to us and all true be
lievers, in all states and conditions, both of his humilia
tion, glory, and dominion ; his great "grace and goodness
appearing in those precious ministerial gifts given by Him
(when he ascended up on high) for his ministry and
church. " And it is very observable, that though, to express
Christ's lowly condition and appearance in the world,
He is sometimes in Holy Scripture termed the Seed, his
name is also ' called, Wonderful, Counsellor, the Mighty
God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace ;
upon whose shoulders the government is laid ; and of
the increase of his government and peace there shall be
no end.' — Isaiah ix. And it is most suitable to Christ's
low, humble, and suffering condition, to make use of such
instruments as are most like Himself in humility and
lowliness of mind, although they be but low and mean in
the world's eye and esteem. God is pleased to make
choice of low, mean, and weak things, and of instruments
contemptible in the eyes of the high and lofty ones of
this world, to confound the wisdom of the world, accord-

INTRODUCTION . xi
ing to 1 Cor. i. He chose poor shepherds to divulge that
great evangelical truth of Christ's birth; and certain
women to preach that Gospel truth of his resurrection,
{Luke ii and xxiv.) and both from angelical testimony,
as well as from their sight of Christ himself. Truth
must not be rejected because of such instruments which
God in his wisdom is pleased to employ in his work ;
nor the day of small things despised : from small begin
nings of good matters, great things, glorious attainments
and perfections, do spring. Glory, honour, and dominion,
to our most gracious God, and to the Lamb on his
throne, for ever and ever."
These extracts from G. Whitehead's preface may
serve as a sufficient illustration of G. Fox's sentiments
on some points of Christian doctrine, in regard to which
bis soundness was so frequently impugned by his ene
mies, as the most ready mode of depreciating him in
general esteem. It had been found in earlier times much
easier to call a reformer a Gnostic, or a Manwhee, than
to dispute his doctrine or condemn his life ; and such is
the effect of bold assertion, that, though so often con
tradicted and disproved, the charge of denying the
Divinity of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and of
undervaluing his various offices, as our Mediator, Inter
cessor, and Redeemer, has yet hardly lost its influence on
our Christian brethren of other Societies.
Indeed, we must not be surprised, if, in the steady
maintenance of the principles which are at the root of
our separation from other religious communities, we are
to a considerable extent misunderstood, or even maligned.

INTRODUCTION.

A people holding so decidedly the spiritual character of
Christianity, and rejecting those outward rites which
most deem either important or essential (though we fully
maintain the truths which those rites profess to embody)
must be obnoxious to much undeserved reproach. To
some it appears that we are wilfully blind and unworthy
of the name of Christian ; whilst others judge us more
gently and charitably, though very imperfectly estimating
the real matter of our testimony. We believe, however,
there are those among our Christian brethren of other
communities, and that the number is increasing, who do
to a considerable extent appreciate the grounds of our
separation, and acknowledge the accordance of many of
our views with the purest state of the Christian church.
The adherence to a confession of faith in very nearly
the words of Scripture, and the abandonment of certain
terms of scholastic theology which had become as a sort
of shibboleth of orthodoxy, may probably have led persons
attached to those expressions, to suspect a much greater
deviation from their own sentiments than actually existed.
It may be said of the early Friends, as Erasmus observes
of the primitive Christians, that they were afraid to pro
nounce of God any thing but what was plainly expressed in
the Sacred Writings ; and it is worthy of observation, in
the history of the Church, how creeds became enlarged,
and became less and less scriptural, as Christian piety
decayed, and the simplicity of the faith was corrupted.
In conclusion I would observe, that the desire to give
nfull and fair view of the author's opinions as expressed
in his letters, may have led in some instances to an un-

INTRODUCTION.

necessary repetition ; but as the frequent recurrence of
particular sentiments marks the high estimation which
they hold in the writer's mind, it seemed needful for the
purpose of exhibiting his views fairly, to give, to a con
siderable extent, the reiterations which were found in the
original work. Whilst anxious to present, in the follow
ing extracts, a fair specimen of the Epistles of George
Fox, I have not thought it a departure from this prin
ciple to make a few alterations in the text, by the omis
sion and occasional transposition of words in a sentence,
where it did not in any degree alter the sense ; by cor
recting some grammatical inaccuracies ; and occasionally,
by the alteration of an antiquated word.

CONTENTS.

Many of the Epistles are of so general a nature, that it was
difficult to give a description of each sufficiently short for this place.
A table is therefore added of some of the principal subjects treated of
in the letters, which, it is hoped, though far from so full as it might
have been, will considerably assist in case of reference.

10

15

1. Concerning the fast spreading of Truth
2. Counsel on several points
4. Ditto ditto
6. On the Light
8. The Flesh and the Spirit
To Friends to stand still in trouble, and
strength of the Lord
To the Church of God in Lancashire
16. General counsel
17. Exhortation to mind the Light
24. To Friends everywhere .
27. Ditto ditto
28. Against Drunkenness
30. To a Suffering Friend
35. To Friends in the Ministry
36. Take your heavenly censers .
37. To Friends in Cumberland
38. To those who live in sin
41. To those who profess the Light .
43. Counsel on several points
45. Concerning the heirs of the kingdom of God, and
how Christ was, and his Saints are tempted .
47. To Friends in Cumberland, Bishoprick, and
Northumberland .

Anno.

Page.

1

1650

6

. 1651

7

1652

8

—

9

i see the

—

9

—

10

—

12

—

13

. 1653

14

—

17

—

18

—

- ib.

—

ib.

—

19

—

¦20

—

21

—

22

—

23

— 24

— 28

XVI CONTENTS.
No. 48. To Friends concerning judging
61.  the Cross of Christ, and the
Power of God ....
56. To call the mind out of the creatures
64, 65. To Friends in the Ministry
75. Counsel ......
^79. To all Friends to abide in their callings
80. To seek the kingdom of God first
82. Against slothfulness
83. General counsel ....
92. To those who are imprisoned for the Truth .
97. To a Friend .....
102. Not to mind the world's honour
103. To keep to the witness of God .
104. General counsel ....
105. Concerning the light
109. To keep in patience and out of judging
113. To a Friend in the Ministry .
114, 115. Exhortation to preach the Gospel to every
creature .....
116. Concerning Judging in Meetings
120. Exhortation in families
121. To Friends, to take care of such as suffer for
owning the Truth
123. Of the first and second Adam
127. Not to delight in the world
128. To all Friends, to keep in the power of God, out
of the cares of the world
131. General counsel ....
137. To cover rather than discover others weaknesses
138. To the prisoners for the Lord Jesus Christ
141. To Friends to gather up their sufferings, and
lay them before the Judges . . .  57
148. An Exhortation to fervent Prayer and stedfast
Faith, in the time of the greatest Troubles
and Exercises  59

Anno.

PlOE.

1653

29



31

—

32

1654

34

—

34

—

35

—

38

1655

39

—

41

—

41

—

42

—

43

—

43

—

44

—

45

1656

46

—

48



ib'

—

49

—

50

—

ib.

—

51

—

52



53

—

ib.

1657

56

—

ib.

CONTENTS. XV 11
No' Anno. Paoi
151. Of the preaching of Christ . . . 1657 61
153. To Friends beyond Sea, that have Blacks and
Indian Slaves . . . . — 63
161, 162. Against fleshly lusts and of righteous judg
ment ..... 1658 64
166. General counsel . . . . . — ib
167. To sing, pray, give thanks, praise, and fast, in
the Spirit . . . . . — 65
171. Of Persecution . . . . . 1659 66
175. To Friends to serve one another in love in
outward things . . . . — 67
181. To send books and papers, and spread the Truth
abroad . . . . . — 68
187. To dwell in the love of God together . — 69
189. To Friends in New England and Virginia . — 70
194. To those who have chosen the better part . 1660 71
196. To Friends in Jamaica and elsewhere . . — 72
200. The line of Righteousness and Justice stretched
forth over all Merchants, &c. . . 1661 73
208. To the Prisoners for Truth's sake — 79
216. To Friends in New England, and the Islands
beyond Sea .... 1662 80
222. A general Epistle — Of the true worship of God,
&c. . . ... — 83
239. Ditto ditto —Of the power of Faith . 1664 88
240. Of outward matters in Religion . . — 92
245. To take heed of Backsliding . . . 1666 94
249. A General Epistle to Friends — Of the word of
God  1667 96
Concerning the Worship of God . . — 101
250. A Warning to all to keep out of the vain
Fashions of the World, which lead them
below the Serious Life, <fec. . . — 105
251. Several important advices . . . — HO
252. To Friends in the Ministry, scattered abroad
in Virginia, Maryland, New England, Barba
does, and other Plantations beyond the Sea . — ib.

XV1U CONTENTS.

Anno. Page.

No.
263. An Exhortation to keep to the ancient Prin
ciples of Truth .... 1668 117
264. Extracts from other of G. Fox's Epistles, both of
former and latter dates, relating to matter
recommended by him to be taken notice of
by the Quarterly and other Meetings . 1669 120
268. Not to be over thoughtful of the things of this
World .....
275. The universal call ....
277. Of the Duties of Masters and Parents to ser
vants, apprentices, and children .
283. To Friends at Bristol in time of Suffering
291. To all Women's Meetings
292. To Friends in New England, Virginia, and Bar
badoes .....
293. To Friends in Barbadoes
299. To Friends in Jamaica
302. Of Public Feasts ....
304. To Friends in Virginia
308. The necessity of order and government in the
Church, with a reference to his own labours
310. In every thing give thanks
315. To Friends at Barbadoes
319. To Friends in Nevis, and the Caribbee Islands
320. An Epistle relative to the station of Women in
the Church .....
333. To Friends in Barbadoes
336. To Friends at Dantzic ....
340. To Friends in New Jersey in America
342. Exhortation to walk in Faith
343. Not to strive about Men
347. Concerning subjection of the spirits of the
Apostles one to another, in the unity of the
Spirit of Christ ....
353. General counsel ....
354. Of the true Head of the body

—

130

—

132



136

1670

139

1672

140

—

143

—

145

1673

147

—

148

—

160

1674

151

—

154

1675

155

—

156

1676

163

—

186

—

187

—

189

—

190

—

193

198

1678

201

_

204

CONTENTS.

XIX

No.
355. To Friends in America, concerning their Negroes
and Indians . . . . .
358. The power of the Truth
360. Of the Christian training of Children .
362. Concerning true Liberty
364. To Friends in America ....
366. A Letter to the Captives who meet together to
worship God in Algiers
367. To Friends in Burlington, West Jersey
368. To Suffering Friends at Horsham in Sussex
369. To the Flock of Christ Jesus every where, to be
read in their Assemblies .
370. To Suffering Friends in Leicester
373. To Friends in Jamaica
374. To Friends in Holland ....
376. To Friends in New Jersey and Pennsylvania
377 To Friends that are Prisoners in York .
379. An Epistle to all Planters, and such as are trans
porting themselves into foreign Plantations
in America . .
380. To all Christians to keep to yea, yea, and nay,
nay, and to fulfil their word and promises
381. An Epistle commended to the Consciences of all
concerned ....
382. An Epistle to the Household of Faith ,
383. To the Quarterly Meeting at York .
384. To the Six Weeks Meeting in Barbadoes
386. To' Friends of the Monthly Meeting of Charles
town in Carolina
387. To the Monthly and Quarterly Meetings in
England, &c. ....
388. To Friends that are Captives at Algiers
389. To all the Household of Faith .
390. An Epistle to all Friends every where
391. To the Meeting of Friends in Truth, that are
Captives in Algiers

Anno.

Page"

1679

205

—

209

—

210

—

212

1680

215

1682

•217

1681

221

—

224



225

—

227

—

229

1682

231

—

233

—

234

—

236

—

237



240

—

242

1683

251

—

254

— 255
— 257
— 258
— 262
— 266
1684 270

CONTENTS.

393. To Friends in Holland.
396. To the Suffering Friends at Dantzic
398. An Epistle to all the prisoners and sufferers
for the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and
his worship ....
399. Concerning the pure and undefiled Religion
401. The comfort of patience under sufferings
403 To Friends in Holland, <fcc.
404. To Friends in Pennsylvania
405. To Friends of the Ministry in Pennsylvania and
New Jersey ....
406. To Friends in Wales
407. To Friends in Dantzic
410. An Epistle to them that are learned in Christ
412. To Friends in West Jersey and Pennsylvania
414. To be stedfast in persecution
417. The power of Love
418. To the Six Weeks Meeting in London
419. Respecting Marriage Feasts
420. To Friends Captives at Macqueness

Anno.

Page.

. 1684

273

1684
s

274

1

277

1685

282

—

284

—

288

A

289

J

290

—

292

—

294

1686

295

. 1687

300

1688

301

. 1689

302

1690

ib.

—

303

—

304

TABLE OF PRINCIPAL SUBJECTS.

History of the Society. Regulations and Discipline.
Origin and Progress, p. 1. Character of, pp. 53, 54, 106.
State of, pp. 155, 232, 256, 288, 290, 299.
Account of Sufferings, 57-59, 256.
Discipline, and Meetings for, pp. 107, 109, 119-130, 15], 153, 186,
193, 229, 262, 263, 302.
Care of the Poor, pp. 50, 55, 123, 125, 233.
Women's Meetings, pp. 127, 140, 146, 153, 166, 169, 186, 230.
Subjection to the Church, p. 198-201.
Offices and Character of Christ.
Pages 17, 18, 20, 21, 24, 26, 34, 45, 57, 59, 69, 81, 96, 103, 104,
113, 145, 146, 150, 154, 188, 191, 202, 203, 206, 210, 214,
225, 228, 260, 268, 270, 275, 283, 288.
Of the Holy Spirit.
Pages 12, 14, 18, 20, 21, 23, 32, 36, 45, 57, 81, 96-100, 104, 133,
134, 201, 206, 217, 258, 282.
Of the Fall and Redemption of Man.
Pages 52, 86, 131, 193, 299.
Of Faith.
Pages 88-90, 190, 242.
Of Temptation.
Pages 9, 12, 24, 2fi, 29.

xxu table of subjects.
The incompatibility of Sin with the true knowledge
of God and Christ.
Pages 18, 21, 23, 26, 94, 192, 197, 202, 282.
Of Freedom from Actual Sin.
Pages 85, 86, 202.
Of Worship, Public and Private.
Pages 39, 45, 83, 101-104, 108, 115, 146, 147, 273.
Of Prayer and other Religious Exercises.
Pages 19, 59, 65, 84, 154.
Of Devotedness to God.
Pages 54, 95, 110, 133, 140, 143, 153, 186, 201, 219, 225, 242.
Of Love and Unity, and the Settlement op Differences.
Pages 23, 31, 34, 37, 47, 53, 54, 67, 69, 112, 120, 156, 186, 189,
193, 211, 215, 217, 229, 233, 251, 252, 269, 303.
Of Justice and Truth.
Pages 53, 55, 74, 75, 107, 117, 231, 237, 238, 240, 241, 282.
Of Humility and Meekness.
Pages 14, 20, 34, 37, 43, 216, 226, 254, 271.
Of Judging.
Pages 28, 29, 46, 49, 164.
Of Simplicity.
Pages 43, 47, 52, 105, 118, 265.

Of Beligicus Instruction, and the Training of Children.
Pages 50, 126, 136-139, 146, 20/, 210.

TABLE OF SUBJECTS. XSlll
Of the Spreading of the Truth at Home and Abroad.
Pages 68-70, 82, 135, 143, 150, 163, 188, 205, 217, 231, 236, 255,
257, 261, 274, 290, 300, 305.
Of the Duties of Masters and Servants.
Pages 37, 40, 41, 50, 136, 205.
Of the conduct towards Negroes and Indians.
Pages 63, 111, 146, 151, 189, 205, 206, 236, 300.
Industry. Page 39.
Duty to and of Rulers.
Pages 156, 221 232.
Of Antichrist, and the Corruption of the Christian
Church.
Pages 67, 83, 90, 92-94, 99, 113, 151.
Treatment of offenders, pp. 120, 123, 193, 254.
Of Covetousness and Worldly Anxiety.
Pages 38, 53, 54, 64, 95, 105, 130, 190, 282.
Of Persecution and its Effects.
Pages 66, 80/
Of Feasting.
Pages 148, 149, 241, 242, 303.
Of the Station of Women in the Church.
Pages 140-142, 147, 163-186, 264
To Friends in the Ministry, and of Ministry.
Pages 18, 19, 22, 34, 40, 48, 49, 55, 110, 130, 132, 135, 151, 181.

XIV TABLE OF SUBJECTS.
To Friends under Persecution, and of Sufferino
for Christ.
Pages 18, 25, 54, 56, 57, 59, 70, 79, 80, 139, 153, 186, 187, 214,
217, 219, 224, 225, 227, 234, 269, 271, 274, 285.
To the Captives in Africa.
Pages 217, 258, 270, 304.
Of False Brethren.
Pag 266.

SELEC

FROM THE LIBRARY OF
CHAS. t:. L ROA fl GOFFiC
1823 - 1917
CHICAGO ILLIf'-'O!'
*©ws  — " —

THE EPISTLES AND TESTIMONIES
OP
GEOEGE FOX,

We cannot commence these Selections better than by a copious
extract from the second epistle, which, notwithstanding the
quaintness of its style, contains a curious and rather striking sum
mary of the history of the Society, from its commencement, to
the year 1676. It is stated to be
Concerning the first spreading of the Truth, and how that
many were imprisoned, Sj-c.
The Truth sprang up first (to us, as to be a people to
the Lord) in Leicestershire in 1644, and in Warwick
shire in 1645, and in Nottinghamshire in 3 646, and in
Derbyshire in 1647, and in the adjacent counties in
1648, 1649, and 1650, and in Yorkshire in 1651, and
in Lancashire and Westmoreland in 1652, and in Cum
berland, and Eishoprick, and Northumberland, in 1653,
and in London and most parts of the nation of England,
and Scotland, and Ireland, in 1 654, &c.
And in 1655 many went beyond seas, where Truth
also sprang up.
And in 1656 Truth brake forth in America, and many
other places.

2 EPISTLES, &c. of
And the Truth stood all the cruelties and sufferings
that were inflicted upon Friends by the Long Parliament,
(to the spoiling of goods, imprisonment, and death, and
over all the reproaches, lies, and slanders,) and then by
0. Protector, and all the acts that 0. Protector made
and his parliaments, and his son Richard after him, and
the Committee of Safety. And after, it withstood and
lasted out all the acts and proclamations since 1660, that
the king came in. And still the Lord's Truth is over
all, and his Seed reigns, and his Truth exceedingly
spreads unto this year, 1676.
And Friends never feared their acts, nor prisons, nor
gaols, nor houses of correction, nor banishments, nor
spoilings of goods ; nay, nor life itself. And there was
never any persecution that came, but we saw it was for
good ; and we looked upon it to be good, as from God :
and there never were any prisons that I was in, or suffer
ings, but still it was for the bringing multitudes more
out of prison. For they that imprisoned the Truth and
quenched the Spirit in themselves, would prison it and
quench it without them. So that there was a time when
there were so many in prison, that it became a by-word,
Truth was scarcely to be found but in gaols.
And after that the king came in, divers Friends suffered
much, because they would not drink the king's health,
and say, God bless the king ; so that many times Friends
were in danger of their lives by rude persons, who were
ready to run them through with their swords for refusing
it ; until the king gave forth a proclamation against
drinking healths. For we were and are against all drink
ing healths and excess, both before his coming in, and
after ; and we desire the king's good, and that the bless*
ings of God might come upon him, and all his.subjects,
and all people upon the face of the earth.

GEORGE FOX. 3
And so, the Lord's power gave us dominion over that
also, and all our other sufferings. But 0 ! the number
of sufferers in the Commonwealth's days, and 0. Pro
tector's days, and since ! but especially they that were
haled before their courts, for not paying tithes, and not
swearing in their juries, and for not putting off their
hats, and for going to meetings on the First-days, (under
pretence of breaking the Sabbath,) and other meetings in
the week days ; who were abused both in meetings, and
on the highways ! Oh, how great were the sufferings we
then sustained upon these accounts ; for sometimes they
would drive Friends by droves into the prison-houses
(like penfolds), and there keep them on the First-days ;
and then take their horses from them, and keep them for
pretended breach of their Sabbath ; though they would
ride in their coaches and upon their fat horses to the
steeple-houses themselves, and yet punish others. And
many Friends were turned out of their copyholds and
customary tenements, because they could not swear ; and
as they went to meetings, they have been stoned through
the streets, and cruelly abused otherwise. And many
were fined with great fines, and lay long in prison for not
putting off their hats ; but Friends could never pay them,
though they kept them in prison till they had satisfied
their own wills upon them ; and at last turned them out,
after they had kept them a year or more in prisons.
And thus the Lord's power hath carried us through
all, and over all, to his everlasting glory and praise ! for
God's power, which was before the devil's was, hath been
our hedge, our wall, and our keeper, and the preserver of
his plants and vineyard, who have not had the magis
trate's sword and staff to help them, nor ever trusted in
the arm of flesh : and have gone without Judas's bag,
or the magistrate's sword and staff, to preach the word
b 2

4 epistles, &c. Of
of Life, which was in the beginning, before they were ;
which word reconciles to God. And thousands have re
ceived the word of reconciliation, and are born again of
the immortal seed by the Word of God, and are feeding
upon the milk of the word, which lives, and abides, and
endures for ever. And many have suffered to death for
their testimony, both in England and beyond the seas,
both before and since the king came in ; which ye may
see as followeth :
This was given to the king and both houses of parlia
ment, being "A brief and plain, and true relation of the
late and sad sufferings of the people of God, in scorn called
Quakers, for worshipping and exercising a good conscience
towards God and man.
" By reason whereof eighty-nine have suffered till
death ; (thirty-two of which died before the king came
into England, and fifty-seven since, by hard imprison
ment and cruel usage ;) forty-three have died in the city
of London and Southwark since the act was made against
meetings," &c. (about 1661.)
And all those laws that were already made, and the
oath which they imprisoned us for, (because we could
not swear at all, in obedience to the command of Christ
Jesus,) were never originally intended against us. And
yet we suffered by the several powers and their laws,
though they did not concern us, both spoiling of goods
and imprisonments, even to death itself. And the gover
nor of Dover Castle, when the king asked him if he had
dispersed all the sectaries' meetings, he said : That he
had ; " but the Quakers the devil himself could not : for if
he did imprison them, and break them up, they would meet
again ; and if he should beat them, and knock them down,
or kill some of them, all was one ; they would meet and not
resist again." And thus the Lord's power did support

GEORGE POX. 5
them, and keep them over their persecutors ; and made
them to justify our patience and lamb-like nature. This
was about 1671.
And since the king came in, three acts have been made
against us by the king and parliament, besides the pro
clamations, by which many have suffered imprisonment
and banishment, and many to death. And yet for all
these acts and proclamations, and banishment, and per
secutions, and sufferings, faithful Friends are as fresh as
ever, in the Lord's power, and valiant for his Name and
Truth. And some weak ones there were, when the king
came in, that did swear, and take the oaths ; but after,
when they had so done, they were sore troubled for dis
obeying the command of Christ and the apostle, that
they went to the magistrates, and condemned themselves,
and offered themselves to go to prison.
And thus the Lord, in his everlasting power, hath been
the support and stay of his people.
And when the glorious Gospel and Truth were spread
over the nation, and they had received the Word of Life,
then first the Quarterly, and some Monthly Meetings,
were settled throughout the nation ; and then after, as
Truth more and more spread, the monthly men's meet
ings, in 1667 and 1668. And then also some women's
meetings were set up.
And now the power of God is the authority of both
our men's and women's meetings, and all our other meet
ings ; which power of God was before the apostacy and
before the fall, and is over all ; and all are to take their
possessions of it ; and in it are to do God's service and
business. G. F.

6 epistles, &c. of
NO. II.*
Friends, 1650.
The children of the devil, how expert are they in evil,
in all deceit, in his kingdom ; and yet they may speak of
the things of God ; but no vulture's eye ever saw nor
venemous beast ever trod in the steps of the just, though
they may talk of the way. For they who have their
conversation in this world, and only mind the things of
this world, in vain do they profess godliness.
But the children of God, who are conceived and be
gotten of Him, are not of this world, neither do they
mind only the things of this world, but the things which
are eternal : the children of this world do mostly mind
the external things, and their love is in them, but the
other live by faith ; the one is sanctified by the Word,
the other painted with the words. The children of God
are pure in heart, not looking only at the outside : the
favour of the world and friendship thereof is enmity to
God ; man may soon be stained with it. 0 love the
stranger, and be as strangers in the world, and to the
world ! for they that followed Christ in his cross, they
were strangers in the world, and wonders to the world,
and condemned by the world ; and the world knewHim
not, neither doth it them that follow Him now. So,
marvel not if the world hate you ; for the world lieth in
hatred and wickedness. Those who love this world, are
enemies to Christ ; and they who love the Lord Jesus
Christ, and have Him for their Lord over them, they are
redeemed out of the world. The world would have a
Christ, but not to rule over them ; the nature of the
* The numerical designation of the Epistles does not begin till
after the preceding Introductory Epistle, which stands second in
the folio volume.

GEORGE FOX. 7
world is above Christ in man, until Christ hath subdued
that nature in man. While the nature of the world doth
rule in man, oh ! the deaf ears and blind eyes, and the
understandings, that are all shut up amongst them, with
which they judge ! But they who love the Lord Jesus
Christ, do not mind the world's judgment, nor are trou
bled at it.
When ye think ye are past all crosses, when the trial
doth come, ye will find a cross to that will which doth
meddle with the things of God presumptuously. Rejoice
not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, which crucifieth all
fleshly boastings : if that will be fed, then carelessness
cometh up, and they fall into flatness from the Spirit,
and are mindless of the Lord God : such are soon up and
down. The serpent tempted Eve to eat of the forbidden
fruit, and she took and gave to her husband, and so they
fell under the serpent's power and the creature's, out of
the power of God, which would have kept them in do
minion, and so Adam and Eve, and the serpent, all went
out of Truth. And Eve eating of the tree of knowledge,
she had knowledge and wisdom after the fall, but not in
the dominion, in the power of God : but the Seed, Christ,
which was in the beginning, bruiseth this serpent's head,
and He is the Wisdom of God. G. F.

no. rv.
All Friends, 1651.
Mind that which is pure in you to guide you to God,
out of Babylon, out of confusion, where all the world is ;
there is the seat of the beast, there are the false prophets
and deceivers, as well within as without. But, dear
Friends, mind the Light of God in your consciences, which
will show you all deceit. God is not the author of con-

8 epistles, &c. of
fusion, but of peace. All jarrings, all schisms, all rents,
are out of the Spirit, for God hath tempered the body to
gether, that there should be no schism in the body, but
all worship Him with one consent. And as the power
and life of Truth is made manifest, watch in the discern
ing one over another.
And beware of discouraging any in the work of God,
The labourers are few, that are faithful for God. Take
heed of hurting the gift, which God hath given to profit
withal, whereby ye have received life through death, and
a measure of peace by the destruction of evil. Pray, that
peace may be multiplied, and the ministration of life, to
the raising of the dead, that the Seed of the Woman may
bruise the Serpent's head, discover all deceit, and rend all
vails and coverings, that the pure may come to life, which
deceit hath trampled upon.
And all take heed to your spirits ; that which is hasty,
discerns not the good Seed. Take heed of being corrupted
by flatteries ; they that know their God, shall be strong.
But take heed of labouring to turn the just aside for a
thing of naught, but know the precious from the vile, the
clean from the unclean ¦ And therefore all mind your
gift, mind your measure ; mind your calling and your
work. Some speak to the conscience ; some plough and
break the clods ; some weed out, and some sow ; some
wait, that fowls devour not the seed. But wait all for
the gathering of the simple-hearted ones ; for they that
turn many to righteousness, shall shine for ever. G. F.

NO. VI.
Friends, 1652,
No one is justified, in breaking the commands of Christ ;
no one is justified, whilst living in iniquity ; and no one

GEORGE FOX.

is justified in professing only Christ's words, and the pro
phets and the apostles' words, and living out of their lives.
And no one is justified, living in the first birth and na
ture, and false faith and hope, which do not purify, as
God is pure. No man is justified, not believing in the
Light, as Christ commands, but with the Light is con
demned ; for the Light is the condemnation of all them
that walk contrary to it : therefore the power of God
mind. No man is justified, acting contrary to that Spirit
which doth convince him. G. F.

no. viii.
Dear Friends, ] 652.
Those that will live godly in Christ Jesus, must suffer
persecution. God is righteous ; God is pure, holy, and
just ; God is clean. He that is godly and holy, suffereth
by the ungodly and unrighteous, and unclean, and un
just, and filthy : and so the just suffereth by the unjust ;
and he that is born of the flesh, persecutes him that is
born of the Spirit. G. F.

To Friends, to stand still in trouble, and see the strength of
the Lord.
Friends, 1652.
Whatever ye are addicted to, the tempter will come in
that thing ; and when he can trouble you, then he gets
advantage over you, and then ye are gone. Stand still
in that which is pure, after ye see yourselves ; and then
mercy comes in. After thou seest thy thoughts, and the
temptations, do not think, but submit ; and then power
comes. Stand still in that which shows and discovers ;
b3

10 EPISTLES, &C. OF
and then doth strength immediately come. And stand
still in the Light, and submit to it, and the other will be
hushed and gone ; and then content comes. And when
temptations and troubles appear, sink down in that which
is pure, and all will be hushed, and fly away. Your
strength is to stand still, after ye see yourselves ; what
soever ye see yourselves addicted to, temptations, cor
ruption, uncleanness, &c, then ye think ye shall never
overcome. And earthly reason will tell you what ve
shall lose ; hearken not to that, but stand still in the Light,
that shows them to you, and then strength comes from the
Lord, and help contrary to your expectation : then ye
grow up in peace, and no trouble shall move you. David
fretted himself, when he looked out ; but when he was
still, no trouble could move him. When your thoughts
are out abroad, then troubles move you : but come to stay
your minds upon that Spirit, which was before the letter ;
here ye learn to read the Scriptures aright. If ye do
any thing in your own wills, then ye tempt God ; but
stand still in that power which brings peace. G. F.

NO. xv.
To the Church of God in Lancashire.
Friends, 1 652.
Every one in particular, who is of God, and not of
the world— walk out of the world's vain customs, or
dinances, and commands ; and stand a witness against
them all, in the testimony of Jesus ; and witness Him, the
substance of all, waiting in the Light of God, and walk
ing in it : then will ye have unity one with another, and
the blood of Jesus Christ will cleanse you from all sin ;
for through it and by it we do overcome ; which blood of
the New Covenant is but one. There shall ye witness

GEORGE FOX. 11
the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world.
O wait all in that which is pure, to be fed alone of God
with the eternal, living food ! as ye have received Christ
Jesus, in Him walk, that ye may all honour the Lord
Jesus Christ, and adorn his Gospel. And be famous in
his Light, and bold in his strength, which will carry you
above the world, and above all the deceits of it.
Oh in love watch over one another for good, and for the
better, and not for the worse ! And dwell in that which
is pure of God in you, lest your thoughts get forth ; and
then evil thoughts get up, and surmising one against
another, which arise out of the veiled mind. But as ye
dwell in that which is of God, it guides you up out of the
elementary life, and out of the mortal into the immortal
(which is hid from all the fleshly ones,) where is peace
and joy eternal to all that can witness the new birth.
Babes in Christ, born again of the immortal Seed, in it
wait ; my life is with you in perfect unity ; bow down to
nothing, but the Lord God. Satan would have had Christ
to have bowed down, but He would not ; the same Seed
now, the same birth [is] born in you now, which is the
same to-day, yesterday, and for ever. The tempter will
come to you ; and if ye look forth, and hearken to his
words, and let them in, then ye bow down under him,
and worship him. But I say unto you, and charge you
in the presence of the Lord, mind the pure Seed of God
in you, and the mighty po^wer of God will cherish you up
to the Lord God above all temptations, not to bow down
to any thing ; but feeding upon the immortal food, ye will
feel yourselves supported and carried over him, by your
Father and your God, who is over all, blessed for ever !
who is the virtue of all creatures, the wisdom of all things ;
all holy praises be unto the holy, glorious Lord God, for
ever ! G. F.

12 EPISTLES, &C. OF

NO. XVI. 1652.
To all you, my dear Friends, who have tasted of the
immediate working power of the Lord, and do find aij
alteration in your minds, and do see from whence virtue
doth come and strength, that doth renew the inward man,
and doth refresh you ; which draws you in love to forsake
the world, and that which hath form and beauty in it to
the eye of the world ; and hath turned your minds within,
which see your houses foul, and corruptions strong, and
the way narrow and strait which leads to life eternal;
to you all I say, wait upon God in that which is pure.
Though you see little, and know little, and have little,
and see your emptiness, and see your nakedness, and
barrenness, and unfruitfulness, and see the hardness of
your hearts, and your own unworthiness ; it is the Light
that discovers all this, and the love of God to you, and
it is that which is immediate, but the dark understanding
cannot comprehend it. So, wait upon God in that which
is pure, in your measure, and stand still in it every one,
to see your Saviour, to make you free from that which
the Light doth discover to you to be evil. For the voice
of the Bridegroom is heard in our land; and Christ is
come amongst the prisoners, to visit them in the prison*-
houses ; they have all hopes of releasement and free
pardon, and to come out freely, for the debt is paid; wait
for the manifestation of it, and he that comes out of prison
shall reign.
So meet together, all ye that fear the Lord God, and
think upon his Name. His mercies endure for ever ; his
mercies are in temptations and troubles ; his mercies are
in afflictions, in reproaches and in scorns. Therefore
rejoice, ye simple ones, which love simplicity, and meet

GEORGE FOX. 13
and wait together to receive strength and wisdom from
the Lord God ; and in departing from sin and evil, ye
will be able to speak to the praise of the Lord. And
meeting and waiting in his power, which ye have received,
in it all to improve your measure, that God hath given
you ; for ye never improve your measure, so long as ye
rely upon any visible thing without you ; but when ye
come alone to wait upon God, ye shall every one have a
reward according to your deserts, and every one your
penny, who are called into the vineyard to labour.
Therefore be faithful to God, and mind that which is
committed to you, as faithful servants, labouring in love ;
some threshing, and some ploughing, and some to keep
the sheep : he that can receive this, let him : and all to
watch over one another in the Spirit of God. So God
Almighty bless, guide, and prosper you unto his kingdom,
where there is no tribulation. G. F.

NO. XVII.
Dear Friends, 1652.
Prize your time, and the love of the Lord to your souls,
above all things ; and mind that Light in you, that shows
you sin and evil ; which checks you, when ye speak an
evil word, and tells you that ye should not be proud, nor
wanton, nor fashion yourselves like unto the world ; for
the fashion of this world passeth away. And if ye hearken
to that, it will keep you in a humbleness of mind, and
lowliness of heart, and turn your minds within, to wait
upon the Lord, to be guided by it ; and bring you to lay
aside all sin and evil, and keep you faithful to the Lord ;
and bring you to wait on Him for teaching, till an entrance
thereof be made to your souls, and refreshment come to
them from the presence of the Lord.

14 EPISTLES, &C. OF
If ye hearken to the Light in you, it will not suf
fer you to conform to the evil ways, customs, fashions,
delights, and vanities of the world ; it will lead you
to purity, to holiness, to uprightness, even to the
Lord. Dear hearts, hearken to it, to be guided by it ;
for if ye love the light, ye love Christ ; if ye hate that, ye
hate Christ. Therefore in the Name of the Lord Jesus
Christ consider of it ; and the Lord open your under
standings to know Him ! G. F.

NO. XXIV.
To all Friends every where. 1653.
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. Thus
walking, ye will be bold as lions, resisting the wicked
with your spiritual weapons, not by bloody hands, aB
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 occa-
sion, and the Truth suffer; but every one keep your

GEORGE FOX. 15
habitation, where God hath called you, and take heed of
deceit, and form nothing in your own wills or minds :
but, putting off the old man with his deeds, grow up in
the inner man, as trees of righteousness 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. Woe unto you
proud men, who compass the earth to set your nests 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.
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 through 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 trampled upon the earthly, dark power, have we
unity with God, and fellowship with his Son, and unity one
with another; and 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

16 EPISTLES, &C. OF
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 accord
ing to the will of man, but contrary to man's will. And
so our unity and fellowship with vain man is 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, we do 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. 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. 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 hearsay of Him, and from
custom and tradition. 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, having purchased the true knowledge
of Him through suffering ; and to such there is no con
demnation, but joy and peace. And this mind sings true
praises to God, the other in hypocrisy, and therefore woe
is unto it, And this mind is staid upon God, the other

GEORGE FOX. 17
is gadding after the creatures, and speaks of God, but
is not subject to God, and must pass through condem
nation. G. F.
 ? 
NO. XXVII.
To all my dear friends and brethren everywhere. 1653.
He that hath the Son of God, hath life ; all that have
not the Son of God, have not life. The Son of God is
He, who makes free from all sin, and is come to deface
and destroy the image of the devil, and to renew us up
in the image of God ; and so to bring us to walk in
righteousness. Praises be unto the glorious God for
ever, who has sent his Son into the world, to take away
the sins of the world.
And all Friends, walk worthy of your calling in all
holiness, for holiness becomes the saints ; without holi
ness no man shall see the Lord. And every one improve
your talents, labouring in the vineyard, dressing in the
Lord's vineyard, that ye may be found faithful servants,
and all walking in love to God, and one to another.
So, God Almighty be with you all ! the dew of heaven
is falling upon you to water the tender plants ; and the
blessing of God be amongst you, which showers down
amongst you ! The heavenly joy fill your hearts, and
comfort you in the inward man in all tribulations. The
glorious light is shining, the immortal is bringing forth
out of death ; the prisoners have hope of their pardon,
the debt being paid, and they freely purchased by Christ's
blood ; and He is come into the prison-houses ; the pri
soners begin to sing in hope of their eternal freedom,
leaping for joy of heart ; and the dumb tongue shall sing
praises. ""• F.

18 EPISTLES, &C. OF

NO. XXVIII. 1653.
To all you that are enlightened with the light that
comes from Jesus, to it take heed, which leads into the
right course of nature. Those who act contrary to it, go
out of the right course of nature, into drunkenness, rash
ness, lying, blaspheming, deceit, and uncleanness. All
this is out of the right course of nature, and destroys it,
and is to be condemned, by that which leads to the glory
of the first body, and leads nature into its right course
and right being, which man was in before he fell.
G. F.
 ?> 
NO. XXX.
To a suffering Friend.
Dear John, 1653.
The everlasting arm of the Lord hold thee up, and
break all thy bonds asunder, and set thee upon the Eock
on thy feet, in which thou mayst know his presence, and
his everlasting, supreme power. And so the God of life
be with thee ! And pray for thy enemies, for the Lord
to open them and their hearts, and see themselves and
thee. G. P.

NO. XXXV.
To Friends in the Ministry.

1653.
Stand up ye prophets of the Lord, for the Truth upon
the earth ; quench not your prophecy, neither heed them
that despise it ; but in that stand, which brings you
through to the end. Heed not the eyes of the world, ye

GEORGE FOX. 19
prophets of the Lord, but answer that in them all, which
they have closed their eyes to ; that ye may tell them of
things to come, answering what is of God in them.
Keep ye in your habitations, ye sons of God, that over
all the contrary ye may reign. And ye daughters, to
whom it is given to prophesy, keep within your own
measure, seeing over that which is without, answering
that of God in all ; and despise not the prophecy, neither
be lifted up in your openings, lest ye depart from that
which opened, and so come to be judged by the Son of
God, and bidden to depart, as workers of iniquity ; for a
worker of iniquity is gone from that which leads to the
Son of God.
Quench not the Spirit, by which ye may prove all
things ; and that which is good hold fast ; for if the Spirit
be quenched, then light is put for darkness, and darkness
for light ; and evil is put for good, and good for evil : this
is when the Spirit is quenched ; then cannot ye try all
things — then cannot ye hold fast that which is good. For
then they cannot see good, when the Spirit is quenched ;
but when the Spirit is not quenched, then with the Spirit
ye may see to take the good, and to shun the evil. And
this brings to put a difference between the precious and
the vile, the profane and the holy, the clean and the un
clean ; the Spirit is that which proves all things.
G. F.
 ? 
NO. XXXVI.
Friends, 1653.
Take your heavenly censers, and offer up your spiritual
prayers to the Almighty God, and having heavenly fire
in your censers, it will consume all false offerings and
sacrifices, which are offered in the evil nature.
G. F.

20 EPISTLES, &C. OF
NO. XXXVII.
To Friends in Cumberland.
Dear Friends, 1653.
Prize your heavenly calling, by which ye are called into
holiness and righteousness, without which no one shall see
the Lord. And let your conversation be as becometh the
Gospel, the holy power of God, which is the Gospel of
Christ. And keep in the lowly mind, and the humility
of Christ, that the fruits of your good conversation, and
translation, and regeneration, may appear in your lives,
as a people redeemed from the pleasures of the flesh, and
the spirit of the world, and the beggarly lusts ; and that
ye may obtain the promise of the eternal God, and the
power of the Truth, through the Word in the heart, the
hidden man ; that ye may obtain victory over that which
wars against your souls ; through which ye may be arrayed
and adorned, and by which ye may be preserved and kept
from that which is not of the Father, the lust of the flesh,
the lust of the eye, and the pride of life, in the simplicity and
innocency of Christ Jesus, through which ye may esteem
nothing in comparison of that which is of God, and Him
above all, through Christ the Light, the Truth, the Power
of God, manifested in you.
And keep out of all false liberties, and that which would
lead you out of the fear of God ; and in that ye will be
preserved in the sense of the power and the truth of God
in your own hearts : in that let every one watch, through
which knowledge and virtue is ministered unto you, and
peace from the God of virtue and peace. And keep out
of all that which tends to strife, and whisperings, and
backbitings, and tattlings, which draws from the witness,
watch, and fear of God within, and which leavens into the
fleshly lusts and nature.

GEORGE FOX. 21
So be wise, and keep your first love ; break not wedlock
with the Lord Jesus Christ ; keep your first habitation ;
keep your garments clean, for such as so do, they are
blessed ; that ye may shine as lights to the world, and be
examples in virtue, righteousness, and holiness ; walking
in the Truth in all patience and quietness, looking at the
Lord your strength, and Christ Jesus the Conqueror, and
beyond all the hills and mountains ; that ye may be a
good savour to the Lord, having salt in yourselves.
And so walk in the righteousness, that your feet may
be kept in the way of peace : and keep both your tongues,
and hands, and bodies, and lips, and minds, and words,
out of all that which would defile and corrupt you, and
bring you under the indignation and wrath of God, and
his hand to be turned against you.
So, let not the world, let not things visible draw your
minds away from the Lord. Do not mind the body more
than the Lord ; do not forsake the Lord ; but be of good
faith in the Truth of God, and live in it : then ye live
in Christ Jesus, who is your Way, who is your Teacher,
who is your Prophet, who is your Priest, who is the
Bishop of your immortal souls ; Christ that never fell, nor
ever changed, nor ever will change.
So, know Christ the head and salvation, in which there
is peace, and no condemnation ; for the condemnation is
upon them that are out of the Light. And so, live in
unity in the Light, before darkness and enmity was, in
which ye have peace, and love to God, to Christ, and to
one another. G. F.

no. xxxviii.
Friends, 1653.
All ye who live in sin, know not God ; and you who
are disobedient, and hold the Truth in unrighteousness,

22 EPISTLES, &C. OF
the wrath of God abides upon you. All ye that work
iniquity, and live and die in that, are to depart from God
as cursed, to everlasting punishment ; where then will ye
find Him that ye talk of with your mouths, and call your
Saviour \ To you that live in your vain, wicked, profane
ways, and take Him to be your cloak, and say ye are
redeemed by Him, and live in your wickedness, Go ye
cursed, He will say, i~ know you not : plagues, woe, and
misery will be poured upon you all. Let every one that
nameth the name of the Lord, depart from iniquity.
None can call Him Lord, but by the Holy Ghost; and
where the Holy Ghost is come, there He is Lord and
King. The Lord is King in his saints, He guards them, and
guides them with his mighty power, into his kingdom of
glory and eternal rest, where they find joy, and peace,
and rest eternal. All glory and praise be to the Lord
God Almighty for ever ! G. F.

NO. XLI. 1653.
To you all my brethren who dwell in the Light. I
do charge you all, in the presence of the living God,
to dwell in what ye speak and profess ; and none to pro
fess what he doth not dwell in ; and none to profess what
he is not ; a sayer and not a doer ; such beget vain talkers.
So I charge you all in the presence of the living God, to
dwell in the Light. The highest religion must bend and
bow to it ; and all which is contrary to it is to be con
demned. And, all Friends, dwell in the Light, which is
eternal, which comprehends the world, that with it ye
may comprehend the world; and rise up, and go on in the

GEORGE FOX. 23
mighty power of God, as mighty men of war, in the power
and strength of the mighty God of life, the Lord of hosts*
who is your Shield, Buckler, and Defence, and Armour,
who arms you over all the wicked, to reign, triumph, and
trample. God Almighty bless you, and prosper his work,
that ye may be made manifest to the Light in all con
sciences, to the measure of God, which is pure, which is
given to every one ; that with it all may see what is con
trary to God. G. F.

NO. XLIII. 1653.
And ye that are led forth to exhort or to reprove, do it
with all diligence, taking all opportunities, reproving that
which devours the creation, and thereby destroys the very
human reason : for the Truth doth preserve every thing
in its place. And all meet together every where, and in
your meetings wait upon the Lord ; and take heed of
forming words, but mind the power, and know that which
is eternal, which will keep you all in unity, walking in
the Spirit, and will let you see the Lord near you, and
amongst you. So, God Almighty be with you, and mul
tiply you, and give you the dew of heaven, the heavenly
dew, the living mercies, (which nourisheth the tender
plants, which causeth them to grow, bud, and bring forth,)
and water you with his blessings.
The love of God is love past knowledge, which bears
all things, endures all things, hopes all things, envieth
not, thinketh no evil. And the love of God is the ground
of all true love in your hearts, which casts out the love
of the world, and the enmity which was gotten betwixt
you and God. He that believes, is born of God ; and he

24 EPISTLES, &C. OF
that is bom of God, overcomes the world. So, fare ye all
well, and God Almighty bless and prosper you.
G. F.
 ? 
NO. XLV.
Concerning the heirs of the kingdom of God, and how
Christ was, and his saints are, tempted. 1653.
They are the heirs of the kingdom of God, and of the
generation of God, that live out of the kingdom of the
wicked world, (up to God, in the seed, which all the pro
mises of God are to,) following after Christ, who was in
Egypt, and passed out of Egypt, the house of darkness.
And He was in the wilderness, and there He was tempted
to lust after the creature ; He was tempted to make Him
self away ; He was tempted to worship the devil, to bow
down and worship him. He is the Captain of our salva
tion ; He is gone before ; He endured the cross ; He
despised the shame ; He suffered the contradiction of
sinners, for the glory that was set before Him. He hath
won the crown. He hath overcome Egypt, and He hath
fulfilled the law; He hath overcome the world; He hath
overcome the temptations ; He is able to succour all who
are tempted. It is no sin to be tempted ; but to enter
jnto the temptation, that is sin. He is the Head of the
body ; He is the Head of the church, who hath blotted
out the ordinances and traditions of men — who is the
end of the daily sacrifice — who is the end of the Levitical
Priesthood ; He is the end of all outward temples, who is
the substance of the prophets, for they all witnessed of
Him : He is ascended above all principalities and powers.
Now, the same Seed, which is Christ, the same Spirit

GEORGE FOX. 25
is now manifest, that ever was ; the same world is
now that ever was ; the same temptations, and the same
devil, and the same vain worship of the world, twining
into another form and colour. And Jesus Christ is
the Way, the Truth, and the Life; the Door that all
must pass through ; and He it is that opens it ; the
same door that ever was, the same Christ, yesterday, to
day, and for ever. And all who follow Christ the Seed,
and are of his generation, and are brought out of Egypt,
the house of darkness, and from under the law, the
righteousness of the law is fulfilled in them ; who walk
not after the flesh, but after the Spirit, (as the apostle
saith,) which we do witness. And the Seed's generation
hath passed through the wilderness where they have been
tempted to lust after the creature ; (ye that have been in
the wilderness can witness this with me ;) and [have
had] the same temptations, even to despair, and to make
themselves away. The devil, before he would go out of
his kingdom, he would destroy all : but look at the Captain
Jesus Christ, who hath passed before, who was tempted
with the same temptations to worship the devil ; and that
if thou wouldest worship the devil, thou shouldest have
the glory of the world ; if not, thou shouldest be called a
devil, as Christ was, and be called a madman, as He was ;
and that none followed Him but a cursed people, as they
said. And thou shalt lose thy good name, and be a laughing
stock to them that worship the devil, and as a derision
among them, and a mark for every one of them to
shoot at, and the drunkards to make songs of. This is
the portion of them who deny the worship of the world,
and the glory, and the favour, and the evil fashions
thereof, and cannot fashion themselves to it, who are
tempted to all these things. But it is no sin to be

26 EPISTLES, &C. OF
tempted; but standing in the power of the Almighty
God, ye will be enabled to stand against and above all
the wiles of Satan. So dwell in the power of Almighty
God, which carries through the wilderness, and through
temptations, to the end, and gets the victory over all the
carnal ordinances, and commands, and traditions of men ;
and He that overcomes, ascends above them all : and He
that overcomes shall sit down with Christ in his throne. So
eyery one must witness Christ bom in them, passing
through death to Him, through the world, through the
law, through temptations, through the wilderness, and
out of the world ; and the Son of God ye will witness to
arise, who doth overcome, who was born of God. And
the same Spirit, that raised up Jesus Christ, the same
Spirit raiseth you up, and quiekeneth your mortal bodies;
and he that hath not the same is none of His.
So examine yourselves, and see if ye have fellowship
with Christ in his sufferings, and be brought to be con
formable to Him in his death, and to have fellowship
with Him in his temptations and reproaches, and buffeti
ings? and scornings, and the contradiction of sinners, and
to be spit upon as He was ; and he that hath fellowship
with Him in his sufferings, shall have fellowship \yith
Him in his glory. And He that doth confess Him in
this dark world, him will He confess before his Father
and his angels ; and he that doth deny Him in this
world, him He will deny before his Father and his angels
in the world to come.
Now to all you who are convinced, and have your
understandings enlightened. Beware ye enter not into
the temptation to lust after the creatwe, and give not ^ay
to the lazy, dreaming mind, for it enters into temptations.
So there thou wilt be polluted with the pollutions of the
world ; then thou wilt be tempted to despair, and the

GEORGE FOX. 27
devil there gets power upon thee, if thou enter into temp
tations, and follow thy imaginations in going from the
light of Christ within thee. And then thou judgest with
evil thoughts ; and he will come with his instruments,
his evil angels, to tempt thee from God's worship to the
false worship, suggesting that thou wilt lose thy credit
or good name, or thy place, or thy authority, where thou
art, except thou wilt bow to him : and every one will
stare at thee, and thou wilt be gazed at, and wondered
at. So if thy mind go from the light, and out of the fear
of the Lord, then thou wilt consult with flesh and blood,
which must never enter into the kingdom of God. And
so the eye of thy mind will be turned out from God, and
thou wilt come under the power of the prince of the air,
which rules and reigns in the children of disobedience,
and so under the dominion of Satan.
And then, though thou mayst have the praise of the
world, and the glory of the world, yet, disobeying that
which should have led thee into the kingdom of God,
and from under the dominion of Satan, thy latter end
will be worse than thy beginning. And in the world
thou mayst have thy honour ; and the fleshly man may
be nourished, and thy glory and renown may grow again
among the fleshly ones, who are gone out from God, and
have disobeyed the light in them, which should have led
them from under the dominion of Satan up to God, where
there is joy eternal, where there are riches and glory
eternal, and where there is comfort eternal ; whose king
dom is for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting do
minion. But thou, who forsakest the right way, goest
into eternal destruction. Wo, wo is to thee ! for the
love of the world is an enemy to God ; and he that
loveth the world, the love of the Father is not in him : and
c 2

28 EPISTLES, &C. OF
thou who settest thy hand to the plough, and lookest
back, art not fit for the kingdom of God.

NO. XLVII.

To Friends in Cumberland, Bishoprick and Northum
berland. 1653.
Take heed of judging the measures of others, but
every one mind your own ; and there ye famish the busy
minds and high conceits, and so peace springs up among
you, and division is judged. And this know, that there
are diversities of gifts, but one spirit and unity therein to
all, who with it are guided. And though the way seems
to thee diverse, yet judge not the way, lest thou judge
the Lord, and knowest not, that several ways (seeming
so to reason) hath God to bring his people out by, yet are
all but one in the end ; that He may be looked to from
all the ends of the earth, to be a Guide and Law-giver ;
and that none should judge before Him. Deep is the
mystery of Godliness ! therefore silence all flesh, and see
that your own ways be clean ; and as ye grow therein,
the way of peace will be more prized by you, and the
perfect bond ye will come to know ; and all who are here
established, shall stand in strength, when others fall, on
the right hand and on the left.
Dear Friends, ye have long been convinced, and owned
the Lord in word and form ; and look for it, ye must be
proved and tried, not only your faith and patience in
persecution by the enemy without, (for that many of you
have escaped,) but proved ye must all be with that which

GEORGE FOX. 29
is nearer, even a falling away amongst yourselves : and
it is good, that the stedfastness of all should be known
herein. For many are crept in unawares, who are self-
ended, slow-bellies, who love this world more than the cross
of Christ, who are got high in the form, and have great
swelling words, which they can utter for their advantage
in earthly things, deceiving the simple therewith, who
are not yet got above the pollution of the world.
And thus is the Scripture fulfilled : My little children,
this have I written to you, that when ye see this come to
pass, ye might not be amazed, as though some strange thing
had befallen the church of God ; but even the same that
was of old, to prove you, and to perfect you against the
devil : herein is he made manifest, that ye may know his
wiles. And great stedfastness shall it produce to all,
who mind their standing upon Christ the Rock, and have
salt in themselves to savour withal. But that which
will not come to the everlasting foundation, is apt to be
tossed to and fro with airy spirits, who are now gone out
into the world, to deceive such, whose hearts look back
after worldly things. Therefore stand with your minds
girded up to God above the world, lest ye run in vain,
and lose your crown ; which no one receives, but he
that continues to the end. G. F.

NO. XLVIII.

To Friends concerning judging.
Friends, 1653.
To you all this is the word of the Lord : take heed of
judging one another ; judge not one another (I charge
you in the presence of the Lord) with that which must
be judged ; neither lay open one another's weakness

30 EPISTLES, &c. of
behind one another's backs ; for thou that dost so art
one of Ham's family, which is under the curse. But
every one of you in particular with the light of Christ
(which He hath enlightened you withal) see yourselves,
that self may be judged out with the Light in every one.
Now, all loving the Light, here no self can stand, but it
is judged with the Light ; and here all are in unity, and
here no self-will can arise, nor any mastery. And let
there be no backbiting amongst you ; but in love, ye
that dwell in the Light, and see clear, speak to the
others, whose minds are gone from the Light : else (as I
said before) if ye do speak behind their backs, there will
be the evil eye and filthy mind, which dare not speak to
their faces. And so the same [mind] which doth con
demn behind the back, is for condemnation ; and so self
should be judged first. Here ye will be kept watchful in
the pure fear and love of God, and all self will be judged
out from amongst you, which would be judging in secret,
which is a work of darkness.
And take heed (I charge you all in the presence of the
living God) of a feigned humility, and a feigned love,
which is out of the Light, and then to use it as a cus
tomary salutation, or a formal gesture ; which is all for
condemnation, and to be kept out, being out of the.
Covenant. So see, that all your actings be in and from
the Light ; here ye will be kept clean and pure, and will
come to be sealed in the everlasting Covenant of God
with the Light which comes from Christ.
And again, I charge you all in the presence of the
living God, not to suffer your minds to go out to contend
with them who be not of the Truth, in that which is out
of the Truth ; both which are to be condemned with the
Truth. For the same mind will boast and get up, which
is out of the Truth, and reaches at things in the com-

GEORGE FOX. 31
prehension, though it lives not in it, but is excluded out
of the Truth, and shall not enter ; but is for condem
nation. Friends, I warn and charge you all, that there be no
keeping of old things in store in the mind or memory,
heart-rising one against another, or backbiting among you,
or speaking evil one of another ; but judge that out by
the Light of Christ. G. F.

To Friends, concerning the Cross of Christ, the Power of
God, that leads out of the world, to the world that is
without end. 1653.
The Cross being minded, it makes a separation from all
other lovers, and brings to God ; and the ground of evil
thoughts comes to be opened ; which cross overturns the
world in the heart, and must be taken up by all who
follow Jesus Christ, out of the world which hath an end,
into the world which is without end. All the evil things
of the world must be denied : for he who loves the icorld,
the love of the FatJw is not in him ; but where the world
is standing, the cross is not lived in. But dwelling in
the cross to the world, here the love of God is shed
abroad in the heart, and the way is opened into the
inheritance which fades not away ; where nothing shall
enter which is defiled. For God is not seen, but in the
eternal Light, from whence all pure wisdom comes : this
treasure is not seen, but with the spiritual eye ; nor
received, but with the pure in heart, and by those who
dwell and abide in the eternal Light. But the carnal
heart may get the words from them who had received the

32 EPISTLES, &C OF
wisdom, and who dwelt in the fear of the Lord ; but
they who live without the fear, may get their words, and
yet know not wisdom's gate, from whence those words
proceeded, having the old bottle. Watch all therefore,
and see what ye do possess : for all who gave forth the
Holy Scripture, who dwelt in the fear of God, they pos
sessed the life, which those words proceeded from ; and
the secrets of the Lord were with them. Therefore all in
your measure, which is of God, wait that it may guide
your minds up to God, and follow it and not your evil
desires, nor the lusts of the world ; for the fear of the
Lord will keep your hearts clean, and the true wisdom
will be with you in the pure heart.
G. F.

NO. LVI.

To call the minds out of the creatures. 1653.
All friends of the Lord every where, whose minds are
turned within towards the Lord, take heed and hearken
to the Light within you, which is the light of Christ and
of God, that by it your minds may be renewed, and by
it turned to God, with that which is pure, to worship the
living God, the Lord of Hosts, over all the creatures.
That which calls your minds out of the lusts of the
world, it will call them out of the evil affections and
desires, and turn you from them, and set your affections
above. And the same Light, that calls your minds,
which were abroad, out of the world, the same turns
them to God, the Father of light. Here the pure mind
is known, and the pure God is waited upon for wisdom
from above ; and the pure God is served night and day,

GEORGE FOX. 3V>
and the peace which hath no end is enjoyed. For ye
may have openings ; but your minds going into the
lusts of the flesh, here the affections are not mortified.
Therefore hearken to that, and take heed to that, which
calls your minds out of the vile affections, and the world's
lusts, to have them renewed : the same will turn your
minds to God ; the same light will set your affections
above, and bring you to wait for the pure wisdom from
God from on high, that it may be justified. Wait all in
that which calls your minds inward, and turns them to
God ; and here is the cross witnessed, that the mind
shall feed upon nothing but the pure light of God, and
on the living food which comes from the living God.
So, the Lord God Almighty be with you all, and keep
you all in his strength and power, to his glory, over all
the world, whose minds are called out of it, and turned
to God to worship the Creator, and serve Him, and not
the creature. And the light of God, that calls your
minds out of the creatures, turns them to God, to an
endless being, joy, and peace : here is a seeing God always
present, who is not known to the world, whose minds are
in the creatures, whose knowledge is in the flesh, and
whose minds are not renewed. Therefore to you whose
minds are called out of the creatures, and out of the
world, and fading things, by the eternal light of God,
the same eternal Light which hath turned it, and pre
sented it to God, will bring you to see all these things,
and those whose minds are abroad in the creatures.
So fare you well ! and God Almighty bless, guide, and
keep you all in His wisdom.
G. F.

34 EPISTLES, &C. OF
NOS. LXIV. AND LXV.
To Friends in the Ministry. 1654.
All Friends, who are moved of the Lord to speak the
word of the Lord, whom the Lord hath made to be his
mouth, speak not your own words to feed the sensual
part of man, in your own wills ; for there God is not
honoured, and wisdom is not justified.
Therefore be servants to the Truth, and do not strive
for mastery, but serve one another in love. Wash one
another's feet ; take Christ for your example, that I may
hear of no strife among you. Therefore mind not high
things, but fear, and condescend to men of low degree ;
for the fear of the Lord keeps the heart clean, and the
pure in heart sees God.
And friends, spread yourselves abroad, that you may
be serviceable for the Lord and His Truth. And Him
who was promised to be the Covenant of God to the Gen
tiles, and the New Covenant to the Jews, hold forth to
them both ; that all may know Him to be their Leader
to God, and the prisoner to come forth unto Him.
Love the Truth more than all, and go on in the mighty
power of God, as good soldiers of Christ, well fixed in
His glorious gospel, and in His word and power ; that
you may know Him, the life and salvation, and bring up
others into it. G. F.
 ? 
NO LXXV, 1654.
Ye must do nothing for the Lord by earthly policy,
nor trust to that ; but wait in the power of the Lord
God, and be ordered by that to his glory: ye will

GEORGE FOX. 35
never be right till then, and that must keep peace
among you.
And take heed of high-mindedness, for that will puff
up that part, which should not be exalted ; and if that
come up to rule, which is for judgment, then it will do
hurt. But when He comes to reign, whose right it is,
then peace and good-will is unto all men ; and no hurt
in all the holy mountain of the Lord is seen.
G. F.
 # 
NO. LXXIX.
To all Friends to abide in their callings. 1654.
To all dear Friends, who are called, who are enlight
ened, whose minds are turned from the world's worships
and teachers, having your eye to the light and guide
within, which is leading you out of this dark world, and
your old, vain conversations, towards God, and the world
which is without end ; mercy and peace from God the
Father be multiplied among you ! Every one of you
abide in your calling, waiting upon God, where He hath
called you. And take heed of reasoning with flesh and
blood, for there disobedience, pride, and presumption will
arise ; and there ye will grow up to be trees that bear
no fruit, and as a fig-tree which beareth leaves, and no
fruit, and as wells without water. 0 ! therefore, mind
the pure Spirit which would lead you out of this cor
ruptible, heathenish, dark world, and its vain ways, and
from destruction and death to life. And so the Lord
God of power bless you, guide you, and preserve you on
in your way to the holy city, being called out of the
unholy city ; for He that hath called you is holy. Now
many are called, but few are chosen : O ! therefore,

36 EPISTLES, &C. OF
abide in that which hath called you up to Him, who is
holy and pure.
So mind your present guide, and your present condi
tion, and your call, what ye are called from, and what
ye are called to ; for whom the Lord hath called and
chosen, are the Lord's free men. And so abide every
one in your calling with God, where God hath called
you, and there walk in newness of life, and not in the
oldness of the letter ; for he that turneth from Him that
calleth, walks not in the life of God. And take heed of
words without life, for they tend to draw you out of the
power, to live above the Truth, and out of your condi
tions. And be ye all servants to the Truth, and diligent
in your callings, and serve one another in love, in which
you can wash one another's feet.
My little children in the Lord God Almighty, this is
my joy, that ye be all ordered and guided by the mighty
power of God, and dwell in it, and know it in one an
other, and know the voice that speaketh, and the sound
of the words, and power of them. For words without
power destroy the simplicity, and bring up into a form,
and out of the obedience of the Truth. And therefore
walk in the power of the Truth, that the name of the
Lord God may be glorified among you. Therefore have
salt in yourselves, and be low in heart ; the light is low
in you, and it will teach you to be low, and to learn that
lesson of Jesus Christ, to the plucking down all the high
thoughts and imaginations. Let no strife be amongst
you, and let none seek for the highest place, for there is
the separated pharisee ; but be lowly-minded, conde
scending one to another in a low degree ; and bear one
with another in patience ; and be not high-minded, but
fear. And all who are servants, labour in love, as unto
God, for the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof ;

GEORGE FOX. 37
and labour in singleness, as unto the Lord. And all who
have families, rule in the power and love of God, that
that love may be head among you : for the time is coming,
that it shall be, as with the servant, so with the master ;
and as with the maid, so with the mistress. For it is one
seed that hath raised them up with one power, out of one
grave, one death ; which Seed all the promises of God
are to. So all Friends, this is to you who know the voice
of the living God, and know your calling ; stand fast,
and waver not, lest you lose your recompense of reward ;
but stand fast, that ye may receive the recompense of
reward. For God is just in all His ways, and abideth
faithful. Therefore, all Friends, mind that which is of God in
you, who gives you food and raiment, and strength ;
that ye may gather strength, and flourish, and your souls
delight themselves in fatness, and feed and eat of the
abundance of riches with Him and from Him, who filleth
all things ; and of the daily bread which cometh from
above, which none can feed upon but who are above the
world ; for who are below never could nor would, but are
ready to stone them that confess they eat of the bread of
Life, and would give of it to them. Dear Friends, wait
upon the Lord, that all of you may grow up in the
inward man, and be comforted and cherished there, in
the things that be eternal.
And stand in the will of the Lord, and be obedient to
Him ; and the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, which
teacheth you to deny all ungodliness and worldly lusts ;
that grace fill and establish your hearts, that your hearts
may grow up in that grace to God, from whence all gifts
and graces come. Amen. G. F.

38 EPISTLES, &C. OF
NO. LXXX.
To seek the kingdom of God first. ] 654.
Friends, seek the kingdom of God first, and the
righteousness thereof; and those things, what ye shall
eat, and what ye shall drink, and wherewith ye shall le
clothed, will be added, and will follow. Therefore take
no thought what ye shall eat, not what ye shall drink,
nor wherewithal ye shall be clothed ; for the Gentiles
seek after these things, who seek not after the kingdom
of God, and the righteousness of it : but seek ye first the
kingdom of God, and the righteousness of it. And con
sider the lilies of the field, and who clothes the earth
with grass, and who feeds the young ravens when they
cry. And the kingdom of heaven being sought after,
and the righteousness of it, he that is here, lives out of
the creatures up to the Creator, which distinguishes him
from the people of the world, who take thought (which
thoughts they live in) what they shall eat, what they shall
drink, and what they shall put on. And they that be
there, are out of the wisdom of God, which the saints are
in, that have sought and found the kingdom of God and
his righteousness ; which wisdom brings them to use the
creatures to his glory ; whether they eat, or whether they
drink, all is done to the praise and glory of God. Such
as abide there can do nothing against the Truth, which
Truth hath made them free indeed ; who are come into
the kingdom of the dear Son of God, which is without
end, who reigneth over the kingdoms of the world.
G. F.

GEORGE FOX. 39
NO. LXXXII. 1665.
See, that there be no slothfulness amongst you, but all
keep in diligence and liveliness ; for he that is slothful,
and gets the form, may have an easeful mind, but is an
evil example. And all such must be judged with the
Light, that they may come to know the servant's place,
and be diligent. And such who have gone up and down
a begging, if ye have received any such amongst you,
with the Light which hath convinced them, see that they
be kept in diligence, and not suffered to wander, but be
kept in obedience to the Light, to receive the wisdom
from God, how to labour in the creation ; and see that
they have things decent and necessary, and their naked
ness covered, that no reproach nor shame may come upon
the Truth, amongst such as are without ; but that with
the Light all such may be condemned, who act contrary
to it. That in the Light which condemns the world, ye
may walk, and receive the light of the Son of God, which
the world stumbles at, which is their condemnation, and
in which the saints have unity. And all being kept
diligent, and walking in the Light, there will be no sloth-
fulness ; and then none shall have self ends in receiving
any, but those ends shall be judged with the Light which
is eternal.
G. F.

NO. LXXXIII.
London, the 15th of the Third Month, 1655.
Dear Friends,
In the eternal Truth of God, ye whose minds are
turned towards God by the light of Jesus Christ, meet
often together in the fear of the Lord, and take heed to

40 EPISTLES, &C. OF
the Light, that with it all your minds may be kept up
to God, from whence it comes. And in all your meetings
wait low in his fear, that ye may come to know the life
and power of Truth one in another. And all ye whom
the Lord hath made overseers over his church in your
several places, be faithful to the Lord, and watch over
the flock of Christ with all diligence : ye which are
strong, watch over the weak, and stir up that which is
pure one in another ; see that all your meetings be kept
in order : be faithful unto the Lord, where He hath set
you, and you shall not lose your reward. Servants, be
faithful unto your masters, not with eye-service, serving
them as men-pleasers, but in singleness of heart, as
unto the Lord ; that ye may come to undo the heavy
burdens ; being faithful in your places, where the Lord
hath set you ; there is your right service. And take
heed of forward minds, and of running out before your
guide, for that leads out into looseness ; and such plead
for liberty, and run out in their wills, and bring dis
honour to the Lord ; and the unbridled will gets at
liberty, and an exalted spirit gets up, and pride and
haughtiness, and high words. And such areshey, who
add to the burden, and do not take it off. Therefore all
wait low in the fear of the Lord, and be not hasty nor
rash, but see the way be made clear ; and as the Lord
doth move you, so do, and return with speed (when ye
have done) to the place where ye were abiding, and be
faithful there ; that the truth of God be not evil spoken
of through you, as they speak of vagabonds and wan
derers ; that it may not be so amongst you : for such are
vagabonds and wanderers, which run before their guide.
And, masters, rule over your servants in love, with all
diligence and meekness, knowing that ye have one Master
in heaven. And Friends, in all places where any do go

GEORGE FOX. 41
abroad, as they do pass by, examine them, whither
they are going, and what about ? And if they cannot
give a good account, exhort them to return back, and
abide faithful in their places, until they see their way
made clear. So farewell in the Lord. The eternal God
of power and wisdom direct and guide you to His eternal
praise, that His name may be honoured and glorified in
you and through you all ! Be diligent every one in your
places, where the Lord hath set you, for the work of the
Lord is great; and God Almighty keep you to be faith
ful labourers in his work.
From one who is a lover of your souls, and whose care is
over the Church of God, that it may be kept in order, and
that all that are guided by his Spirit, may be led into all
good order. G. F.

no. xcn. 1655.
All friends and brethren every where, that are im
prisoned for the Truth, give yourselves up in it, and it
will make you free, and the power of the Lord will carry
you over all the persecutors. For since the beginning
hath this persecution got up ; therefore live and reign in
that power, which remains when the other is gone ; and
in that ye who are suffering for reproving sin in the gate,
will have peace and unity with God, and one with another.
Be faithful in the life and power of the Lord God, and be
valiant for the Truth on the earth ; and look not at your
sufferings, but at the power of God ; and that will bring
some good out of all your sufferings ; and your imprison
ments will reach to the prisoned, that the persecutor
prisons in himself. So be faithful in your sufferings in
the power of the Lord, who suffer now by a false priest-

42 EPISTLES, &C. OF
hood for his tithes, oaths, temples, which have got up
since the apostles' days. For as the apostles and true
Christians suffered for denying the Jewish temple, priest
hood, tithes and oaths, so ye do by the false, and amongst
the apostatized Christians, who are got up since the
apostles' days. So the power, and life, and wisdom of
the Lord God Almighty keep you, and preserve you, to
finish your testimony to the end, that you may witness
every one of you a crown of life eternal, in which ye may
sing praises to the Lord, and in that triumph ! and so,
be faithful in that which overcomes, and gives victory.
G. F.

NO. XCVII.
To a Friend.

1655.
In the will of God, stand, with thy own will offered
up, as His was, who said, Not my will, but thine, be done.
And beware of striving in thy own will against the
eternal Providence and Power, which is now working
invisibly, cross and contrary to all the powers of dark
ness. And wait in the fear of the Lord, that thou mayst
know thy duty to the Lord, whose everlasting love is to
thee ; whose blessing reacheth unto thee, if thou be faith
ful with faithful Abraham, who received the blessing, and
to his seed after him. So beware, lest through thy for
wardness and rashness thou bring the curse upon thee,
and so break thy peace and covenant with the Lord God.
The everlasting God give thee faith in Christ Jesus, in
whom the promise is yea and amen.
G. F.

GEORGE FOX. 43

NO. CII.
Friends, 1655.
Encourage not your wives nor children in the world's
honour ; for that in you which would do so is carnal, and
the carnal mind is not subject to the law of God. If ye
do mind that which is of God in you, it will draw you
up to God, out of the world's honour, and friendship, and
words, and ways, and fellowships, and preferments, cus
toms and fashions, up to God's everlasting kingdom,
where is everlasting joy for evermore.
G. F.

NO. CIII.

To keep to the witness of God.
Friends, 1665.
Take heed of darkness, or going beyond your bounds
or limits, but keep in God's fear, that ye may receive His
wisdom from above, that with it ye may order all things
to His glory, answering the witness of God in every
one, keeping in godly sincerity and simplicity, meekness,
patience and humbleness, justice, truth, and mercy; and
this graceth a government, and is a praise to them that
do well, and is a terror to them that do evil : and then
ye will have the just weight, and measure, and balance,
and true understanding, to answer the just principle of
God in every one.
Bow and submit yourselves to the power of the mighty
God of heaven and earth, and to no deceit ; and take
heed of bringing any into it. And take heed of respect
ing persons in judgment ; and that is the way to obtain
favour from the Lord, and his blessing. From him who
loves your souls' eternal peace and good.
G. F.

44 EPISTLES, &C

NO. CIV.

All friends every where, dwell in the power of the Lord
God, and live in it ; for that brings all your souls into
peace, into oneness, into God, from whence they come,
who hath them all in His hand. And in the power ye
will all come to feel the end of words, the life, from which
all words of truth were given forth ; and all hasty, rash,
loose, lustful spirits, the power will strike down, for they
beget nothing to God, but go out of his dread. Therefore
this is the word of the Lord God, and a charge unto all
friends upon the earth, to dwell all in His power; then
His dread, fear, terror, and majesty will be with you, and
amongst you all, to cleanse, wash, water, regenerate, .and
sanctify every one's vessel, who will be thereby fitted for
the Lord's use. So that the power being lived in, it
keeps you over all the world in the dread and majesty of
Truth, in cleanness and newness of life; and to know the
wrath of the Lamb against all his enemies. And the
power of the Lord God will strike down the lust, that
causeth pride, strife, and contention ; it will bring you to
live in love and unity one with another, and to know the
kingdom of the Most High, that stands in power, ruling
in you all. And all your mortal crowns it will lay down,
and will raise up the Seed, and bring life and immortality
to light ; where the crown that is immortal is known, and
the glory, that fadeth not away, is possessed.
And all friends, in the life and power that stands in
God, dwell, that ye may have unity with God, and one
with another, and feel his presence among you. And the
seed, and life, and power and wisdom of Christ, know
in you all, and one in another. And the Lord God
Almighty preserve you, and keep you in His power,
life, and dominion, which lets you see Him who was in

GEORGE FOX. 45
the beginning, before the world was made ; that nothing
may rule, but life itself ; that ye may feel God's presence
in you and with you, that truth and life may spread
over all the world. So the Lord God Almighty preserve
you in the life, and power, and wisdom of God, that ye
may all be ordered to His glory.
G. F.

NO. CV.
Concerning the Light. 1655.
All friends every where, keep your meetings, waiting
in the light which doth come from the Lord Jesus Christ;
so will you receive power from Him, and have the re
freshing springs of life opened to your souls, and be kept
sensible of the tender mercies of the Lord. And know
one another in the life, and in the power, which comes
from the Lord Jesus Christ, who is your Light, who is
your Life ; that ye may all in the life see Christ to reign
in you, who is the Truth, from whence ye have light.
Here the old serpent is chained, and put into the bottom
less pit, and Christ is known to reign, and ye to reign
with Him ; heirs with Him, joint heirs, and heirs of
God. Here is the dominion received and witnessed of
the world that is without end, and the promise of life
from the Father of life, to you who are turned to the
Son, who is the way to the Father, who is the Mediator
between the Father and you. All wait to receive the
everlasting Priest, the everlasting Covenant of God, of
light, life, and peace ; into which Covenant, no sin, no
darkness nor death comes ; but the blessing of the only
wise God, the Father of Life, here is known, where no
earthly man can approach. But he that is of God, knows

46 EPISTLES, &C. OF
God's truth ; and he that is of the devil, doth his lusts,
who was a murderer from the beginning, in whom is no
truth, who in it abode not. So he it is that speaks a
lie, and speaks of himself, and not God's word ; for he is
out of the truth. But ye that be turned to the light,
walk in the light, walk in the truth, where no darkness
is : with which light, that never changeth, ye may come
to see that which was in the beginning, before the world
was, where there is no shadow nor darkness. In which
light as you wait, ye will come to receive into your hearts
the word of faith, which reconciles to God, and is as a
hammer, to beat down all that is contrary ; and as a
sword, to divide the precious from the vile ; and as a fire,
to burn up that which is contrary to the precious : which
word is pure, and endureth for ever ; which was in the
beginning, and is now again witnessed and made manifest.
So, friends, keep your meetings ; and as ye are moved
of the Lord, be obedient to Him, and keep your habita
tions. And be not troubled: but look at that which
giveth you to see over the world. So the Lord God
Almighty preserve you all to his glory ! Amen.
G. F.

NO. CIX.
Friends, 1656,
Keep to patience, this is the counsel of the Lord to
you. Do not judge one another behind one another's
backs, nor speak evil one of another ; for that it is which
soweth enmity among brethren. And do not judge one
another before the world, for that it is which is in the
extremes, passion and hastiness ; and there you do let in
the world's spirit to rejoice over you, and that is out pf
the patience, and Ipve, and wisdom, and fear of God and

GEORGE FOX. 47
his Truth. And every one dwell in the seed and life of
God, and in that know one another; and meeting to
gether in that, ye may see the Lord Jesus in the midst
of you. And friends, go not into the aggravating part
to strive with it, lest you do hurt to your souls, and run
into the same nature ; for patience must get the victory,
and it answers to that of God in every one, and will
bring every one from the contrary. So let your mode
ration, and temperance, and patience be known to all.
And friends, keep out the worldly-wise part, which
enters into the earth, and the apprehensions of words ;
but let innocency be the garment, and truth and sim
plicity the covering : then in the innocency ye will have
unity, where there is no evil thought, but love that
thinks no evil. Therefore cover one another's naked
ness ; let all things be done in love, and that will edify :
and let' the weight and preciousness of Truth be in your
eye, and esteemed above aU things by you. For here is
my grief, when I hear any thing amongst friends, that
hinders their unity, and makes a breach, whereby the
wrong gets ground. Therefore all ye who have known
the power of the Lord God, and have tasted of the Seed
of God, live in that in which ye come to have unity,
that that part may be kept down. And the wrong eye,
that looks out at one another's weaknesses, that must be
kept under, even that, where the heat, and the burnings,
and the enmity is. Therefore, if there be any naked
ness in any, or among any, cover that, and come all to
the Seed of God in your own selves ; for in that is the
virtue to heal, yea, all nations. Slaughterings, wounds,
and cuttings are the other weapons in the other part,
which is out of that Seed of God whose end is peace ; in
which is the unity, which is the top-stone over all enmity,
and bruiseth it all down.

48 epistles, &c. of
I am a lover of your souVs eternal good, peace, and
unity, in the kingdom that stands in that power which hath
no end. «• * •

no. cxm.
To a friend in the Ministry.
Dear Brother, 1656.
Mind the Lord, and stand in His will and counsel.
Look not forth at time nor place, but at thy Father's
house, wheresoever thou art. And dwell in the pure
measure of God in thee, and there thou wilt see the Lord
God present with thee. For the bringing forth many
out of prison, art thou there set ; behold, the word of the
Lord cannot be bound. The Lord God of power give
thee wisdom, courage, manhood, and boldness, to* thresh
down all deceit. Dear heart, be valiant, and mind the
pure Spirit of God in thee, to guide thee up unto God, to
thunder down all deceit within and without. So fare
well ! God Almighty keep you all !
G. F.
 ? 
nos. cxiv. and cxv.
Dear Brethren, 1656.
In the mighty power of God go on, preaching the
Gospel to every creature, and discipling them in the
Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. In the
Name of Christ preach the mighty day of the Lord, to
all the consciences of them who have lain long in dark
ness and under its chain, where the light shined, but the
darkness could not comprehend it. Go on to plant a
vineyard, and to plough, that ye may eat the fruit

GEORGE FOX. 49
thereof ; and to plant in hope, and to thresh in hope :
that ye may be made partakers of your hope, and to
thresh out the corn, that the wind may scatter the chaff,
that the corn may be gathered into the barn. So, in the
power of the Lord Jesus Christ preach the everlasting
Gospel, that by his power the sick may be healed, the
leprous cleansed, the dead raised, the blind eyes opened,
and the devils cast out. In the Name of the Lord Jesus
Christ go on, that that of God in all consciences may
witness, that ye are sent of God, and are of God ; and
so according to that speak, to bring up all unto the
Head, Christ, and into the life, which gave forth the
Scriptures ; for there is the unity, and out of it is the
confusion. Sound, sound the trumpet abroad ye valiant soldiers
of Christ's kingdom, of which there is no end ! all the
antichrists in the kingdoms of fallen men are up in arms
against Christ. G. F.

no. cxvi.

Concerning Judging in Meetings.
Friends, 1656.
Do not judge one another in meetings, ye that do
minister in the meetings ; for your so doing hath hurt
the people, both within and without, and ye have brought
yourselves under their judgment. And your judging
one another in the meetings, hath emboldened others to
quarrel, and judge you also in the meetings. And this
hath been all out of order, and the church-order also.
Now, if ye have any thing to say to any, stay till the
meeting be done, and then speak to them in private
between yourselves, and do not lay open one another's
^weakness ; for that is weakness, and not wisdom to do

50 epistles, &c. of
so, but is for want of love that beareth all things ; and
therefore let it be amended.
Friends, if any amongst you have movings to do any
service for the Lord, when they have done it, let them
return again with speed to their habitation, and there
serve the Lord in their generation, that no slothfulness
may be amongst you. But all keep in diligence, that no
occasion may be given to any to speak evil of the Truth;
but that ye may answer that of God in all. So, give no
offence, for woe is to those by whom offences do come ;
yet quench not the Spirit. G. F.

no. cxx.
Dear Friends, 1656,
Exhort all your families at times and seasons, whether
they be servants or children, that they may be informed
in the Truth. For when ye were professors, many of
you did exhort and instruct them in the form, when ye
had not the power : and therefore now being brought
into the Truth, ye should be more diligent to exhort,
admonish, and instruct them. G. F.

no. cxxi.

To Friends, to take care of such as suffer for owning
the Truth.
Friends, 1656.
In the wisdom and power of God dwell, by which all
things must be ordered to his glory, in which ye may do
all things to His glory ; and that with the wisdom of
God ye may order and preserve the creation, and every
thing that is good. And if any servants be convinced,

GEORGE FOX. 51
and turned from their places for Truth's sake, friends to
be tender to them, that they be not lost ; but that they
may be preserved. And if any soldiers be put out of the
army for Truth's sake, that they may be nourished and
cherished ; or any children be turned from their parents,
or believing wives from their unbelieving husbands, that
they may be admonished to walk wisely towards them.
And that all prisoners, that have but little of their own,
there may be care taken for them, and for the lame and
sick. And that, if any Friends be oppressed any manner
of way, others may take care to help them : and that all
may be as one family, building up one another, and
helping one another.
And every one be obedient to the life and power of the
Lord God, and that will keep you from being as a wilder
ness ; but be faithful and still, till the winds cease, and
the storm be over. G. F.

no. cxxiii.
Dear Friends, 1656.
In Adam in the fall are all the inward foul weather,
storms, tempests, winds, strifes ; the whole family of it
in confusion, being all gone from the Spirit and the wit
ness of God in themselves, and the power, and the light ;
in which power, light, and Spirit, is the fellowship with
God and one with another, through which they come out
of Adam in the fall, into the second Adam that never
fell, the quickener, who awakens old Adam's children out
of their sleep of sin, and brings them out of his ways up
unto Himself, the way, Christ ; and out of and from the
teachers, and priests, and shepherds, &c, that change
and fall, to the Priest, Shepherd, and Prophet, that
d 2

52 epistles, &c. of
never fell or changed, nor ever will fall or change, nor
leave the flock in the cold weather, nor in the winter,
nor in storms or tempests; nor doth the voice of the
wolf frighten Him from his flock. For the Light, the
Power, the Truth, the Righteousness, did it ever leave
you in any weather, or in any storms or tempests ? And
so, his sheep know his voice, and follow Him, who gives
them life eternal abundantly ; who saith to all that are
dead in Adam, i" am come (mark), i" am come, that ye
(dead in Adam) might have life.
Christ the second Adam is come, that the dead in the
first Adam might have life, and might be quickened;
and that they might be awakened to righteousness, who
are asleep in the unrighteousness. And so, he doth
invite all Adam's posterity to come to Him, that all
through Him might believe, and come to light, and come
to life, and come up into peace and rest ; for in the
second Adam ye have peace, ye have rest. So, they
have no peace nor rest in the old Adam in the fall ; but
in the second Adam, Christ, that never fell, is the rest,
and the peace, and the life. G. F.

no. cxx VII.

All Friends every where, do not delight in apparel, do
not delight in the creature more than the Creator. Trust
not in uncertain riches, which fade and pass away ; but
trust in the living God, and love the riches that endure,
and fade not away. Delight not in the world that ends,
but in the world that hath no end ; that there ye may all
come to have an assurance of the endless life.
G. F.

GEORGE FOX. 53

NO. CXXVIII.

To all Friends, to keep in the power of God, out of the
cares of the world.
All Friends, 1656.
To that which is pure, take heed that all your minds
may be kept up to God, who is pure ; that as the lily ye
all may grow, and receive wisdom from God, how to use
the creatures in their places, to the glory of Him that
created them. For woe is unto you, that lay up for the
latter day with covetousness ; ye act in that nature con
trary to the light, taking thought for to-morrow, what ye
shall eat, and what ye shall drink, and what ye shall put
on. Look at the life, which is more than food, and the
body, which is more than raiment ; and consider the
lilies and ravens, and who feedeth them, and clotheth
the earth : that ye may stand in the faith, and with it
may come to see Him who is invisible. And that keeps
down the covetous and the fleshly principle, and that which
would run out into the observation of days : and that
keeps the life up, out of the earth, and keeps from trusting
in the riches, that be uncertain, and brings to trust in
God, who is living, who is the condemner of all the gods,
who have eyes, and see not ; who keep people under their
dominion from the light. But all who take heed to the
light see God, who is living, who seeth all things.
G. F.
 ¦* 
NO. CXXXI. 1656.
Friends every where, dwell in the power of the Lord
God, which is without end, in which ye may all have
unity. And take heed of striving about earthly things,

54 epistles, &c. of
that with the wisdom of God ye may come to be ordered,
and order the creatures by that by which they were
made and created, that by it ye may know yourselves to
be governed. And after riches do increase, take heed
of setting your hearts upon them, lest they become a
curse and a plague to you. For when ye were faithful
at the first, the world would refrain from you, and not
have commerce with you ; but after, when they saw ye
were faithful and just in things, and righteous and
honest in your tradings and dealings, then they came to
have commerce and trade with you the more, because
they know ye will not cozen them, nor cheat tbem : then
ye came to have greater trading, double than ever ye
had, and more than the world. But there is the danger
and temptation to you, of drawing your minds into your
business, and clogging them with it ; so that ye can
hardly do any thing to the service of God, but there will'
be crying, my business, my business ! and your minds will
go into the things, and not over the things ; and so
therein ye do not come into the image of God, in which
is dominion. And so, when your minds are got into the
riches, and cumbered therewith, ye go back into that ye
were in before. And then if the Lord God cross you,
and stop you by sea and land, and take your goods and
customers from you, that your minds should not be cum
bered ; then that mind that is cumbered, it will fret,
being out of the power of God.
And all Friends, take heed of jars and strife, let not
that harbour in your bosoms, lest it eat out the good in
you, and ye come to suffer in your own particulars.
Therefore dwell in love and life, and in the power and
Seed of God, which is the honourable, royal state. And
all that speak or preach abroad, see that ye be in the life,
and power, and Seed of God, which will edify the body;

GEORGE FOX. 55
and not in a brittle, peevish, hasty, fretful mind ; but
dwell in that which keeps down the contrary, that that
may speak, which edifies the body in love. And all
take heed of vain words, and tattling idle words, but
every where stop such, that love may continue in the
body, and that the Seed may spread over all, that unity
may be kept. And all Friends every where, if Friends
be poor, and in want, or in prison, in wisdom relieve and
cherish such. Keep your meetings in the power of the
Lord God, that all uncleanness whatsoever may, by the
power of the Lord, be brought down and rooted out ; and
that such have no rule nor authority amongst you,
though they be never so fair or excellent of speech : but
let all such be brought under by the power of the Lord
God, who is to reign over it ; that in the sweetness and
unity ye all may be brought to be a sweet savour to the
Lord God, and in the hearts of one another.
And all Friends every where, take heed of wronging
the world or any one in bargains, or overreaching them.
Take heed of slothfulness and sleeping in your meetings ;
for in so doing ye will be bad examples to others, and
hurt yourselves and them. And all take heed of going
up and down (to minister) but as ye are moved of the
Lord God, or to speak in meetings, or any other places ;
for travelling, to such, is dangerous, to lift them up,
going amongst settled meetings. For there is a difference
betwixt Friends going into the world, and of coming
among them that are come to silent meetings, and to
feed there ; for that which may be seasonable to the
world, may not be to them. And in the wisdom of God
all dwell, that to Him ye may be a sweet savour, and a
blessing in the hearts of all people ; that nothing may
rule nor reign amongst you, but the Seed itself, and the
life of God. G. F.

56 epistles, &c. of

no. cxxxvn.
Dear Friends, 1657i
Let God's wisdom have the stay of your minds, and
let it be the end of all your words : beware of that spirit
which leads out of it into any thing. There is a day
coming, wherein some may wish that they had walked in
wisdom, as touching the weaknesses of others ; for what
know ye who may stand, or who may fall in the day of
God's trial ? Then, many who have been unstable, may
wish that they had kept their secrets in their bosoms,
and in God's wisdom sought to restore all and not to
scatter, as that spirit doeth which cannot bear and cover
the weaknesses of others who are yet in the wilderness,
where the trials are many. I have seen a great danger
in this thing, wherefore beware of that spirit that cannot
bear or forgive others ; for that which cannot, will dis
cover rather than cover, and bring a cloud over many
wheresoever it is received, and raise the contrary in
many, and vail the just [it may be in whole meetings,]
for want of wisdom to be staid in the meek spirit, which
tries all spirits, and gives clear sight of things. For
want of this, many may be cast by and scarce ever re
stored again.
Therefore I say tread over the dead, and that which
works in that nature, and reach to the witness in all ; so
will ye stand for God, and God will bless you in the day
of trial. G. F.

no. cxxxviii.
Friends, 1657-
Ye that are the prisoners of the Lord Jesus Christ in
outward bonds, who witness Him by whom the world

GEORGE FOX. 57
was made, who is the King of saints, and who are His,
and come under His dominion and government, ye are
not your own; but purchased with his blood, which
washes and makes you clean, and justifies, whose bodies
are his temple. Though He suffers you to be imprisoned,
yet in His power your bodies are kept, and your spirits
also; ye standing witnesses for your Master, for your
King, for your Prophet, for your covenant of light, for
your wisdom of God, (Him by whom all things were
made,) for the word and power, by which all things were
made and upheld against the powers of darkness, which
cannot bind, stop, nor limit the unlimited power, which
is over it, and comprehends it. Therefore mind the
word of God, ye children of the Light, mind the word of
the Lord, which is as a hammer, and as a fire, and sharper
than a two-edged sword. And ye who are the Lord's, are
not your own ; but they who are in their own time, see
not the time which is in the Father's hand ; their time is
always, and they do their own works, and not the works
of God, which the Son of God did. G. F.

NO. CXLI.

To Friends, to gather up their sufferings, and lay them
before the Judges. 1657.
All Friends every where, that are in any sufferings, let
your sufferings be gathered up together in every county,
ye that have suffered by justices, or constables, or bailiffs ;
let your names be set to your sufferings, and a name or
two to witness them, and the names of them that caused
you to suffer. And after that ye have gathered up
your sufferings in every county, in the county where the
d 3

58 EPISTLES, &C. OF
judges come, let your sufferings be laid before them who
are sent forth from the head and heads of the nation ;
(for a nation is to be governed as a family in justice, and
truth, and judgment, and righteousness :) for he that is
the head in the nation, gives forth his charge to the
judges ; for they are all as his servants. The judges come
forth into the several counties, and the counties are as
their families, and they give forth their charge to the
justices, sheriffs, juries, bailiffs, constables. The justices
and sheriffs of the counties are to look to their places, as
to their families ; chief constables and other constables
in their places, as to their families : and the constable
to look to his town, as to his family. The judges give
charge to all in their places. Now, where these do not
judge and do justly, where sheriffs, juries, constables, do
not do justly, righteously, or equally ; let the sufferings
be gathered together, short and true, and an account of
their actions that have not been just and righteous, who
caused the righteous to suffer, and truth to fall in the
gates, and in the streets, that equity cannot enter.
Gather up such your sufferings in every county, that
suffer by the unjust and unrighteous, and deliver them
to the judges, that they may see it ; that they may
judge justly, and see what is done in the family, to
whom they give their charge, and what their master's
servants have done, justices, sheriffs, constables. And
if the judge that sits in the gate will not judge righte
ously, nor plead the cause of the innocent, nor help the
helpless, nor break the jaws of the wicked, that tear and
rend the innocent, God, who is just, is ready to plead
their cause, and to judge and cast out the unjust judges.
And let a copy of all your sufferings, which are
delivered to the judges in every county, be kept, and
sent up to him that is the head in the nation, who sends

GEORGE FOX. 59
forth the judges as his servants, that he may see, mea
sure, and weigh, how unrighteously they have judged,
and what his servants have done, who cause the dividing
of his family. So that these things being laid upon the
heads of the nation, they may feel and see that God's
judgments are just ; and will come upon them, if they do
not judge justly, and do not measure righteously, and do
not weigh truly. G. F.

NO. CXLVIII.
An Exhortation to fervent Prayer and stedfast Faith, in
time of the greatest troubles and exercises. 1657.
O my dear friends and brethren every where ! let all
your cries and prayers be to the Lord in singleness of
heart, in his Spirit and power, and in belief in God
through Christ, to receive what ye pray for ! For the
Lord's ears are open to the cries of His poor and afflicted
ones. So, day and night let your cries be to Him, who
will keep you in all distresses. For in your afflictions
Christ is afflicted, and in all your oppressions He is
oppressed, and in all your imprisonments He is im
prisoned, and in all your sufferings He suffereth, and in
all your persecutions He is persecuted : Saul, Saul, why
persecutest thou Me? said Christ.
And be moderate and chaste in all your families, and
in all your imprisonments keep in the fast to the Lord,
which breaks down the bond of iniquity, by which every
one's health groweth. And ye may also see, how Christ
Jesus encourages to pray, (Mark xiii.) " Take ye heed,
watch and pray : and what I say unto one, I say unto
all, watch." And in Luke xi. 5—13, wherein He further
encourages to pray, where Christ saith : " Which of you

60 EPISTLES, &C. OF
shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight,
and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves, for a
friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have
nothing to set before him. And he from within shall
answer and say : Trouble me not, the door is now shut,
and my children are with me in bed, I cannot rise and
give thee. I say unto you, though he will not rise, and
give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his
importunity he will rise, and give him as many as he
needeth. And I say unto you, ask, and it shall be given
you : seek, and ye shall find ; knock, and it shall be
opened unto you : for every one that asketh receiveth ;
and he that seeketh findeth ; and to him that knocketh it
shall be opened." And upon this Christ encourages to
knock, pray and seek : for " if a son shall ask bread of
any of you, that is a father, will he give him a stone ?
Or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent ;
Or if he shall ask an egg, will he give him a scorpion ?
If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto
your children, how much more shall your Heavenly
Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him,"
And further he encourages to pray, Luke xviii. " He
spake a parable unto them, that men ought always to pray,
and not to faint, saying : There was in a city a judge, that
feared not God, neither regarded man. And there was
a widow in that city, and she came to him, and said,
avenge me of mine adversary ; and he would not for a
while. But afterwards he said within himself, Though
I fear not God, nor regard man ; yet because this widow
troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual
coming she weary me. And the Lord said, hear what the
unjust judge saith ; and shall not God avenge his own
elect, which cry day and night unto Him, though he bear
long with them ? I tell you, that He will avenge them

GEORGE FOX. 61
speedily." Here mind the promise of Christ, that doth
not change, but will be fulfilled.
And Christ distinguishes in a parable between a
pharisee, who was a public praying man, and a publican,
that stood afar off, and cried for mercy ; who, being in
the fear, was more justified than the pharisee, who was
in the public praying. So pray in the Spirit and in the
faith, nothing wavering nor doubting. And seek and
watch in the spirit, every one in your measures that ye
have received, and therein to be preserved ; and Christ
the life will open to you. So ask in faith, that gives the
victory over the wavering, doubting nature. And what
soever ye ask believing, it will be given unto you ; it is
Christ's promise, John xiv. 13, 14. For Christ saith,
" Whatsoever ye ask in my name, that will I do, that
the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask
any thing in my name, I will do it. If ye love me, keep
my commandments." So, every one's prayers are assured
unto them, and their requests effectual in their obedience,
and loving Christ, and keeping his commandments.
G. F.

NO. CLI.

Friends, 1657.
There was a time, when the apostles preached Christ
that died at Jerusalem ; and they witnessed Him forth,
and brought for proof the prophets' testimonies, which
prophesied of Him. And they that preached Christ's
sufferings at Jerusalem, showed the fulfilling of the pro
phets and the law, and all that was written of Him. And
afterwards the apostles preached Christ the substance (the
end of the types and figures) amongst them that had the
prophets' words, and the law, and the outward temple ;

62 EPISTLES, &C. OF
and they showed them out of the prophets' words, and
out of the law, that that was the Christ, who died at
Jerusalem, and suffered without the gate.
And then there was a time, that the apostles preached
Christ in them, to them that did believe, and had received
Him : Know ye not that Christ is in you, except ye le
reprobates ? And, Christ in you the hope of glory : and,
If Christ be in you the body is dead : and, They that are.
Christ s have crucified the affections and lusts, and all
things are become new. But this was spoken to them
that believed, who were the saints ; to them Christ in
them was preached, the substance of what the prophets
prophesied of ; and to believe in Him who was risen, the
resurrection : but to the world the apostles preached
repentance, and to believe in Jesus Christ ; and taught
faith towards God. But to them who were redeemed out
of the world, in and to whom the Son of God was made
manifest, (who were brought to God, the Judge of all,
and to the church in God, and to the innumerable com
pany of angels, and to the spirits of just men, who were
made perfect in Him through faith towards God,) preach
ing repentance and the doctrine of baptism was needless,
in whom it was fulfilled, to and in such as were brought
to God : He that can receive this, may, for to it there is
no private meaning.
There is a time of preaching faith towards God ; and
there is a time to be brought to God : but such as
are here, deny the first priesthood, and witness the
second with the Eternal Spirit of God ; who witnessed
Him without father or mother, a priest for ever, after
the order of Melchisedech. G. F.

GEORGE FOX. 63

NO. CLIII.
To Friends beyond Sea, that have Blacks and Indian
Slaves.
Dear Friends, 1657.
I am moved to write these things to you in all the
plantations. God that made the world, and all things
therein, and giveth life and breath to all, is the God of
the spirits of all flesh, and is no respecter of persons ; but
whosoever feareth Him, and worketh righteousness, is
accepted of Him. And He hath made all nations of
one blood, to dwell upon the face of the earth, and his
eyes are over all the works of his hands, and seeth every
thing that is done under the whole heavens ; and the
earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof. And He
causeth the rain to fall upon the just and upon the unjust,
and also He causeth the sun to shine upon the just and
the unjust ; and He commands to love all men ; for
Christ so loved all, that He died for sinners. And this
is God's love to the world, in giving his Son into the
world, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish.
And He doth enlighten every man that cometh into the
world, that they might believe in the Son. And the
gospel is preached to every creature under heaven ; which
is the power that giveth liberty and freedom, and is glad
tidings to every captivated creature under the whole
heavens. And the word of God is in the heart and
mouth. For Christ is given for a covenant of the people,
and a light to the Gentiles, and to enlighten them ; who
is the glory of Israel, and God's salvation to the ends of
the earth. And so, ye are to have the mind of Christ,
and to be merciful, as your Heavenly Father is merciful.
G. F.

64 epistles, &c. of
nos. clxi. and clxii.
O Friends! 1658.
Do not die from the good, through the wantonness of
fleshly lusts, neither be choked with the cares of this
life, nor fear the shearers, neither let the heat scorch
your green blade ; but dwell under the shadow of the
Almighty, who will shade you from the heat and cold.
Neither be cumbered nor surfeited with the riches of this
world, nor bound, nor straitened with them, nor married
to them ; but be free and loose from them, and be mar
ried to the Lord. The sufferings in all ages of the
righteous and just were, because they could not join to
the nation's vain worships, evil customs, rudiments, tra
ditions, and carnal inventions, but joined to the Lord,
and not to them ; and therefore they suffered, and kept
single to the Lord God in following Him and his Truth,
and living in it, the Amen, the crown, life, virtue, and
righteousness, that floweth over all, in which the righteous
have peace.
When ye do judge of matters, or when ye do judge of
words, or when ye do judge of persons, all these are dis
tinct things. A wise man will not give both his ears to
one party, but reserve one for the other party, and will
hear both, and then judge. G. F.

NO. CLXVI.
Dear Friends, 1658.
My love is to you all. Live in the Truth, which ye
first received ; that it may be your crown, and your
clothing. And dwell in love, and peace, and unity one
with another in the Truth of God, which the devil is out

GEORGE FOX. 65
of : and keep your meetings in the Name of Christ Jesus,
that never fell ; and then ye will see over all the gather
ings in the fall. And all know one another in Him, who
is the substance, and Him to be your Way and Teacher,
Priest and Prophet ; and then ye will see over all the
false ways, prophets, priests, and teachers. Be faithful
to God, every one in your measure of light, life, and
truth ; and keeping your habitations in the Truth, and
in the light and life, then ye will see over Adam and
Eve, their sons and daughters' habitations in the fall,
who cannot abide the truth, light, and life in the inward
parts. Therefore they are not in peace one with another,
being not in the habitation that Adam was in before he
fell, nor in Christ, that never fell, in whom the saints sit
down, in the life, Christ, who vias with the Father before
the world began.
And so, live in the substance, which is the Seed,
Christ, who ends the prophets, first covenant, first priest
hood, and all the types, and figures, and shadows given
after the fall. G. F.

no. clxvii.
My Dear Friends, 1 658.
Be not carried away by good words and fair speeches,
nor the affectionate part, which is taken with them ; but
every one have hold of the Truth in yourselves, and the
life, and light, and power of the Most High, by which
ye may be staid upon Christ, your bread of Life : He
is the staff of your heavenly and eternal life. Now
Friends, who have denied the world's songs and singing,
sing ye in the spirit and with grace, making melody in
your hearts to the Lord. And ye having denied the
world's formal praying, pray ye always in the spirit, and

66 epistles, &c. of
watch in it. And ye that have denied the world's giving
of thanks, and their saying of grace, and living out of it ;
do ye in every thing give thanks to the Lord through
Jesus Christ. And ye that have denied the world's
praising God with their lips, whilst their hearts are afar
off, do ye always praise the Lord night and day, and
from the rising of the sun to the going down of the same,
praise ye the Lord. And ye that have denied the world's
fastings, and their hanging down their head like a bulrush
for a day, who smite with the fist of wickedness, keep ye
the fast of the Lord, that breaks the bond of iniquity,
and lets the oppressed go free ; that your health may
grow, and your light may shine as the morning.
" G. F.

NO. CLXXI.
Of Persecution.

1659.
Forgive us, as we forgive them, cry Papists, cry Epis
copalians, cry Presbyterians, and Baptists and Inde
pendents ; these cry and say the Lord's prayer ; Forgive
us our debts and trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass
against us ; and then, like a company of senseless men,
without understanding, fall a fighting one with another
about their trespasses and debts, and never mind what
they prayed ; as though they never looked for forgive
ness, and to receive the things which they had prayed for.
They pray, Forgive us, Lord, as we forgive them ; and
fall a persecuting and imprisoning one another, and
taking their brethren and fellow-servants by the throat
about religion, and will not forgive ; but say their
prayers, as the pharisees of old did the Scriptures, and

GEORGE FOX. 67
obeyed them not. And this hath been their work since
the apostles' days. The apostles and Christ did not bid
that any should kill about their words, but that they
should love enemies.
They know not what spirit they are of that persecute,
and would have men's lives destroyed about their church,
worship, and religion ; for Christ said, He came not to
destroy mens lives, but to save them. They would destroy
by a law as the disciples would have done by prayer, to
command fire to come down from heaven to destroy
them that would not receive Christ ; which sort Christ
rebuked, and told them, that they did not know what
spirit they were of. And now, if they did not know what
spirit they were of, do these, who have persecuted about
the church and religion, since the apostles' days, who
would compel men's bodies, goods, lives, souls, and estates
into their hands by a law, or else make them suffer?
These that would destroy men's lives are not the
ministers of Christ, the Saviour. G. F.

NO. CLXXV.
To Friends to serve one another in love, in outward things.
My dear Friends, 1659.
In the order and wisdom of life order all things to
God's glory, and dwell in the love of God together, all
serving one another in love, and in the life of the Truth ;
and ye that give to the poor, lend to the Lord, and He will
give you again with advantage. And so, be ye fruitful in
every good work, and be subject one to another in the fear
of the Lord, and do that which ye do, in love and peace ;
and in that keep in the authority and power of God, in
kindness. And keep down, and be master over all pas-

68 EPISTLES, &C. OP
sion, and the hasty and cross spirits, and silence that
which is sudden ; and let love have the pre-eminence in
all and over all. And provoke one another to love and
to good works, and be diligent in all your places ; that ye
may be a good savour in the hearts of all, and that the
Truth may flow over all. And encourage one another to
seek out the poor, and sick, and fatherless, and widow,
and imprisoned, and make up their necessities and
wants ; then there will be nothing lacking. And keep
in discerning, that ye may not be ensnared, nor made a
prey upon ; but that in the power and wisdom of God
ye may be kept over all such, and to feel through all
states and conditions. That the Lord God may be
honoured in and by you all, and ye all may be preserved
in his power and life to his glory. For your bestowing
of outward things to such as stand in need, is the least
love, and things of little value, in comparison to the
things that are above and immortal. And so, keep over
all in which ye have the blessing poured upon you from
the Lord God, to clothe and cover you. G. F.

NO. CLXXXI.

P.S. If any Friends have friends or relations beyond
sea, send them books or papers, and be diligent to spread
the Truth ; and send Latin books, or French books, or
other books to Leghorn, France, Poland, Italy, Norway,
Low Countries, &c.

no. clxxxvi.
Friends, 1659.
Which have known and tasted of the power of the
mighty God of heaven and earth, and of his light and

GEORGE FOX. 69
life, be faithful in the power, light, life, and truth, to the
spreading of the Truth abroad ; with which ye may
answer the truth in the inward parts in every one. And
dwell in that which binds and chains, and gives to see
over the world; that life, wisdom, and power may reign
among you. Be faithful, and spread the Truth abroad,
and walk in the wisdom of God ; answering that of God
in every one : and write, speak, and send books abroad
into the countries, and islands, and nations, or main land,
as ye are moved ; that the sound of the trumpet of the
Lord's host may be heard in the nations and islands.
So, the God of love, life, and power, and wisdom be with
you ? And ye that are turned to the Light, and gathered
into it, meet together, and keep your meetings, that ye
may feel and see the life of God among you, and know
that in one another ; for that keeps down and lays low
all that which is out of the kingdom. They who are
turned to the Light, Christ Jesus, to the Immanuel, they
know the interpretation thereof, God with us ; who
redeems out of transgression, and out of death, darkness,
and sin. G. F.
 ? 
no. clxxxvii.
My dear Friends, 1659.
Dwell in the love of God together, for that edifies you
all, and by that ye are built up ; and who go from that,
pluck down with enmity and discord, and wrangling, and
quarrelling and disputing ; and are puffed up with high
swelling words, and are large in their worldly wisdom
and earthly knowledge in a show, to tread upon the
simple ; and are of the great comprehension. Therefore
keep over that spirit, for it will not stand to the
end, although it would be lord ; it is scorched when
the heat of persecution comes. G. F.

70 epistles, &c. of

no. clxxxix.

To Friends in New England and Virginia.
My dear Friends, 1659,
Robert Hodson, William Robinson, Marmaduke
Stevenson, Peter Pearson, William Brend, William
Ledra, and the rest of Friends in New-England and
Virginia, be faithful to the Lord in the truth of the
Lord God, and in His power and wisdom be valiant for
it upon the earth, and spread it abroad, and confound
deceit. And go on in peace, and love, and unity one
with another, and keep in the wisdom of the Lord God ;
that ye may be answerable to the witness in every one
to whom ye preach. And to all nations of mankind the
everlasting Gospel, the power of God, is to be preached,
through which life and immortality shall come to light ;
in which power is the fellowship. Therefore this is the
word of the Lord God to you all, those that are convinced
by the power of the Lord God, and the light, let them
dwell in it, in which they may have unity. For the Lord
hath a Seed that ways, if ye in patience all of you wait,
and do not matter the weather, the storms, the winds, the
hail, the rain, wherein ye are to sow the seed, nor the
rough ground, that is to be tilled. For the husband
man waits patiently, after the seed is sown ; there is a
winter, before the summer comes. And there must be a
great work, before the misty heathen be cleared in their
understandings, (that are so naturally,) and the dark air
be driven back, and the Prince of Life and Light be
witnessed. So, live in patience and in peace, and in the
weighty wisdom of God, and then ye will see the end of
all frothy spirits, that will not abide the trial. G.'F.

GEORGE FOX. f[
P.S. — The Lord is king over all the earth, and Christ
hath all power in heaven and in the earth ; and He is
King of kings and Lord of lords: let Him rule and
reign in all your hearts by faith, and exalt Him in the
land, and in your assemblies.

no. cxciv.
Dear Friends, 1660.
Who have found the better part, and chosen the
better thing, the one thing, which lasteth for ever, which
is the ground of all true rejoicing and joy, in whom ye
have all riches and life, and the blessings, and the
immortal power to be your crown and covering. And it
may be, there will be a time of shearing and clipping ;
but the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof. So
mind Him to be your portion, and the Seed of Christ
your all, and your Life ; and fear not loosing the fleece,
for it will grow again. And keep in the worship of the
Father in the Spirit and in the Truth, which the devil is
out of, and in that ye will live in the Truth and Spirit
in yourselves, and walk in unity in the same ; and then
ye are over all the will-worships in the fall of Adam. And
as the outward Jew suffered by the outward Egyptians
and Babylonians, and they persecuted them, and killed
their children ; so the spiritual Egyptians and mystery
Babylon persecute and would kill the Jews in spirit,
that worship God in the spirit, whose praise is of God,
and not of man; and such have none from fallen men,
but by them are persecuted. But all such go, as dumb
before their shearers ; for He that gave his back and
his cheek to the smiters, overcame and reigns, and hath
the victory and the honour, who is Christ, the Amen, the

72 EPISTLES, &c. of
First and Last, the Top and Corner-Stone ; in Him sit
down in life, and peace, and rest. G. F.

no. cxcvi.
Dear Friends, 1660.
In Jamaica and elsewhere, who know the Truth of
God, and have been sufferers for the same, all live in it,
that ye may all be preserved in peace and freedom. For
Truth brings to the noble mind, spirit, and nature, and
Seed, which never will bend to sin and unrighteousness,
nor ungodliness whatsoever, nor to the author of it. And
therefore all walk in the Truth, that ye may all come
to honour the Lord God in your lives and conversations,
in your words and dealings, doing truly, justly, and
righteously unto all people ; that God may be glorified
amongst you. And that ye may come to be as lights to
the world, and the countries about you, so that by your
Light they may come to walk out of their dark, unrigh
teous, ungodly, and corrupt ways, which the corrupt
people walk in. And therefore all mind that, in which
ye may honour God, and his holy Name, into which ye
are called ; that ye may answer the Lord God for all his
tender mercies and great riches, that He hath plentifully
manifested and enriched you withal. That the love
of God may fill your hearts, which hath abundantly been
shed in you ; that so it may abound one towards another,
and to all the creatures of God, for their good ; that they
may come to the way of life and peace, and that they
seeing your good works, may glorify your Father which
is in heaven. And so, let truth, righteousness, holiness,
pureness, and justness be your jewels, and in your eyes
esteemed above all ; forjjunrighteousness, unholiness, un
godliness, is but dross, and is not of God nor Christ.

GEORGE FOX. 73
And therefore live in the Truth ; and in this ye will have
fellowship with God, with Christ, and one with another.
And so no more, but my love. Things here are well, and
meetings are quiet and large in this nation, and this part
of the world. Farewell.
Ye may write unto us, and let us know how things are
with you. G. F.

no. cc.
The Line of Righteousness and Justice stretched forth
over all Merchants, fyc.
All Friends every where, 1661.
Govern and order with God's wisdom all the creatures
that ye have under you, and all exchangings, merchan
dizing, husbandry. Do what ye do in the wisdom of
God, and with it, which is pure from above, and gentle,
and easy to be entreated. With this wisdom (which is
not earthly, sensual, nor devilish) you do good unto
all, and hurt no one, nor yourselves ; for it is pure
and preserves pure.
So, this is the word of the Lord God to you all ; keep
all in the power of God over all the unrighteous world.
In which power of God ye will be preserved in justice,
in Truth, in equal balance, and weights, and measures,
uprightness and honesty to all people. So all here in
this are serviceable to God in their generation, and to the
creation. Do rightly, that is the word of the Lord God
to you all, whether ye be tradesmen, of what calling or
profession, or sort soever, or husbandmen : do rightly,
justly, truly, holily, equally to all people in all things ;
and that is according to that of God in every man, and
the witness of God, and the wisdom of God, and the

74 EPISTLES, &C. OF
life of God in yourselves ; and there ye are serviceable
in your generation, labouring in the thing that is good,
which doth not spoil, nor destroy, nor waste the creation
upon the lusts.
And all merchants whatsoever, seamen, and traffickers
by sea or land ; this is the word of the Lord God to you
all : do justly, speak truly to all people whatsoever : then
are ye a dread and a terror to the unjust. Wrong no
man, over-reach no man, (if it may be never so much to
your advantage,) but be plain, righteous, and holy ; in
this are ye serviceable to your own nation and others, by
your change and exchanging of things and merchandize,
and to the Lord God ye come to be a blessing in the
creation and generation. Live in the life of Truth, and
let the Truth speak in all things, and righteousness ; and
let justice be acted, and holiness in all things, without any
guile, fraud, or deceit ; so, that is well pleasing to God
and men, and according to that of God in every one.
And this showeth forth the fruits of believers, that are
passed from death to life ; from death, which came by sin,
the original of which is the devil. Now, in the Truth
and righteousness ye will all have peace, favour, and
the blessing of the Lord in all things. And that keepeth
out the covetous mind, and covetous desires ; that which
keepeth over this, hath the blessing and increase of the
heavenly riches ; and shall not want the creatures, nor
will the Lord withhold any good thing from them. So,
be careful to do good in all things to all people whatso
ever: in the fear of God serve Him, and be diligent,
and not stubborn in any thing, but pliable in the power
of God, that keeps you over all the powers of unrighte
ousness ; acting so in that, that ye may be a good savour
in all nations, islands, and places where ye come, in the
hearts of all people ; doing truly and plainly, uprightly,

GEORGE FOX. 75
faithfully, justly, and honestly, according to the Light of
Christ Jesus in every man ; that ye may witness to all.
Then will your words, lives, and conversations preach
and manifest, that ye serve God in the new life ; and
that ye have put off the old man and his deeds, which
are unrighteous ; and that ye have put on the New Man,
which is renewed after God in righteousness and holiness,
according to his image.
Loathe deceit and all unrighteousness, hard-hearted-
ness, wronging, cozening, cheating or unjust dealing;
but live and reign in the righteous life and power of God,
and wisdom, that presseth all the other down, and to
answer the good and just principle in all people ; and
that will win people to deal with you, doing truth to all,
without respect to persons ; to high or low, young or old,
rich or poor : and so here your lives and words will
preach wherever ye come.
All husbandmen and dealers about husbandry whatso
ever, cattle or ground, to you all this is the word of the
Lord God ; do rightly, holily, justly, honestly, plainly,
and truly to all men and people, whomsoever ye have to
deal withal ; wrong not any in any case, though it be
never so much to your advantage. Deny yourselves,
and live in the cross of Christ, the power of God, for
that destroys injustice ; and without holiness none can
ever see the Lord ; and out of righteousness there is no
true peace. Therefore all, of what sort soever, or what
calling soever, do justly, whether ye be masters or
servants, fathers or mothers, sons or daughters, to one
another, and to all, do that which is just and righteous,
uprightly and holily ; in that you will have peace, and
see God.
So in all husbandry, speak truth, act truth, doing
justly and uprightly in all your actions, in all your

76 EPISTLES, &C. OF
practices, in all your words, in all your dealings, buyings,
sellings, changings, and commerce with people, let Truth
be the head, and practice it. This brings righteousness
forth, and deceit to the judgment bar. In this ye answer
the Light of Christ in every one, and are blessings to
the Lord God, and to your generation ye are service
able ; and come to walk in the new Life, in which the
righteous, holy God is served. In which righteousness
ye have peace ; and in which holiness ye see God : for
the kingdom of God stands in righteousness, peace, and
joy in the Holy Ghost.
So all friends of what calling soever, dwell in the
power of God, and feel the power of God, and the light
of Christ Jesus ; dwell in that, act in that ; that ye may
answer that of God in every one upon the earth, with
your actions, and by your conversations, and by your
words, being right, just, and true. This goes over the
unjust, untrue, unholy, and unrighteous in the whole
world ; and reacheth to the good and true principle of
God in all people, which tells them when they do not do
equally, justly, righteously, and holily. So, let your
lives preach, let your light shine, that your works may
be seen, that your Father may be glorified; that your
fruits may be unto holiness, and that your end may be
everlasting life.
And all, of what trade or calling soever, keep out of
debts : owe to no man any thing but love. Go not be
yond your estates, lest ye bring yourselves to trouble,
and cumber, and a snare ; keep low and down in all
things ye act. For a man that would be great, and goes
beyond his estate, lifts himself up, runs into debt, and
lives highly on other men's means ; he is a waster of
other men's, and a destroyer. He is not serviceable to
the creation, but a destroyer of the creation and creatures,

GEORGE FOX. 77
and cumbereth himself and troubleth others, and is lifted
up. He would appear to be somebody ; but being gone
from the honest, the just and good, falls into the shame.
Therefore dwell every one of you (that know redemption
from the earth) under your own vine, and seek not to be
great, but in that ; and dwell in the truth, justice,
righteousness, and holiness ; and there is the blessing
enlarged. So in that power, wisdom, and strength, that gives you
dominion over all, and to answer that of God in all, the
love and power of the Lord Jesus Christ preserve and
keep you all in his wisdom, life, seed, and dominion, that
to Him ye may be a blessing, and a good savour in the
hearts of all people. And let all your actions and words
be one with the witness of God in all people. Amen.
And let none be negligent in their business, but give
an account by words or writings, how things are with
them, when others write to them ; so that none may
wrong one another in these outward things, nor oppress
one another, but be serviceable one to another, keeping
their words, (their going into things beyond their ability
makes them break their words,) keeping within their
compass with that which they may answer others, lest
any should be lifted up. For it is a bad thing to be
lifted up, and to make a noise and a show for a time with
other people's goods, and not to be able to keep their word,
their promise, their day ; such may be lifted up for a time,
and break and fall, and go out as a stench, and bring a
great dishonour to Christ and true Christians. And
therefore, keeping your word, your day, and keeping your
just measure, your just weight, that keeps down the op
pression. And by keeping to that just measure and
weight, and to your word and day, by the power of God
and his Spirit in your own hearts, there the blessing is

78 EPISTLES, &C. OF
doubled, there ye come to be rich, and ye are a good savour
to God, and in the hearts of all people.
So every one strive to be rich in the life, and in the
kingdom and things of the world that hath no end ; for
he that covets to be rich in the things of this world, falls
into many snares, and hurtful lusts. And therefore let
him that buys, or sells, or possesses, or uses this world,
be, as if he did not. Let them be masters over the world
in the power and Spirit of God, and let them know, that
they owe no man any thing but love ; yet serve God in
truth, and one another in their generation.
For, friends, if ye be not faithful in the outward
treasure, and outward mammon, who will trust you with
the true treasure ? Or who can believe that ye have the
true treasure, but that ye speak by hearsay of it ? So, I
say to you all, see that ye are faithful in this outward
mammon, this outward treasure of the things of this life,
of this world, faithful to your word, faithful to your days,
faithful to your promises, in all your tradings, traffickings,
bargainings, true and just, and righteous and honest in
these outward treasures or mammon, concerning the
things of this world, of this life, of these outward riches.
G. F.
P.S. — Holiness becomes the house of God: so all God's
people, his children, his saints must be holy, as He is
holy ; and therefore do that which is holy and just in all
your lives and conversations. And whatsoever ye do, let
it be done to the praise and glory of God ; mark that :
have God's praise and glory in your eye in all your speak
ings and doings, then ye will be preserved to his glory,
and then ye will honour him ; and those that honour him,
he will honour and beautify, and clothe with the fine
linen, the righteousness of Christ, that men may not see
your nakedness. For God will have a holy people to

GEORGE FOX. 79
serve him in holiness; a true people to serve him in
truth, and in his Spirit, and in his new and living way,
above all the dead ways, that are come by sin and un
righteousness, and transgression of his Spirit, and power,
and command. So all ye that know his Power and Spirit,
live in it, that ye may glorify God in all your lives, and
conversations, and words, that ye may answer that of
God in all ; that ye may glorify God in your bodies,
souls, and spirits, which are his, who hath made them,
and gives them to you for that end. To whom be glory
and honour for ever, who created all for his glory and
for his honour. So the Lord God Almighty keep and
preserve you faithful in all things to his glory and honour
for ever !
He that walketh in his integrity is just ; and blessed
shall be his children after him. — Prov. xx. 7.
Unjust weights, and unjust measures, both these are an
abomination to the Lord.- — verse 10.

NO. CCVIII. 1661
All ye prisoners of the Lord for his Truth's sake, and
for keeping the testimony of Jesus Christ, against all the
inventions, traditions, rudiments, will-worships, feigned
humilities, and self-righteousnesses, that are in the fall ;
your patience must overcome all the rough spirits in the
world, and your love must bear all things. For patience,
which runs the race, obtains the crown which is im
mortal. So be meek and low, then ye follow the ex
ample of Christ, and come to bear the image of the just,
who suffered by the unjust; and put on his righteousness,
who suffered by the unrighteous ; whose back was struck,
his hair plucked off, and his face spit upon, and who yet

80 EPISTLES, &C. OF
cried, Father, forgive them ! Here he kept his dominion,
who though a sufferer had the victory ; which the fol
lowers of the Lamb do in measure attain to. So, put on
courage ; put on patience. Let your loyalty be known
for your king, that hath conquered the devil, death, and
hell ; in walking in righteousness, peace, and Truth,
feeling the power of God preaching and reaching the
witness of God in every one, when words are not uttered.
G. F.
 ? 
NO. CCXVI.
To Friends in New England, and the Islands beyond
sea. 1662.
To all my dear friends and brethren, among whom the
precious truth and power of God hath been declared, and
joyfully received; whose belief, confidence, and inno
cency is spread abroad ;- who are come to the vine, Christ
Jesus, that is your shade ; whom bonds and death have
not dismayed, for the worth of Truth's sake. And
fetters, irons, whippings, stripes, and spoilings of goods,
and the like cruelties and persecutions, have not daunted
you, whose courage, valiantness, and boldness for the
Truth, hath much appeared among a crooked and perverse
generation, that professed Christ, and among whom He
hath not so much place of entertainment as in their
manger in the outward ; whose hearts are dens of dragons
and places of darkness, and whose religion and profession
they have shamed, being unfruitful in the ways of God
and Christ, workers of darkness, whose iniquity hath
flourished, and sins sprung up as the grass ; that their
folly and shame might cover them, and that they might
be confounded in their iniquity.

GEORGE FOX. 81
So ye, in the power of the Lord God, in his might,
and strength, that brings your salvation, stand ; in which
power and arm ye see over that which brought destruc
tion ; in which power (that is the gospel) life and
immortality come to light, and captivate that which hid
life and immortality. And then is the gospel, that is
everlasting, preached unto all nations of mankind, and to
all that are driven out from God in the power of dark
ness ; to the intent that they may all come up again to
God, and have life and immortality brought to light by
his Almighty power ; which expels death and darkness.
And so, all ye that have tasted of the power, sit down
under your own vine, and abide in it ; then will ye bring
forth fruit through the power of God and Christ Jesus,
who is the Vine. Therefore every one receive Christ the
Light, that hath enlightened you, and ye shall feel the
power, in which Light ye shall all have fellowship ; which
Light will give every one of you the knowledge of the
glory of God, in the face of Christ Jesus, your Saviour.
And in the power of the Lord God, which hath gathered
you over the powers of darkness, and all the meetings
therein, in that power of God which is everlasting, live,
and keep your meetings ; in that ye may feel fulness of
life and wisdom from above, by which ye may all be
ordered to God's glory, and order all things under your
hands to his honour. Through which wisdom ye may
be a blessing to the Lord God in your generation, and a
sweet savour to him in the hearts of all people upon the
earth ; yea, of the very heathen, to bring them to the
Light, which Christ Jesus hath enlightened them withal ;
that they may come to the knowledge of the same salva
tion or condemnation.
Work ye and labour in the power of the Lord God,
that lives for ever ; in it make vineyards and plantations,
e 3

82 EPISTLES, &C. OF
to the renewing of people's minds in the light and power
of God, and the knowledge of Christ Jesus ; turning them
from the enmity and the darkness (the power of Satan)
to the light, and to God, that they may be renewed into
his image and likeness ; that the image of the devil, and
his likeness, may be defaced, which is gotten up in the
hearts of men and people, since the beginning in trans
gression. So, bring them to the Great Sacrifice, the
Lord Jesus Christ, the Seed of the woman, who offered
up Himself for the sin of the world; the Top-stone,
which is laid over all, who is restoring by his power, who
hath all power in heaven and earth.
So spread the Truth abroad, and be valiant for it upon
the earth, improve your talent, and be the wise virgins,
with oil in your lamps ; that ye may enter in with the
bridegroom. Have salt in yourselves, that ye may
savour all things, and keep your consciences clean and
pure unto God and all men. Live in the cross of Christ,
and rejoice in it, which is the power of God. And so,
ye who are heirs of the power of a world that hath no
end, and a kingdom that is everlasting, sit down in your
inheritances ; that ye may increase in the everlasting, in
the blessing, and in heavenly riches.
And though the oppressors of the earth will not let you
have a foot of ground, yet ye have the power of God to
stand in ; and so ye that are heirs of that, and Christ
Jesus, whose the earth is, and all things therein, and are
in the power of God separated from the power of dark
ness, the devil, and who are come into that which was
before he was, ye have nothing to lose, for all yours is the
Lord's. G. F.

GEORGE FOX. 83
NO. CCXXII.
A General Epistle.
My dear Friends, 1662.
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 whoso
ever bends and submits to the power of God within, feels
it to rise over, and strike over, the carnal part, and that
part that turns into 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.
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 moun
tain, and at Jerusalem, and said : God is a Spirit ; and
they that worship Him, must worship Him in spirit and
truth ; and the hour is come, and now is, that the Father
seeketh 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 moun
tain and at Jerusalem, where the forefathers worshipped.
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 standing worship that Christ preached up
on the hill, where the forefathers had worshipped. And
this worship is over the worship that was at Jerusalem,

84 EPISTLES, &C. OF
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.
To pray in the spirit, this was 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, which is the public prayer set up by the apostles,
every man, every woman, must come to the Spirit of
God in their ownselves ; for it will give them under
standing 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 the Spirit to God, who is a Spirit. And
this is public, the Spirit of God in every man and woman
to pray with unto God, who is a Spirit ; then in this
Spirit have they fellowship and unity, and a bond of
peace. One hath one set form, another another, that is
particular ; 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.
Singing in the Spirit 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

GEORGE FOX. 85
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.
The teachers of the world (who called themselves
ministers of Christ) told us that they had received a gift
from Christ, who did ascend on high, and led captivity
captive ; and this gift was for the work of the ministry,
and for the perfecting of the saints ; and how 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 he 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 were 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 that they would have ful
filled their words ; for we have given our money, and
have spent our labour in following after them, and hoped
they would have 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 and Eve's state before
they fell. 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,

86 EPISTLES, &C. OF
they tell us there must be a meaning put to them. And
thus they deceive us, in not bringing us to the measure
of the stature of Christ, who never fell, the second Adam,
the Lord from heaven.
Now of what value and price, and worth, have they
made 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 woe, and must not come to the state
they were in before they fell, to the image of God, in
righteousness and true holiness. 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 so 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
it is said — 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

GEORGE FOX. 87
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 which 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 all people on the
earth. Now mark, the apostle said, He hath quickened us,
who were dead in sins 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 this riches are seen, that the apostle's
preaching is fulfilled, who said, He hath quickened us, and
made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.
So mark, in Christ Jesus, [ws] the church, [us] the saints,
[«ts] the believers and true Christians, made us to sit to
gether. 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 to sit in
heavenly places in Christ Jesus. 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 Beginning and in the
Ending, in Him in whom there is no shadow of turnings
nor variableness.
G. F.

EPISTLES, &C. OF

NO. CCXXXIX.

A General Epistle to all Friends. 1664.
Now all Friends, look upon the sufferings that have
been since the fall, and since the world began. And
again, look upon the valiant prisoners, and such as stood
with the Lord and for the Lord, and followed and obeyed
his movings, and motions, and commands ; with the
victory they had, how they triumphed in the Lord, over
that which was against the Lord ; for by faith Abraham
forsook his country, and his father's house, and his
national worship. And by faith was Abel's offering
accepted of God, unto whom God had respect. There
fore did wicked Cain persecute and kill him about his re
ligion ; and this was not long after man was fallen from
the righteousness, and the power, and the image of God,
in which man was made. And by the faith, and the
power and wisdom of God, did Moses go down and speak
to Pharaoh the king of Egypt, and through the power,
and hand, and arm of God he led them out of Egypt ;
which signifies misery, thraldom, and bondage ; though
afterwards when they were come out, and had tasted the
power of God, many fell. And Moses saw Christ, the
great prophet that was to come, which was to build his
house, as Moses by the wisdom of God had done his, in
the time of the Law, with types, figures, and shadows.
And so look upon Moses how he conquered all the magi
cians, and comprehended all the sorcerers, and soothsayers,
and Pharaoh's religion and their worship : and could not
bow nor bend unto it.
Look upon Joseph, who through the enmity in his
brethren was sold into Egypt, who underwent reproach

GEORGE FOX. 89
and imprisonment ; unto whom God gave power over all
at last, and he confounded all the wise men, and the
national worshippers in Egypt, and came in favour over
them all by the power of God. And whilst the children
of Israel stood in the power of God, what victories they
had over their enemies ! As instance, Samson, David,
and Saul. But when any went from the command of
God, how they fell under the heathen. So now, ye who
are come to God's power, which goes over the power of
darkness, and before it was ; in that stand, triumph and
trample ; who are come to the end of carnal weapons
and striving with outward arms. And also remember
how the prophets were imprisoned, and put into dungeons
and stocks, &c. as in particular Jeremiah ; and how they
were mocked, and scoffed at, and reproached, for declaring
against the sins and wickedness of the times, both by
rulers, teachers and people ; and yet by the power of God
they were carried through, and over all : and the cry was
then, Cursed is he that putteth his trust in man, or feareih
man, or the arm of flesh, &c.
So remember the three children, though prisoners, yet
could they not bow to the national worship, and so were
cast into the fiery furnace, unto whom the Lord God
gave dominion over their enemies, and confounded the
national worshippers, with all the magicians, and made the
king to change his decree and law. And this was in the
Babylonish Monarchy ; and when the Medes and Per
sians got up, the power was changed, then they cast
Daniel into the den of lions, because he prayed to his
God contrary to his king's decree, to whom God appeared
again and confounded them all, and made the king or
emperor to change his decree. Therefore keep faith in
the power of God, for that is it by which the elders of
old obtained a good report. And consider Mordecai, who

90 EPISTLES, &C. OF
stood faithful, and could not bow to proud flesh, though
it was in danger of destroying all the Jews, over whom,
through obedience to God, he gave him victory, by which
he came to answer the good in all people. Now consider,
they that came to profess Christ, who was the substance
before the types, figures, and shadows, which were held
up by the Jews in the Law, and first covenant, and
priesthood and ordinances, which Christ the substance
came to end, how that I say, the Christians of old suffered
by that kind of people, the Jews, as you do now suffer
the most, and have done by them that are the greatest
professors of Christ's words, but out of the Life and
Power of Christ, which the apostles and saints were in,
in the primitive times.
So it is no new thing ; and, as Solomon saith, There is
no new thing tinder the sun ; for it is not a new thing for
the birth that is born after the flesh to persecute the birth
that is born after the Spirit. And look upon the apostles,
and consider how they suffered that bore testimony to the
substance, and by whom : their sufferings were, by such
as were in the husks, shadows, inventions, and rudiments
of the world, and such as were fallen from God's
righteousness, image, and holiness, and not in the re
newed state.
And consider how the witness hath been slain, and
(the true Church) the woman hath fled into the wilder
ness, who was persecuted ; and how she hath been fed
there of God ; and how since that time the beast and
dragon's worship hath been up, and the false prophet, and
the harlot, (the false church,) which hath ridden on the
beast in the dragon's power, whom the people have wor
shipped ; who hath caused all nations to drink of her cup
of fornication. Now you that have come to the end, and
beyond all the worships of the beast, and after the wor-

GEORGE FOX. 91
ship of the dragon, and have come to see the power, and
to be in it, that takes them and casts them alive into the
lake of fire, which power gives them dominion over them
all, and to see to the very apostles' days, and what hath
got up since ; for it is sixteen hundred years since the
false prophets and antichrist came in, therefore they may
plead antiquity. Now with the power of God ye may
look what tricks they have played in the world, since the
primitive times, in the apostacy. But now is the bride
coming up out of the wilderness, and the prophet is
arisen and arising, and the everlasting Gospel shall be
and is preached again to all nations, kindreds, tongues,
and peoples, of them that dwell upon the earth ; and the
reapers are going forth to reap people down, and so up to
God, and to bring them into the barn, and to gather the
wheat into the garner. And people shall come to wor
ship God, that made heaven and earth, the sea, and all
that is therein, and the beast's worship, and dragon's
worship, and the false prophets are falling, and true pro
phets and true witnesses are rising and risen. Sing,
triumph and rejoice, glory in the highest, trample, tread,
and bow them before the mighty God. Let the wicked
bow before the gates of the righteous : sing and rejoice,
the heaven of heavens praise the Lord !
And consider how the servants of the Lord, and his
royal people and prophets feared not flames, feared not
dens of lions, or dragons, heeded not imprisonments,
bonds, banishments, whips nor scourgings, nor spoiling
of their goods, nor tortures ; nor feared being sawed
asunder, nor their stocks, their clubs and staves, nor per
secution ; but chose rather to suffer reproach with the
people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a
season. And how that reproaches, slanders, vilifying
words, they regarded not, but trampled upon such, and

92 EPISTLES, &C OF
said, the sufferings were not to be valued with the excel
lency and riches of grace, which they were made partakers
of. And the cry was, What shall separate us from the
ove of God, which we have in Christ Jesus? shall
death, shall famine, or sword, or persecution, or cold, or
nakedness, or things present, or things to come, or height,
or depth, or angels, or men, or principalities, or powers,
separate us from the love of God? &c. For by the
powers were all the national worships held up, as they are
at this day, and the false prophets, the teachers, and the
powers, joined together then against them that were in
the faith ; by which faith they overcame, and said, there
was not any thing that was able to separate them from
the love of God which they had in Christ Jesus.
G. F.

NO. CCXL.
Friends, 1664.
All outward things, figures, types, shadows, and in
ventions, have been set up since Adam fell ; which inven
tions Christ destroys, and the types, figures, and shadows
of Him He fulfils, and brings man up out of the fall, to
the state he was in before he fell ; and so in the power of
God, into peace, love, and unity, and into the everlasting
fellowship. Cain differed from Abel in matter of worship ;
Abraham from his countrymen and nation : likewise in
matter of worship ; Moses and the children of Israel
differed from the Egyptians and Canaanites, and other
nations, in matter of worship. Yet after the children
of Israel were brought out of Egypt by the power of
God, how soon after did they set up a calf, an outward
thing? Therefore in the power of God keep over all
things, and in his wisdom. And observe how soon

GEORGE FOX. 93
Korah, Dathan, and Abiram began to offer a strange
sacrifice, after they were brought out of Egypt by the
power of God ; and went from the power of God, in
which they should have offered : therefore in the power
of God keep.
And also ye may see what differences there were among
the churches in the primitive times, about meats, drinks,
days, and times, but the Apostle tells them, the kingdom
of God stands not in such things, but in righteousness,
peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost ; and they were not to
judge one another about such things ; for meats were for
the belly, and the belly for meats, but God would destroy
both them and it, and showed them that it was below
Christians to jangle about such things. Also what
jangling was there in the church in the primitive times
about circumcision, which the apostle brings them off,
and tells them, That circumcision nor uncircumcision
availeth nothing, but a new creature. Therefore mind
that new creature, and the faith that works by love.
And how also there were janglings about baptism and
the supper, and about men, some for Paul, and some for
Apollos, &c. But the apostle directed them all to know
Christ the Seed, in the male and female, and told them
he preached Christ in them, and bid them examine them
selves, and prove themselves, and to know Him to be in
them, otherwise they were reprobates ; and he brings
them off from things that are seen, for the things which
are seen are temporal, but the things that are not seen
are eternal. Now these things which they jangled about,
were things that were seen, and not eternal things, but
temporal ; for, if they did not come to Christ Jesus, the
substance of those things, they remained in the reproba
tion from the life, truth, and substance. And likewise,
there were janglings about ministers and teachers, about

94 EPISTLES, &0. OF
such as transformed themselves as into angels of light,
and such as preached for filthy lucre, and such as served
not the Lord Jesus Christ, but their own bellies.
And the heat of some spirits got up so high about their
outward things, that when they were not owned nor re
ceived, their sacrifices, and their will-worships, and their
feigned humility, and their observing of days, and times,
and forbidding marriages, setting up their doctrines, and
traditions, which were not to be touched, tasted, nor
handled, they went enviously into Cain's way, and
Balaam's, and got great men on their sides, and admired
their persons because of their advantage. Such went
from the voice of God, which brought them out of Egypt,
as Core did.
And all the envious spirits in all ages, rose against
those that were in the power of God, because they could
not observe their outward things, which they had set up
to be observed, which they that be in the universal power
of God, which was before the fall was, could never do ;
for their freedom stands in that, therefore is Cain wrath
ful against his brother, who is the wanderer and vagabond
from God's voice, way, life, and acceptation.
G F.

NO. ccxlv.

All my dear Friends, 1666.
Live in the noble Seed Christ Jesus, the Saviour and
the Anointed One, and the Righteous Holy One, that
your minds, hearts, souls, spirits, and bodies may be
righteous, living in the righteousness of Christ Jesus, in
all love, virtue, truth, and holiness, without which none
can see God. For the Lord loveth the righteous, and

GEORGE FOX. 95
the righteous are in peace, and all workers of iniquity
their mouths shall be stopped : the throne of iniquity
must be brought down, and the chamber of imagery in
every heart ; for the Lord must have the heart, for it is
to be his offering and sacrifice. All lips must be pure,
and hands clean, that confess the Lord Jesus Christ ; and
all tongues and eyes single to God and one to another ;
and all mind the Lord's business in the Truth, and be
given up to Him, and in it serving the Lord God in
newness of life. And you that grow rich in the world in
earthly things, who have had a stirring in you formerly
in the service of God, take heed lest your minds run into
your outward businesses, about outward things, and therein
be lifted up above the good and just spirit, and so leave
the service of the Lord and his business, in minding
your own. For outward riches, and the things of this
world, will pass away, for they have wings ; but the
word of the Lord, which lives and abides, and endures
for ever, will remain. Labour for the riches of it,
for that will endure with you ; and seek the kingdom
of God, which will never have an end, that stands
in righteousness and in holiness, in which you have joy
and peace in the Holy Ghost ; then all outward things
will follow. So that in righteousness, holiness, and
truth, as just men and holy men, and men fearing God,
and as righteous men, sons, and servants, and children of
God, you may all live, in all righteousness, holiness,
pureness, truth, justice, and equity, in all manner of life
and conversation ; so that your conversations may shine
as lights of the world : knowing that all unrighteousness,
uncleanness, unholiness, injustice, untruth, and impurity,
is not of God, but is out of the kingdom of God ; and
likewise all cheaters and cozeners, who do enrich them
selves by falsehood ; these works and workers are out of

96 EPISTLES, &C. OF
the kingdom of God and his power, and they are of
their father the devil, who is out of the Truth. And
Christ is pure, the Righteous One, the Holy One : in
Him live ; for Christ, who sanctifies the impure, is pure ;
He who never fell, sanctifieth and washeth them that are
in the fall ; He who never transgressed, redeems out of
transgression ; He who never sinned, redeems out of sin,
and makes an end of it : and He who never trespassed,
comes to forgive trespasses, and blot them out. And
every one that comes to witness this forgiveness by Him,
who have been the trespassers against God, they cannot
but forgive men their trespasses against them.
Keep in the faith that works by love, that purifieth
your hearts ; the mystery of which is held in a pure
conscience ; which faith brings you to have access to
God, and gives you victory over that which separates
from God. This is that by which you subdue mountains,
and quench the fiery darts of Satan, and overcome him
withal ; and in this you have all pure unity ; and you
edify and build up in the holy faith, the gift of God ;
and this is that which is to be contended for, which is the
same that was once delivered to the saints. 0 ! live in
the pure hope, which purifies you as He is pure ; which
hope is Christ ; and so feel Christ your hope, which
anchors your immortal souls, which stays it in all waves,
storms, and tempests, and is sure and safe in all weathers ;
Christ, who is the same to-day as He was yesterday.

NO. CCXLIX.
A General Epistle to Friends. 1667.
Blessed are all those whose minds are staid upon the
Lord, for they shall be kept in perfect peace.

GEORGE FOX. 97
And seeing the devil hath made the world like a wilder
ness, and there are so many ways in it, that people do not
know which way to come out of it, nor which to follow ;
therefore this is my answer to you all, take David's Lamp
and Light. You may say, what is that ? and where is it ?
I say, it is within you, the Word of God. You may say,
people do not use to carry lamps in the day time, but in the
night. I say, you are in the night of darkness, and there
fore the Word is called a lamp, and a light to you ; by
which you may distinguish the way of the Lord, which is
perfect, from all men's ways, which are imperfect ; for by
this Word did David come to outstrip his teachers, and was
made wiser than them all ; for by this Word he saw Christ,
and called Him Lord. And this was the Word that
came to Abraham, which made him forsake his national
religion and worship, and obey the Lord ; and this was
the Word that came to Jacob the shepherd, by which he
saw Christ, and prophesied of Him to his sons on his
death-bed, when he said to Judah, the sceptre should not
depart from Judah, nor a law-giver from betwixt his feet,
till Shiloh come, (meaning Christ,) and the gathering of
all nations should be to Him. And this was the word
that came to Moses, the shepherd, when he was keeping
sheep ; which he obeyed and went to Egypt, and brought
the children of Israel out of Egypt ; by which Word he
was made a minister ; and when the children of Israel
were come out of Egypt into the wilderness, he told
them, they need not go for the Word beyond the seas, &c,
for it was nigh them, in their hearts and mouths, to obey
it and do it. And this was the Word that made Moses
a prophet, who prophesied of Christ, and said, Like unto
him God would raise up a Prophet, him should they hear
in all things.
And this was the Word that came to Samuel, and.

98 EPISTLES, &C. OF
made him a prophet, who spoke to Eli the priest, and
reproved his sons, and the children of Israel.
And this was the Word that came to Isaiah, by which
he prophesied of Christ, and of his preaching, and of his
sufferings ; and by which Word he reproved the shepherds,
which were as greedy dumb dogs, that could never have
enough, seeking their gain from their quarter.
And this was the Word of God that made Jeremiah a
prophet, by which he saw the New Covenant ; by which
Word he was said to reprove the people and the princes,
of the filthy and horrible thing committed in the land,
that the priests preached for hire, and the prophets pro
phesied falsely. And for reproving them for their super
stition and idolatry, they struck him, and put him in the
stocks and prison, and persecuted him in the dungeon,
till his persecutors were carried into captivity. And by
the Word Jeremiah saw the number of seventy years of
his persecutors being in Babylon's captivity.
Elijah by this Word was made a prophet, and by the
Word reproved Ahab and Jezebel for their idolatry, and
worshipping of images. For which Word's sake they
persecuted him, and the rest of the prophets. And
Elisha the ploughman, by this Word, was made a prophet,
and forsook his plough ; and by the Word reproved the
idolatry in his age of priests and people.
And by this Word was Ezekiel made a prophet ; by
which Word he reproved the shepherds of Israel, that
made a prey upon the people, and taught them for the
fleece. And by the Word he saw that God would bring
the people from under them, that they should be made
a prey no longer ; and would gather them from their
mouths, and set one Shepherd over them, even Christ.
And by this Word Daniel was made a prophet, and
saw Christ and his kingdom, and how the saints should

GEORGE FOX. 99
take his kingdom ; and by the Word he saw such that
should rise up against the people of God. And by the
Word he numbered the years of Christ to his time, four
hundred and ninety-nine years, and of his death, and how
he should end the sacrifices ; and how that Christ should
bring up everlasting righteousness, and put an end to sin,
and end their prophets, and seal up their visions.
And by the Word was Micah made a prophet, by which
he cried against the priests that preached for hire, and
the prophets that prophesied for money, and the judges
that judged for rewards, and such as preached peace to
the people that put into their mouths, (like the priests in
these times) and when they did not, they prepared war
against them, and chopped their flesh and broke their
bones. And by the Word was Amos the herdsman made
prophet, who was a gatherer of fruits ; and likewise all
the rest of the prophets, who spoke forth divine things,
and reproved the superstition and idolatry in their time
and day. And this was the Word that made so many
fishermen preachers of the gospel, which is the power of
God. And this was the Word which made Matthew the toll-
gatherer, Luke the physician, and Paul the tent-maker,
ministers and preachers of the gospel, and power of God.
And this was the Word which made Peter to see Joel's
prophesy, how that God would pour out of his Spirit
upon all flesh, and sons and daughters should prophesy,
and young men should see visions, and old men dream
dreams ; and the pouring forth of the Spirit upon ser
vants and handmaids, that every one should have some
thing to speak to the glory of God. And, now priests,
and proud prelates, and bishops, and popes, though
you have made a trade of the saints' words, and the
f2

100 EPISTLES, &C. OF
apostles and prophets' words, and gotten a great deal of
money by them ; yet, nevertheless, if a company of shep
herds, herdsmen, fishermen, tent-makers, and toll-gatherers
should come amongst you to preach, you would say, Away
with these mechanic fellows! they have not served seven
years' apprenticeship at the colleges, which were set up to
make ministers : therefore they are not to set up, because
they have not served their apprenticeship. What say the
shepherds, herdsmen, fishermen, tent-makers, physicians,
and toll-gatherers ? Do you make a trade of our friends'
words, who were of our occupation, that never served
apprenticeships in colleges, before they spake forth the
words you make a trade of? What ! will you make a
trade of our friends' words, who were of our occupation ?
away with you to work, and away with your colleges ;
for our brother Paul the tent-maker said, He that will not
work must not eat. For, would you own Christ if He
had come in your day, who was called a carpenter's son ?
You popes with your triple crowns, and you lord bishops,
with your coaches and pampered horses, and gorgeous
apparel, with your black coats, and white coats, and silk
girdles — are you like to entertain Him who was called a
carpenter's son ; or to cast Him and his mother into the
manger in your stables ?
This was the Word by which John the evangelist saw
Christ, who doth enlighten every man that cometh into
the world, and saw how He became flesh, and came to
his own, and that his own did not receive Him ; but to as
many as received Christ the Light, that to them he gave
power to become the sons of God. And by this Word,
the minister of the Word preaches Christ's word, life,
death, and resurrection. And therefore, as John saith
in his epistle, That which our eyes have seen, our hands
have handled, and our ears have heard of the Word of

i->

GEORGE FOX. 101
Life, do we preach unto you ; that which was from the
beginning : in the beginning was the Word ; but since the
beginning were the words and letters ; for the Scriptures
of Truth are the words of God, and the words of Christ.
So the Word was in the beginning, and Christ's name is
called, the Word of God ; but Christ is not called the
Scriptures. So, in the beginning was the Word. And
this is the Word that lives, and abides, and endures for
ever, by which the saints are born again of the immortal
Seed and Word of God, into a Divine life, wisdom, and
understanding ; and by this Word they do see all flesh
to be as grass, and as the flower of the field that fadeth ;
and the Word of God that lives, and abides, and endures
for ever, is Christ, whose name is called, the Word of
God. Concerning the Worship of God. 1667.
There was a worship at Jerusalem; and a worship at
the mountain, where Jacob's well was.
Jacob went down into Egypt with his family, and he
died in Egypt, and his sons carried him out of Egypt,
and buried him in the land of Canaan, in his grandfather
Abraham's burying-place ; and after several hundred
years, the children of Israel came out of Egypt into the
land of Canaan, and there they built Jerusalem and the
temple ; and there was but one temple in the whole world
commanded of God, and that was at Jerusalem. And
before, in the days of Jacob, there was a worship set up
at the mountain, near unto Samaria, where Jacob digged
a well. Therefore when the woman of Samaria came out
to fetch water at Jacob's well, the woman reasoned with
Christ about worship, and she said — Our fathers wor
shipped at this mountain, but others at Jerusalem : and

102 EPISTLES, &C. OF
Christ answered her again : The hour cometh, that
neither at Jerusalem, nor at this mountain shall God be
worshipped. There He denies the continuance of these two public
places of worship ; and when He had done that, He sets
up another worship, for He said, God was a Spirit, and
they that worshipped Him, must worship him in spirit
and in truth ; for the hour cometh, and now is, that God<
seeks such to worship Him. And this worship He set
up, and preached up above sixteen hundred years since;
many hundred years before Mass-book, Common-Prayer
book, Directory, or Church Faith were. And this was
the public worship that Christ set up in the Spirit and in
the Truth ; for God is a Spirit, and such He sought to
worship Him, as worshipped Him in spirit and truth.
So all are to mind the worship that God seeks, and not
the worship that men seek. And Christ said, that the
temple should be thrown down, and the city of Jerusalem ;
and the Jews scattered over all nations. And the apostle
saith : He is not a Jew that is one outwardly, but he is a
Jew that is one inwardly, in the spirit, and not of the
letter; for the letter killeth, but the Spirit makes aim,
What, cries the world, do you deny temple worship?
Nay ; we say every man and woman must come into the
temple, if he worship God in the Spirit and Truth.
For, do not you know that your bodies are the temples
of the Holy Ghost, which is the Holy Spirit ? And can
any worship God, who is a Spirit, in the Truth, but they
must come to the Spirit and the Truth of God in their
own hearts? Here we set up the public and temple wor
ship, which Christ set up, which every man and woman
in the world must come to, Truth in the inward parts,
and the Spirit of God within them, and worship in the
Spirit.

GEORGE FOX. 103
And this is the public and universal worship ; and this
brings every man and woman in the world to Truth, and
the Spirit of God in their own hearts. And so this
brings all to know their bodies to be the temples of the
Holy Spirit, in which they worship, as the Jew outward
worshipped in his outward temple.
And they that offered in the Jews' temple, were to
wear the holy garments; so are you to do that are
the true Christians, and are called a royal priesthood.
What ! are all true Christians, priests I Yes. What !
are women priests ? Yes ; women priests. And can men
and women offer sacrifices without they wear the holy
garments ? No. What are the holy garments men and
women must wear ? The fine linen ; and they must go
in white. What, is this the priest's surplice? Nay;
the surplice got up when the fine linen, the righteousness
of saints, and going in white, were lost. What is the fine
linen and going in white, that this royal priesthood must
wear, which are the royal garments ? It is the righteous
ness of Christ, which is the righteousness of the saints ;
this is the royal garment of the royal priesthood, which
every one must put on, men and women ; so every one
put on your robes, put on your garments, the righteous
ness of Christ, as a cloak, that you may offer to the Lord
an offering in righteousness. You that are sensible of
the Lord's mercies, offer to Him his praise, his glory and
honour, his spiritual sacrifice in your temple, as the sweet
odours, myrrh and frankincense. And when the Jews'
temple was cleansed, and the rubbish cast out of it, the
glory of the Lord filled the temple. And when your
temples are cleansed, and the rubbish cast out of your
temples by your High-priest Jesus Christ, who destroys
the devil and his works, you will witness a renewing
up into the image of God, into righteousness and holiness.

104 EPISTLES, &C. OF
So here you are a royal priesthood, offering up the spiri
tual sacrifices. And was not the Jew outward, to have
fire and lamps burn always in his temple ? And are not
the Jews in spirit, always to have the Word, which is a
fire in their temple, and the Light of Christ ? For doth
not Christ say, have oil in your lamps ? And were not
their bodies that lamp ? And was there not to be salt in
the Jews' temple, to season their sacrifices ? And so, are
not you to have always salt in yourselves (doth not
Christ say so ?) by which you may savour and be seasoned,
that all your sacrifices may be seasoned with salt 2 And
so Christ ends all the types, figures, and shadows, and
variable things that were given to man since the fall, and
held up by the law, which law of God they were not to
add to, nor take from, and which stood very nigh two
thousand years. This law served till Christ came, and
was good in its place, and was added because of trans
gression ; but Christ is come, who was the end of the law
for righteousness' sake, to every one that believes ; and
in Christ is no shadow, variableness, nor turning : for He
was before shadows were, glorified with the Father before
the world began ; the First and the Last, the Beginning
and Ending, the Top and Corner Stone, the chief Master
Builder, the Elect and Precious One, whom all the
builders in all ages rejected, that were of men, and by
men, and from men ; whom the heirs of the world cast
out, and could not abide that He should reign, whose
right it is. But Christ is King of kings, and Lord of
lords, above all principalities, powers, and thrones is He
ascended ; He opens and no man shuts, and shuts and no
man opens ; so He that opens to you by his light, who
filleth your lamps with oil of gladness, none can shut out
from you.

GEORGE FOX. 105

NO. CCL.

A warning to all to keep out of the vain fashions of the
world, which lead them below the serious life, fyc.
Friends, 1667.
Keep out of the vain fashions of the world ; let not
your eyes, and minds, and spirits run after every fashion
in apparel ; for that will lead you from the solid life into
unity with that spirit that leads to follow the fashions of
the nations. But mind that which is sober and modest,
and keep to your plain fashions, that therein you may
judge the world, whose minds and eyes are in what they
shall put on, and what they shall eat. But keep all in
the modesty, and plainness, and fervency, and sincerity,
and be circumspect ; for they that follow those things
that the world's spirit invents daily, cannot be solid.
Therefore all keep down that spirit of the world that runs
into so many fashions, to please the lust of the eye, the
lust of the flesh, and the pride of life. And fashion not
yourselves according to your former lust of ignorance ;
and let the time past be sufficient, in which you have
lived according to the lusts of men, and the course of the
world ; that the rest of your time you may live to the
will of God ; taking no thought what ye shall eat, what
ye shall drink, or what ye shall put on. Therefore take
heed of the world's vanity, and trust not in uncertain
riches, neither covet the riches of this world ; but seek
the kingdom of God, and the righteousness thereof, and
all other things will follow. And let your minds be
above the costly and vain fashions of attire, but mind the
hidden man of the heart, which is a meek and a quiet
spirit, which is of great price with the Lord. And keep
to justice and truth in all your dealings and tradings, at
f3

106 EPISTLES, &C. OF
a word, and to the form of sound words, in the power of
the Lord and in equity, in yea and nay in all your deal
ings, that your lives and conversations may be in heaven,
and above the earth ; that they may preach to all that
you have to deal with ; so that you may be as a city set
on a hill, that cannot be hid, and as lights of the world,
answering the equal principle in all ; that God in all
things may be glorified. So that you may pass your
time here with fear, as pilgrims, and strangers, and
sojourners, having an eye over all things that are uncer
tain, as cities, houses, lands, goods, and all things below ;
possessing them as if ye did not ; and as having a city
whose maker and builder is God, and an inheritance that
will never fade away, in which you have riches that will
abide with you eternally. G. F.

NO. CCLI.

My Dear Friends, 1667.
Now that Friends are become a good savour in the
hearts of all people, and God having given them his
dominion and favour, lose it not, but rather increase it in the
life ; for at first ye know that many of you could not take
so much money in your trade as to buy bread with; all
people stood aloof from you, when you stood upright,
and gave them the plain language, and were at a word ;
but now that, through the life, you come to answer that
of God in all, they say that they will trust you before
their own people, knowing that you will not cheat, nor
wrong, nor cozen, nor oppress them. For the cry is now,
where is there a Quaker of such and such a trade ? so
that they will deal with Friends before they will deal
with their own. 0 ! therefore, Friends, who have pur-

GEORGE FOX. 107
chased this through great sufferings, lose not this great
favour which God hath given unto you, but that you
may answer the witness of God in every man, which
witnesseth to your faithfulness, that they may glorify
your Father on your behalf.
And now, Friends, if there be any oppression, exac
tion, or defrauding by making a prize, through the
freedom which God hath given you, the world will see
such, and say, the Quakers are not as they were ; there
fore such should be exhorted to equity and truth. And
also if any run into debt, and aim at great things, and
make a great show in the world of others' goods, which
come to burden others, and lift up themselves with that
which is not their own, and are not able to satisfy them
according to their time and word ; such hurt themselves,
burden others, and oppress them, and bring grief, and
cause heart-rising in them to see such grown up by
oppression ; therefore such must be exhorted to justice,
equity, and righteousness, and an even measure, to do as
they would be done by.
And also, such as go under the name of Quaker, that
are gotten into the earth, and settle their nests there in
ease ; such come to cry against Quakers1 meetings, saying,
away with your forms ; and will not come to our meet
ings, and hurt others, by which the world gets occasion
against the truth. Therefore such must be exhorted, for
such never knew the purchase of the Truth, or if they
did they have sold it.
And they that do forsake the assembling of themselves
together, as the manner of some was in the Apostles'
days, and is the manner of some now, such grow more
and more in the evil heart, departing from the living
God. And this brought in the apostacy, and all the
whole body of trifling traditions. Therefore such as be

108 EPISTLES, &C. OF
in the everlasting power of God, must exhort such to
take heed and be wise.
And also, all such unruly spirits that have professed
falsely, and got under the name of Quakers, whose e'vil
words corrupt good manners, must be exhorted from
house to house.
And also such young people, lasses and lads, that go in
youthful ways, and take liberty to go into pleasure, and
to play, and to ale-houses and drunkenness ; which are
marks that they are dead whilst they live ; such must be
exhorted to live in the Truth, and to come to that which
will mortify that which leads to death ; so that Truth
may be adorned by them.
And also such as will not go to meetings, and cry
against others that do, and say, they are forms of men ;
and one while they will not give the hand ; and another
while they will keep on their hats when friends pray, and
yet secretly they can go to bad houses, as several have
done ; — from these abominable houses they must be ex
horted and reproved. And if they do not repent, and
come to judge and condemn those things that they have
done amiss, and to live in that which doth condemn, and
give forth a paper to take their transgressions and bad
doings out of Friends' minds ; and manifest to the
people of the world their repentance : then Friends must
give forth a paper to the world, to certify against them,
for clearing the Truth.
And all such as are tattlers, busybodies, backbiters,
and gossipers, are to be exhorted to mind their own con
ditions, that they may live in the Truth, and not draw
others out to words, wherein there is no profit ; that
Truth may flow, and the life may flow, and the unity
may increase in the Spirit and Power ; that all may
come to live in the Gospel order.

&

GEORGE FOX. 109
And all such as cry, Away with your laws, we will
have none of your laws — all such as cry against laws so
much, are the sons of Belial, and would be without the
yoke of the law of the Son of God. Such always were
the stirrers up of mischief and schism from the body,
and they took liberty to say any thing ; as ye may read
in the Book of Kings, in the days of Jezebel, and in the
days of Stephen ; and yet these that cry so much against
laws, they live themselves in the law of sin and death ;
which they obey when they do evil ; who are without the
understanding of the righteous law, which the righteous
live in and see. Therefore such must be exhorted and
reproved, if they go under the name of Quakers, and are
not in the life; that justice, judgment, and righteous
ness, may flow as a river, and as a stream, and that all
the filth may be driven away from among us ; that no
thing but the power of God, and the life of Truth, may
rule amongst us ; that the living God, who hath blessed
you with his heavenly riches and mercies, and largely
manifested them among you, may be in all things
honoured, magnified, and exalted : to whom all belongs,
God over all, blessed for ever. So that every one may
adorn the Truth, and the Gospel, and mind the Lord's
business above their own. And every one be tender of
the glory of God, and be careful, that in no ways his
name and Truth be dishonoured.
G. F.

110 EPISTLES, &C. OF
NO. CCLII.
For Friends in the ministry, scattered abroad in Vir
ginia, Maryland, New England, Barbadoes and other
Plantations beyond the sea. 1667.
To all you that minister abroad in those parts, this is
the word of the Lord : Live in lowliness of mind, meek
ness of spirit, and pureness of heart, and be examples in
your lives, and chaste in your conversations, in holiness
of mind, that you may be a good savour amongst the
people where you come. Let all ungracious, light, un
seasoned expressions, be kept out of your minds and
mouths, which edify not the new Life ; and keep single
unto God, and single-hearted to man, and plain in all
things, and low. For it is the word of the Lord, and the
light of God, that prophesieth and revealeth the dispen
sation of the Gospel of Christ unto people. Be ye faith
ful in it, and walk answerable to it, and to that holy gift
or manifestation of prophesy. Be at unity amongst
yourselves, that you may not make sects or schisms, or
stumble the weak. For you know that cursed spirit that
made rents, and got into the affections and uppermost
part of people, hath buried the witness of God in many,
and made open rents. And so, be valiant for the Truth
upon the earth, abhorring all uncleanness and unrighte
ousness, flying all youthful ways and fond affections
below, being kept above them ; showing the new life to
them that be in the old, and a new conversation to them
that be in the vain, and gentleness to all the perverse,
and straitness to all the crooked, and plainness to all
the rough, and lowliness to all the mountains of ungodli
ness and unrighteousness ; for the Lamb must have the
victory. And so you may be one another's crown, joy,

GEORGE FOX. Ill
and rejoicing in the Lord ; and not one another's sorrow
and grief. And some of you should take some of the
eminent, true, good, and upright Friends, and go and
discourse with some of the heathen kings, desiring them
to gather their council and people together, that you may
declare God's everlasting Truth, and his everlasting way
of life and salvation to them, knowing that Christ is the
promise of God to them, a covenant of Light to the
Gentiles, who is also the New Covenant to the Jews ; for
you have been amongst the old, rotten-hearted professors,
and seen the power of the Lord come over them. So,
now turn to the Gentiles, to whom Christ is given for a
Covenant of light, and of salvation, to the ends of the
earth. So that the Light must be preached and sounded
throughout all the heathen kings and princes' countries ;
and therefore, as you feel and are moved, let about six or
more persons, living in those parts near unto them, go
with you, as I said, and desire the king to gather his
council and subjects together, that they may hear that
which hath been promised to them, God's everlasting
Covenant of light, and life, and salvation, to the ends of
the earth. And so be faithful in his power, which was
before the devil was ; who hath darkened people, and set
them one against another. You having on the armour
of light, which was before the power of darkness, and
having on the breast-plate of righteousness, that you may
stand against all unrighteousness, and the shield of faith,
the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit,
which is the Word of God. For the Word is the same
now as it was in the beginning, in ages past, manifested
over all ; which many thousands have received. Glory
and blessing to the Lord God for ever. So be faithful,
that you may be one another's crown and rejoicing in the
Lord, going together in the love and fear of the Lord.
G. F.

112 EPISTLES, &C. OF
NO. CCLVI.
My Dear Friends, 1667.
Live in the wisdom of God, which is gentle and pure,
from above, and easy to be entreated. All bear one
another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. And
if any weakness should appear in any in your meetings,
let not any lay it open and tell it abroad ; that is not
wisdom that doth so ; for love covereth a multitude of
sins, and love preserves and edifies the body ; and he
that dwells in love dwells in God, for God is love ; and
love is not easily provoked ; and therefore keep the law of
love, to keep down that which is so provoked ; for that
which is easily provoked hath words, which are for con
demnation. G. F.

NO. CCLX.
Dear Friends, 1668.
And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall
be called the way of holiness : the unclean shall not pass
over it. This way, which is called the way of holiness,
was spoken of by prophecy ; and this way is Christ, who
is the way of holiness, who is above the unclean, and
destroys it, and the ground of it, the devil ; and so, the
unclean cannot pass over this way of holiness. This is
our way, who are in scorn called Quakers, to wit, Christ;
and this way of holiness shall be for the wayfaring men ;
though fools, they shall not err therein ; nor shall lion,
or ravenous beast, or lion's whelp go thereon. All the
ravenous beasts are without, in the way of the world,
without Christ and God. But the redeemed shall walk
in this way of holiness, Christ Jesus ; and the ransomed
of the Lord shall walk in this way of holiness ; and they

GEORGE FOX. 113
that do return from the way of the world to Sion, shall
walk in this way of holiness, with singing, and everlast
ing joy upon their heads. And they that walk in this
way of holiness, Christ Jesus, shall obtain joy and glad
ness ; and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. And all
that walk in this way of holiness, their deaf ear is un
stopped, and their blind eye is opened. And the lame
man here shall leap as an hart, and the dumb man's
tongue shall sing. And here he shall see waters gush
out of the rock, and streams out of the desert, in this
way of holiness. And in this way, he shall see the
parched ground become a pool, and the thirsty land full of
springs ; and in the habitation where dragons lay, shall
be grass with reeds and rushes, which begin to spring :
glory be to the Lord for ever. And this way of holiness,
which the prophets prophesied of, is Christ Jesus, the
Way, who said of Himself, / am the Way ; and He is
over all the fallen ways, and before the way of the ser
pent ; glorified with the Father, before the world began.
And this is the way of the wayfaring men, who have
been wayfaring up and down from religion to religion,
from worship to worship, from one people to another,
from one minister and teacher to another, and could not
sit down in any of their ways, but wayfared, travelled,
and sought. And now, glory be to the Lord for ever
thousands of these wayfaring men are come to find
their way, Christ Jesus, and shall not err therein.
They shall not err in Christ Jesus, for there is no error
in Him, for He was before error was ; for Christ, the
way, destroys the devil and his works, the ground of all
error. So, though they be called fools by all the sons
of Adam, who are set down in their own rudiments, and
who have persecuted these wayfaring men as fools, be
cause they would not sit down with them in their rudi-

114 EPISTLES, &C. OF
ments, worships, self-righteousness, and national church,
which national powers have established ; yet these way
faring men walk on in their way, Christ Jesus. And
they see how all the wise men in old Adam mixed with
the wisdom of the Serpent, how they are ail in their own
ways, worships, and religions ; and all the sects in it,
how they are like tradesmen, plucking from one church
to another, and getting customers, and drawing people
from one another's church to their own ways ; and tear
ing one another to pieces, to get people from one another's
church to themselves. / sought my beloved by night, and
the watchmen smote me. Did not the wayfaring man go
to the Papists, and say, You watchmen of the night,
did ye see my Beloved ? What is thy beloved more than
another's beloved, said they ? What is thy religion,
more than another's religion ? or thy profession, more
than another's profession ? so the papists smote and
wounded the way-faring man. The way-faring man did
not ask the papist for his beloved ; for the papists had a
beloved, a Mass-book ; but he asked him for his own
Beloved, Christ Jesus.
Well, the next watchmen were the Common-prayer
men of every parish. The wayfaring man went to those
watchmen of the night, and said, Did ye see my Beloved?
They stormed at the wayfaring man, and said : What is
thy beloved more than another's beloved, and thy religion
more than another's religion. They also smote him, and
wounded him.
Well, the next watchmen of the night were the Pres
byterians, they were also the watchmen of some people;
the wayfaring man went to them, and said, Ye watchmen
of the night, did ye see my Beloved ? And they were
exceeding angry, and said : What is thy beloved more
than another's beloved, and what is thy religion more

GEORGE FOX.

115

than another's religion? He did not ask him for his
beloved; for he knew he had a beloved, his Directory.
And these watchmen smote the wayfaring men, and
punished some, spoiled some of their goods, and killed
some, (as in New England,) because they would not
follow their beloved, as the papists and others had done
before them.
The next watchmen were the Independents and Bap
tists ; the wayfaring man went to them also, for they
were the watchmen of some people, and said unto them :
Ye watchmen of the night, did ye see my Beloved?
And these watchmen of the night were also exceeding
angry, and said, What is thy beloved more than another's
beloved, and thy way more than another's way, and thy
religion more than another's. And these watchmen of
the night smote cruelly.
Then the wayfaring men went to the private meetings
of the Manifesterians and Seekers ; and these watchmen
fell a mocking, and scoffing, and railing, and smiting with
the tongue, and thrust them out of their meetings. And
when it was asked them, if they saw the wayfaring men's
Beloved? they scoffed at their beloved. And so the
wayfaring men wayfared up and down from watchman to
watchman to seek their Beloved ; and many were impri
soned and persecuted by some of these watchmen of the
night. And now, glory for ever be to the Lord ! thou
sands of these wayfaring men have found their beloved,
and have found their way, Christ Jesus, and a fool
shall not err therein; for there is no error in Christ
Jesus. The outward Jew worshipped in his outward temple
made with hands, at outward Jerusalem, and they came
up yearly to worship there ; and if they did not come up
to worship at outward Jerusalem, and keep the feast of

116 EPISTLES, &C. OF
tabernacles in the temple, upon them should be no rain ;
and their eyes were to rot out of their heads, and their
tongues out of their mouths, that fought against Jeru
salem. Zee. xiv. 12. So the outward Jew had but one
temple in the whole world, and there they went to wor
ship in it ; and the priest had a chamber in the temple.
And when Christ came, he ended the priesthood, he
ended the offerings, and the temple and the worship
therein of the outward Jews ; and set up another worship
in the spirit and in the truth. For when the woman of
Samaria, that came to Jacob's well, said unto Christ, how
that " our fathers worshipped in this mountain," (where
Jacob's well was, and the well was made before Jerusalem
was, or the temple either ; for Jacob died in Egypt, and
afterward his sons came out of Egypt, and builded a
temple in Jerusalem ; and so there they set up a place of
worship after the well was made), then Christ said unto
the woman, the hour is coming, and now is, that they
that worship the Father must worship Him in spirit and
in truth ; and not at Jerusalem, nor at this mountain, is
God worshipped ; for God is a Spirit, and they that wor
ship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth.
And then did Christ set up his worship, which was before
the Popes, Turks, Common-prayer, Presbyterian, Inde
pendent, and other worships were ; and the worship that
Christ Jesus set up, was in the spirit and in the truth.
Now where is this Spirit, and where is this Truth ? Is
it not within people ? So as the Jew outward was to
worship in the temple, and there was but that one temple
commanded of God to be built, which Christ came to end,
who set up his worship in the Spirit and in the Truth :
so every man and woman in the whole world must come
to the Spirit and Truth in their own hearts, by which
they must know the God of Truth, who is a Spirit, and

GEORGE FOX. 117
feel the Spirit in their own hearts, and in the Spirit of
Truth worship the God of Truth, who is a Spirit.
So now, as the Jew outward was to offer his sacrifice
in the outward temple, and no where else, which temple
is now thrown down, he is not a Jew who is one out
wardly, but he is a Jew who is one inwardly, in the
Spirit and in the Truth ; and so, all ye Jews inwardly,
in the Spirit, ye must worship in the Truth and in the
Spirit. And so, the Jew inwardly can worship no where
but in the temple. What temple ? it is not a temple that
is. made with hands. The Jews outwardly worshipped in
the temple that was made with hands ; but the Jew in
wardly, his worship is to be in the Spirit, and in the
Truth, and in a temple not made with hands, where the
Spirit of Truth is. Know ye not, that your bodies are
the temples of the Holy Ghost. And so all ye who are
Jews inwardly in the Spirit, let Christ your priest have
a chamber in your temple, that He may cleanse your
temple, and cast the rubbish out of it, which is come in
by transgression, who doth renew you up into the image
of God, which Adam and Eve were in before they fell ;
so that the glory of the Lord may fill your temple.

NO. CCLXIII.

An Exhortation to keep to the ancient Principles of
Truth.
Friends, 1668.
Keep at a word in all your dealings, without oppres
sion. And keep to the sound language, thou to every one.
And keep your testimony against the world's vain
fashions.

118 EPISTLES, &C. OF
And keep your testimony against the hireling priests,
and their tithes and maintenance.
And against the old mass-houses, and the repairing of
them. And against the priests and the world's joining in
marriages. And your testimony against swearing, and the world's
corrupt manners.
And against all looseness, pleasures, and profaneness
whatsoever. And against all the world's evil ways, vain worships
and religions ; and stand up for God's.
And see that restitution be made by every one, that
hath done wrong to any.
And that all differences be made up speedily, that they
do not fly abroad to corrupt people's minds.
And let all reports be stopped that tend to the defam
ing one of another.
And, Friends, live all in the power of the Lord God,
and in his truth, light, and life, that with it you may all,
with one heart, soul, and mind, keep dominion ; and in
the light, life, truth, and power of God, do true judgment,
justice and truth, righteousness and equity, in all your
men and women's meetings, without favour or affection to
relations, kindreds, and acquaintance, or any respect of
persons ; for if you do not so, judgment will come upon
you from God, to put you down from your places : for the
power of God respects not persons, but justice, truth,
righteousness, equity, &c.
Let mercy overshadow the judgment-seat ; and let
mercy be mixed with judgment.
Take heed of foolish pity ; and if you be not diligent
against all profaneness, sin, iniquity, uncleanness, loose
ness and debauchery, and that which dishonoureth God,

GEORGE FOX. 119
then you let those things come up upon you, which you
should subdue, and keep down with righteousness, and
the truth and the power of God.
And in all your men and women's meetings, let all
things be done in love, which doth edify the body ; and
let nothing be done in strife and vain glory, but keep in
the unity of the Spirit, which is the bond of peace. And
let all things be done in the wisdom of God, which is
pure and gentle, from above, above the earthly, which is
below, sensual and devilish.
And take heed of hurting any concerning marriages,
through any earthly reasoning, if the thing be right, lest
they do worse.
And so all be diligent for the Lord God and his Truth
upon the earth, and the inheritance of a life that hath no
end, that you may live in the seed that is blessed for
evermore. And be diligent in all your meetings, and see to the
setting forth of apprentices, all fatherless and poor friends'
children ; and that all the poor widows be carefully looked
after, that nothing may be lacking among you ; then all
will be well.
And keep your testimony against all the filthy rags of
the old world ; and for your fine linen, the righteousness
of Christ Jesus.
And keep your testimony for your liberty in Christ
Jesus, and stand fast in it, against all the false liberties
in old Adam ; and your liberty in the Spirit of God, and
in the Gospel of Christ Jesus, against all the false and
loose liberties in the flesh.
And train up all your children in the fear of the Lord,
and in his new Covenant, Christ Jesus ; as the Jews did
their children and servants in the old covenant, and so do
you admonish your children and servants. And let no

120 EPISTLES, &

EPISTLES, &C. OF

man live to himself, but in that love that seeks not his
own.  ? 
NO. CCLXIV.
Extracts from other of G. Fox^s Epistles, both of former
and later dates, relating to matters recommended by him
to be taken notice of by the Quarterly and other Meetings.
Dear Friends, 1669.
If there happen any difference betwixt Friend and
Friend, let them speak to one another ; and, if they will
not hear, let them take two or three of the meeting they
belong to, that they may end it, if they can. And if
they cannot end it, then it may be laid before the Monthly
Meeting. And if it cannot be ended there, then it may
be brought to the Quarterly Meeting, and there let it be
put to half a dozen friends, that they may end it, that
they may keep their meetings quiet. Or, they that are
at difference, may choose three friends, and friends may
choose three more to them, and let them stand to their
judgment. For there are few, that love quietness and
peace, will have their names brought to a Monthly or
Quarterly Meeting, to have their names sounded over the
country, that they are in strife ; but will rather endea
vour to end it amongst themselves or at their own meet
ing, before they come to the Monthly Meeting.
And if there be any difference brought to the Monthly
or Quarterly Meeting, either men or women's, after
you have heard them one by one, and let but one speak
at a time, know of them, whether they will stand to your
judgment ? And, if they will, let half a dozen Friends
make a final end of it. But, if they will not stand to
your judgment, they are not fit to bring it thither.

GEORGE FOX. 1 21
And if any brother or sister hear any report of any
brother or sister, let him or her go to the party, and know
the truth of the report ; and if true, let the thing be
judged : if false, go then to the reporter, and let him oi
lier be judged. And if any should report it at a second
or third hand, without going to the party of whom the
report goes, let such be brought to judgment : for thou
shalt neither raise nor suffer a false report to lie upon my
people, saith the Lord ; for they are to be holy, as He is
holy ; and just, as He is just.
Now concerning Gospel order ; though the doctrine of
Jesus Christ requireth his people to admonish a brother
or sister twice, before they tell the church, yet that
limiteth none, so as that they shall use no longer forbear
ance, before they tell the Church ; but that they shall
not less than twice admonish their brother or sister before
they tell the Church. And it is desired of all, that
before they publicly complain, they wait in the power of
God, to feel if there is no more required of them to their
brother or sister, before they expose him or her to the
church : let this be weightily considered.
And further, when the church is told, and the party
admonished by the church again and again, and he or
they remain still insensible and unreconciled, let not final
judgment go forth against him or her, till every one of
the meeting have cleared his or her conscience ; that if
any thing be upon any, further to visit such a transgressor,
thev may clear themselves, that if possible the party may
be reached and saved. And after all are clear of the
blood of such an one, let the judgment of Friends in the
power of God go forth against him or her, as moved, for
the Lord's honour and glory's sake, that no reproach may
come or rest upon God's holy name, truth, and people.
And all such as behold their brother or sister in a

122 EPISTLES, &C. OF
transgression, go not in a rough, light, or upbraiding
spirit to reprove or admonish him or her, but in the power
of the Lord, and spirit of the Lamb, and in the wisdom
and love of the Truth, which suffers thereby to admpnish
such an offender. So may the soul of such a brother or
sister be seasonably and effectually reached unto and
overcome, and they may have cause to bless the Name of
the Lord on their behalf, and so a blessing may be re
warded into the bosom of that faithful and tender brother
or sister that so admonished them.
And be it known unto all, we cast out none from
among us ; for if they go from the Light, and Spirit, and
Power, in which our unity is, they east out themselves.
And it has been our way to admonish them, that they
may come to that Spirit and Light of God, which they
are gone from, and so come into the unity again.
And no condemnation ought to go further than the
transgression is known ; and if he or she returns, and
gives forth a paper of condemnation against him or her
self, (which is more desirable than that we should do it),
this is a testimony of his or her repentance and resur
rection before God, his people, and the whole world ; as
David, Psalmli. when Nathan came to admonish him.
And that no testimony, by way of condemnation, be
given forth against any man or woman, whatever crime
they commit, before admonition, and till such time as
they have had Gospel order, according to Christ's doctrine;
And so keep the church order of the Gospel, according
as the Lord Jesus Christ hath commanded ; that is, If
thy brother offend thee, speak to him betwixt thee and
him ; and if he will not hear, take two or three : if he
will not hear two or three, then tell it to the church, &c.
And if any one do miscarry, admonish them gently
in the wisdom of God, so that you may preserve him

GEORGE FOX. 123
and bring him to condemnation, and preserve him from
farther evils, which it is well if such do not run into ;
and it will be well for all to use the gentle wisdom of God
towards them in their temptations, and condemnable
actions, and with using gentleness to bring them to con
demn their evil, and to let their condemnation go as far
as the bad action has gone, and no farther, to defile the
minds of friends or others ; and so to clear God's truth
and people, and to convert the soul to God, and preserve
them out of further evils. So be wise in the wisdom of God.
And let no one accuse any one, either in a Monthly or
Quarterly Meeting, publicly, except they have spoken to
them by themselves first, and by two or three as before-
mentioned. And, dear friends, let care be taken from time to time,
as Friends are moved thereunto, for relieving faithful
Friends' necessities, and for other services of Truth,
which shall be delivered into the hands of a faithful
Friend or Friends, (who are desired to be receivers for
that purpose,) who are to give an account (if it be de
sired) of all monies that shall be by them received and
disbursed, at the next Monthly or Quarterly Meeting
after it shall be laid out, and so the account to be ended ;
that ministering Friends may not be cumbered with out
ward things, but kept out of them ; and that what monies
shall be by them disbursed for the service of poor Friends,
as aforesaid, shall be disposed of, as Friends of the Monthly
or Quarterly Meeting see meet to dispose of the same.
And all Friends, be tender over all Friends that are
prisoners upon Truth's account, and that are sick and
weak people, strangers and fatherless, and widows, ser
vants and children, whose parents, masters or dames, and
relations, are not Friends ; keeping in the power of the
Lord, it will lead you in all things without many words,
g2

124 EPISTLES, &C OF
and bring you to see, and feel, and live in that which was
before enmity was, or words either.
And also all widows, in all your several meetings, let
them be taken notice of, and informed, and encouraged in
their outward business, that there be not any hindrance
put to them in their inward growth ; and so be carefully
looked after, that they may be nourished and cherished,
and preserved in the Truth, that love may be increased.
And if they have many children to put out apprentices
or servants, which may be a burthen to them to bring up,
then let Friends take care to ease them, by putting them
forth, as may be seen meet. Let all these things be
looked into every meeting, and notice thereof given to the
next Monthly or Quarterly Meeting, and some ordered to
see, that all these things are done according to truth and
righteousness. And in all your meetings, let notice be given to the
Quarterly Meeting of all poor Friends. And when ye
have heard, that there are many more poor belonging to
one meeting than to another, and that meeting thereby is
burthened and oppressed, let the rest of the meetings
assist and help them, so that ye may ease one another,
and help to bear one another's burdens, and so fulfil the
law of Christ.
And now that Monthly and Quarterly Meetings of two
or three out of every particular meeting of true and faith
ful Friends are set up, and kept in the most convenient
place in the middle of your county, you may know in your
meetings of the wants and necessities of all Friends,
whether in bonds or not, widows or fatherless, or aged
people, their necessities being looked into, and every one
feeling one another's condition ; this keeps in tenderness
and love, as a family ; and nothing being lacking amongst
you, then all is well, every want and necessity being sup-

GEORGE FOX. 125
plied. And by this, one meeting may be serviceable to
another in outward things, for that is the least love ; and
by this you may come into the practice of the pure
religion, which is, to relieve the widows, strangers, father
less, and helpless.
And, Friends, all the legacies that are given to the men
or women's meetings, let them be kept as a public stock
for the setting forth of apprentices, and setting them up.
And Friends should have and provide a house for those
that are distempered. And should have an almshouse or
hospital for all poor Friends that are past work.
And to have and provide a house or houses, where an
hundred may have rooms to work in, and shops of all
sorts of things to sell, and where widows and young
women might work and live.
And, dear Friends, dwell all in the everlasting power
of God, and his life, in which is both unity, order, peace,
and fellowship ; and wait in the fear of the everlasting
God, that you may receive his wisdom, which is from
above, pure, and gentle, by which all things were made ;
by which wisdom you may order all things to the glory
of God. The poor, the sick, the widows, the fatherless,
the prisoner, be tender of, and feel every one's condition
as your own, and let nothing be lacking amongst you,
according to the apostle's doctrine to the church of God
of old time ; and if nothing be lacking, all is well.
And let all the estates of fatherless children be recorded
in a book at the Monthly or Quarterly Meeting ; and let
all that are entrusted with any estates of the fatherless
and widows, enter their trusts at the Monthly or Quar
terly Meetings, that the meeting may see that justice be
done unto them, and require the Trustees to give an
account, (if need be,) and to do that which is just and
equal ; so that there may be no strife about outward

126 EPISTLES, &C OF
things amongst you. And that every one that is en
trusted with any widows or fatherless children's estates
may be faithful, and not fail them in time of need. So
that righteousness, and justice, and truth, and equity
may flow down amongst you, and that the wisdom of
God be among Friends, to order them in all things to his
glory. And all Friends, see that your children be trained up
in soberness, and holiness, and righteousness, and tempe
rance, and meekness, and gentleness, and lowliness, and
modesty, in their apparel and carriage, and so exhort
your children and families in the Truth, that the Lord
may be glorified in all your families. And teach your
children when they are young ; then will they remember
it when they are old, according to Solomon's counsel : so
that your children may be a blessing to you, and not a
curse. And all men and women are to order their children and
servants in the order of the Gospel, and in the new Cove
nant, that they may all come to know the Lord. For
the outward Jews were to train up their children in the
old law, in the old Covenant : and so you that are called
Christians are to train up your children in the fear of the
Lord, and in Christ Jesus, that they may walk in Him,
in modesty, and holiness, and virtue. And so all to
govern their families : and they that are to govern, are to
be governed and ordered themselves, by the Spirit and
Power of God, to God's glory, and as examples in their
families ; for all looseness is out of the Power of God,
either in word or life. And so by the power of God, and
his righteousness, and truth, and light, and life, all that
is to be judged, and kept under and down ; and the truth,
and the light, and the Spirit of God must be walked in,
which all looseness is out of.

GEORGE FOX. 127
And so, whatsoever things are of good report, or what
soever things are lovely, or whatsoever things are pure,
and decent, and virtuous, and godly, and righteous, and
holy, and just, such follow after ; and do the works of
charity, and not your own, but the good works of hospi
tality, which are accepted of God.
Now concerning those that do go to the Quarterly
Meeting as representatives, they must be substantial
Friends, that can give a testimony of your sufferings, and
how things are amongst you in every particular meeting.
So that none that are raw or weak, that are not able to
give a testimony of the affairs of the church and truth,
may go on behalf of the particular meetings to the Quar
terly Meetings, but may be nursed up in your Monthly
Meetings, and there fitted for the Lord's service. So
that two may go one time from every particular meeting,
and two another time, or as it is ordered in your Monthly
Meetings. So that some may go from all your meetings,
that make up your Monthly Meetings ; for the Quarterly
Meeting should be made up of weighty, seasoned, and
substantial Friends, that understand the business of the
church ; for no unruly or unseasoned persons should come
there, nor indeed into the Monthly Meetings, but those
who are single-hearted, seasoned and honest.
And if any one should speak or tattle any thing out of
your Monthly or Quarterly Meetings, to the blemishing
or defaming any person or the meetings, such are to be
brought to judgment and condemnation ; for it breaks the
privilege and order of your Christian society in your
meetings. And the least member in the church hath an office,
and is serviceable ; and all the members have need one of
another. And now, Friends, as many men's Monthly Meetings

128 EPISTLES, &C. OF
as you have in your county, so many women's Monthly
Meetings you may have ; and if once a year, at least, you
had a general women's meeting, it would be well ; for in
some counties they have as many Quarterly women's
meetings as men's, and in others, they have only two in
the summer time, because the ways are foul and days
short in winter.
And let one or two Friends in every meeting take an
account of all the marriages, births, and burials, and
carry them to the Monthly Meetings ; and let one or two
there be ordered to receive them, and record them there
in a book, which is to be kept at the Monthly Meetings.
And from thence a copy of what is recorded there, to be
brought to the Quarterly Meeting, and let one or two
Friends be appointed there to receive them, and to record
them all in one book, which is to be kept for the whole
county. And this will be most safe, that if one book
should happen to be lost, the other may be preserved, for
the use of such as may have occasion.
And let Friends who are not already provided, speedily
procure convenient burying places, and that thereby a
testimony may stand against the superstitious idolizing
of those places, called holy ground. For Abraham
bought a place to bury his dead in, and would not bury
them amongst the Egyptians and Canaanites. And
Jacob was brought out of Egypt, and Joseph ; and they
were buried in their grandfather and father's burying-
places. And so, Friends, get decent burying-places for
your dead, and let them be decently and well fenced, that
you may show a good example to the world in all things.
And, dear Friends, do all that you do in peace and
love, and in the fear of God, condescending one unto
another, in the simplicity and innocency of Life, and
Truth, and in the Wisdom of God ; for you are called to

GEORGE FOX. 129
peace and holiness, in which the kingdom stands, and to
serve one another in love.
And draw up an account of all that have died in prison,
in every county, for Truth's testimony, and lay them be
fore the magistrates ; and so to keep Friends clear from
the blood of all men. And preserve a list of their suffer
ings, together with the number that have died in prison ;
that their blood may come upon them that have thirsted
after it, and that their testimony may not be lost, who
have sealed it with their blood ; but that it may be pre
served. And so keep a record of them in your Quarterly
Meeting books. So that the Memorial of the innocent
sufferers for the Truth and the Name of Jesus may not
be lost nor forgotten, that his Name and Power, who hath
supported them, may be exalted, who hath carried them
over death, and their persecutors, and the spoiling of their
goods. And all my dear Friends every where, who have been
moved of the Lord God to speak in steeple-houses to the
priests, or in markets to the people, or in courts, or fairs,
or assizes, or towns ; let an account thereof be drawn up
together in one book, with the substance of their words,
that they spake in the power of God. This would be a
book, that may stand to generations, that they may see
their faithful testimony, and what strength God did
ordain out of the mouths of babes and sucklings. And
Friends that have been moved to go to the professors'
meetings ; that their testimony there may not be lost,
together with all the examples that have fallen upon the
persecutors. And such testimonies of Friends as are deceased, let
them be recorded, that so the testimony of the Lord
through his servants may not be lost, that He raised up
his people, and for which they were carried through great
g3

130 EPISTLES, &C OF
tribulations and sufferings ; and many laid down their
lives, and had their goods spoiled, and were persecuted to
death, to keep up their testimony : so that those wordss
that they were moved to speak forth by the Power, may
not be lost ; that the Power and Spirit of the Lord may
be exalted. And so be diligent, and let those that can
write, help those that cannot.
And all public ministers (if unknown) that pass up and
down the country, and to other nations, must have a cer
tificate from their meeting, where they are known, and all
their practices are looked into ; which will prevent any
bad spirits, that may scandalize honest men. For they
that do minister to others, must have a double diligence
in virtue, and chastity, and patience, and carefulness, and
watchfulness. And dear Friends, live in the peaceable Truth, and
keep in the heavenly order of the Gospel, and in the go
vernment of the heavenly man, of the increase of which
there is no end ; and walk in the pure and undefiled reli
gion, that keeps you from the spots of the world, and in
the worship of God in the spirit and truth.
And so, the God of glory, who hath brought Christ
from the dead, by Him are you quickened and raised from
the dead, that henceforth you should not live to yourselves,
but to Him. So walk in Him, who is the Amen, and
over all — the First and Last. G. F.

NO. CCLXVIII.
Not to be over thoughtful of the things of this world.
Friends, 1669.
Did not God provide for man and woman before He
made them ? Did He not make all things in six days ?

GEORGE FOX. 1 3 1
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 came to restore man into the
image of God, in righteousness and holiness — doth He
not reprove such as take thought, and tell them of their
little faith, and that they cannot add one cubit to the
stature that God had made ; and that 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 righteous
ness and holiness, in his disobeying the command of God,
which Christ came to restore man to, and set him above
all again, as he was in the beginning, and up to his own
state beyond Adam before he fell, to Him that never fell.
And so all that believe in the Light, as Christ commanded,
in the Light they see they cannot add one cubit to their
stature; and so they come to grow in the faith in Christ
and in God. And so herein hath the Lord the praise of
his works ; and all things praise Him, who hath created
them all to his honour, and to his glory, and to his praise ;
and man to glorify Him in righteousness and holiness, in
the image of God and of Christ Jesus, above all other
creatures, in the covenant of God, in the covenant of light

132 EPISTLES, &C. OF
and life in Christ Jesus, Him by whom the world was
made ; by Him they praise and please God ; and in their
pleasing God, they honour God and Christ.
G. F.

no. cclxxv.
Friends, 1669.
Dwell in the Living Spirit, and quench not the mo
tions of it in yourselves, nor the movings of it in others ;
though many have run out, and gone beyond their mea
sures, yet many more have quenched the measure of
the Spirit of God, and have become dead and dull, and
have questioned through a false fear ; so there hath been
hurt both ways. Therefore be obedient to the power of
the Lord, and his Spirit ; war with that Philistine that
would stop up your wells and springs. And the belief in
the power keeps the spring open, and none to despise
prophecy, neither to quench the Spirit ; so that all may
be kept open to the spring, that every one's cup may run
over. For you may all prophesy one by one, and the
spirit of the prophets is subject to the prophets: would
all the Lord's people were prophets, said Moses in his
time, when some found fault ; but the last time is the
Christian's time : who enjoys the substance, Christ Jesus;
and his church is called a royal priesthood, offering up
spiritual sacrifices ; and his church are his believers in
the Light. And so in the Light every one should have
something to offer ; and to offer an offering in righteous
ness to the living God, else they are not priests : and
such as quench the Spirit cannot offer, but become dull.
I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh, in the last
time, saith the Lord, which is the true Christian's time :
God's sons and daughters shall prophesy, and your young

GEORGE FOX. 133
men shall see visions, and old men shall dream dreams ;
and on my servants and handmaids I will pour out of my
Spirit in those days, and they shall prophesy. Now,
Friends, if this be fulfilled, servants, handmaids, sons,
daughters, old men, young men, every one is to feel the
Spirit of God, by which you may see the things of God,
and declare them to his praise ; for with the heart man
doth believe, and with the mouth confession is made unto
salvation ; first, he has it in his heart, before it comes out
of his mouth ; and this is beyond that brain-beaten heady
stuff which man has long studied, about the saints' words
which the holy men of God spake forth, as they were
moved of the Holy Ghost.
So with the Holy Ghost, and with the light and power
of God, do you build upon Christ, the Foundation, and
Life ; and by the same heavenly Light, and Power, and
Spirit, do you labour in the vineyard, and do you mi
nister and speak forth the things of God, and do 'you dig
for your pearls ; therefore bring them forth, and let them
be seen how they glister. Friends, you see how men and
women can speak enough for the world, for merchandiz e,
for husbandry, the ploughman for his plough ; but when
they should come to speak for God, they quench the
Spirit, and do not obey God's will.
But come, let us see what the wise merchants can say :
have they found the pearl and field, and purchased the
field which yields those glorious glistering pearls ? let us
see, what can you say for God, and that heavenly mer
chandize ? What can the ploughman say for God with
his spiritual plough ? — is the fallow ground ploughed up ?
has he abundance of the heavenly seed of life? So what
can the heavenly husbandman say ? — has he abundance of
spiritual fruit in store ? What can the thresher say ? —
has he gotten the wheat out of the sheaf, the heavenly

134 EPISTLES, &C OF
wheat, with his heavenly flail ? And let us see, what can
the spiritual ploughman, husbandman, and thresher, say
for God ; and how they have laboured in the vineyard,
that they may have their penny ? Some are breakers of
clods in the vineyard, some are weeders, some are cutting
off the brambles and bushes, and fitting the ground, and
cutting up the roots with the heavenly axe for the seed ;
some are harrowing in, some are gathering and laying up
the riches. So you may see, here are merchants, plough
men, harrowers, weeders, reapers, and threshers, in God's
vineyard, yet no one is to find fault with another, but
all labouring in their places, praising the Lord, looking
to Him for their wages, their heavenly penny of life,
from the Lord of Life.
So none are to quench the Spirit, nor to despise pro
phecy, lest ye limit the Holy One ; and every one is to
minister as he hath received the grace, which hath ap
peared to all men, which brings salvation ; so that the
Lord's grace, his light, and truth, and Spirit, and power,
may have the passage and the rule in all men and women;
that by it and from it in all, He may have the glory,
who is blessed for ever and for ever. The Lord hath
said : From the rising of the sun to the going down of
the same, my Name shall be great among the Gentiles.
Now mark, Friends, this is a large space, wherein God's
Name shall be great ; and the Lord further saith : In
every place, incense shall be offered unto my Name, and
a pure offering ; for my Name shall be great among the
heathen, saith the Lord of hosts. Now mark, Friends,
this heavenly incense, and pure offering, is a spiritual offer
ing, which is to be offered by the Spirit to God, who is a
Spirit ; then here none quenches the Spirit of God in his
own heart ; and all such come under the title of the royal
priesthood, offering up spiritual sacrifices; which royal
priesthood has a Priest that lives for ever, Christ Jesus.

GEORGE FOX. 135
And, Friends, do not quench the Spirit, nor abuse the
Power : when it moves and stirs in you, be obedient ;
but do not go beyond, nor add to it, nor take from it ;
for if you do, you are reproved, either for going beyond,
or taking from it. And when any have spoken forth the
things of the Lord, by his Power and Spirit, let them
keep in the Power and Spirit that keeps them in the
humility, that when they have spoken forth the things of
God, they are neither higher nor lower, but still keep in
the power, before and after ; and being obedient to the
Spirit and Power of God, it keeps them from deadness,
and alive to God, and keeps them in a sense that they do
not go beyond and run out, as some you know have done :
and all that hath come for want of living in the power of
God, and in his Spirit, which keeps all things in subjec
tion and in order, and in the true fear of the Lord,
always to feel the presence of the Lord with you.
Come fishermen what have you caught with your nets ?
What can you say for God ? Your brethren Peter and
John, fishermen, could say much for God ? Read in the
Acts and you may see ; I would not have you degenerate
from their spirit.
Shepherds and herdsmen, where are you ? What can
you say now for God, whose abiding is much in the
fields ? David, Jacob, and Amos, your fellow-shepherds
and herdsmen, (do not you see ?) they could say much
for God ; I would have you to be like them, and not to
degenerate from their spirit.
Come, tradesmen, tent-makers, physicians, and custom-
men, what can you say for God ? Do not you read that
your fellow-tradesmen in ages past could say much for
God? Do not degenerate from their spirit. Do not
you remember the accusations of the wise and learned
Grecians, when the apostles preached Christ among
them, that they were called poor tradesmen and fisher-

136 EPISTLES, &C. OF
men ? Therefore be faithful. The preachers of Jesus
Christ now, are the same to the wise of the world as
then. G. F.

no. cclxxvii.
My dear Friends, 1669.
When yrou were formerly in a profession, you took
your servants, your apprentices, your children, along
with you to your places of worship. And now that you
are come to Truth, and are convinced that the same is
the Truth of God, through which you come to have a
portion and inheritance of life and salvation, and of a
kingdom and world which have no end, and into a posses
sion of that which formerly you did profess in words ; —
now therefore, Friends, you that are come to this pos
session, and go into the assemblies of the people of God,
that are gathered into his Name, (where salvation is, and
in no other name under heaven, but in the Name of
Jesus Christ), is it not more reputable for you, to take
your servants, apprentices, children, and maidens along
with you to the meetings, to be partakers of the eternal
Truth, that they may have a possession with you of the
same that you do possess ? For, if you should leave
them behind, and be careless of them, there are many of
them apt to run into liberty, and to looseness, and to
plays, and to tippling-houses, and so into loose company.
Such liberty hath been a great hurt to youth, and the
Truth hath been much dishonoured thereby : and such
do not only lose the wisdom of God, and the true under
standing given to them by his Son, but the reason of
men, in these practices.
And then afterwards you may come to find fault with
your servants, children, &c, and for a small matter put

GEORGE FOX. 137
some of them away, when the fault is in yourselves, that
you did not take them along with you to the meetings,
and govern them in the wisdom of God, and true under
standing and knowledge ; which is, to know the true God,
and his Son Jesus Christ, whom He hath sent ; whom to
know is Life Eternal. For truly my life hath been often
burdened through the want of restraining servants and
children of that liberty they run into ; wherein you
should be more prudent, wise, and careful, and should
keep more in your dominion and authority, in the Life,
Power, and Seed, in which you have the true wisdom,
knowledge, and understanding.
Therefore consider of these things in all your families,
and remember the time of your former professions,
wherein you so exercised the reason of men, as to bring
your servants, &c, to an outward profession. Now on
being come to a possession of Life, take heed lest you lose
the right reason, wisdom, understanding, and knowledge.
Therefore rouse up yourselves, that you may exercise the
right wisdom and understanding in that which lives for
ever, and is and will remain when all the contrary is
gone ; into which all must be brought ; that therein you
may be good patterns and examples in all your families,
and bring them forth with you to your meetings ; that
they may find the substance of that which you did for
merly profess in words. And now you enjoy the sub
stance be more careful, be more diligent and circumspect,
that God may be glorified throughout all your families,
. and his Name may be called upon, and honoured, and ex
alted, who is God over all, blessed for ever.
And Friends, some among you breed up your children
in such a rude, heady way, that when they grow up, they
do not matter you, nor care for you ; so they are not a
blessing and a comfort to you ; but in many things they

138 EPISTLES, &C. OF
are worse than many of the world's, more loose, stubborn,
and disobedient : so that when they come to be set ap
prentice, many times they run quite out into the world :
Truth brings more into humility, and meekness, and
gentleness, and tenderness. And therefore, by the power,
and life, and wisdom of God, these things you must take
notice of, that all such may be brought into, and kept in
subjection by, the power of God, that God may be
honoured and glorified, through the breaking of the stub
born will in them, and subjecting them to Truth ; and let
them all know their places, and not to give way to that
which may get over you ; so that you will not know how
to rule them at last, and they will bring a grief, and
sorrow, and trouble upon you, as too many examples may
be seen.
Therefore while they are young restrain them from
such things, and every one in the life, and power, and
seed of Truth, keep your authority, and lose not the true
wisdom and understanding given you by Christ, nor the
true knowledge, nor true reason, which gives to distinguish
good from bad ; but in all things keep your authority
which is given to you of God, and your places in it ; for
they that fear and worship the Lord, shall have a place
with Him. And in the power, and life, and wisdom of
God, you will breed up and govern your sons and
daughters, servants and apprentices, and cause them to
keep in their places ; and in the power of God answer the
good in them all. For an outward father or mother, over
their families, apprentices, and maidens, are to keep all
things that are outward, civil, and subject in their places,
with reason and true wisdom.
And such as come to be fathers in the Truth, are to
train up their families in the Truth, and to exercise that
wisdom, and that knowledge and understanding, which

GEORGE FOX. 139
are beyond the outward. Therefore they should train
them up, not in the eye-service of men, but in serving
the Lord in righteousness and diligence, in their services :
that they may be partakers of the heavenly life, and come
to be heirs of salvation, and children of the promise, and
sons and daughters of Sion, to whom Christ is elect and
precious ; and through Him their conversations may be
brought up into heavenly things, and their minds and
affections be set on things above, that God may be glori
fied throughout all your families, who is blessed for ever.
G. F.

NO. CCLXXXIII.

To Friends at Bristol in time of suffering.
The 2nd of the Eleventh Month, 1670.
Dear Friends,
Now is the time for you to stand ; therefore put on the
whole armour of God, from the crown of the head unto
the soles of your feet, that you may stand in the posses
sion of life. And you that have been public men, and
formerly did travel abroad, mind to keep up your testi
mony, both in the city and in the country, that you may
encourage Friends to keep up their meetings as usual : so
that none faint in the time of trial ; but that all may be
encouraged, both small and great, to stand faithful to the
Lord God, and his power and truth ; that their heads
may not sink in the storms, but may be kept up above the
waves. So, go into your meeting places as at other times.
And keep up your public testimony, and visit Friends
thereabouts, now in this time of storm ; for there is your
crown, in the universal Power and Spirit of God. So let
your minds, and souls, and hearts, be kept above all out
ward and visible things.

140 EPISTLES, &C. OF
Few travel now in the country : it may be well to visit
Friends there, lest any should faint. Stir up one another
in that which is good, and to faithfulness in the Truth,
this day. And let your minds be kept above all visible
things ; for God took care for man in the beginning, and
set him above the works of his hands. And therefore
mind the heavenly treasure, that will never fade away.
It is hard for me to give forth in writing what is before
me, because of my bodily weakness ; but I was desirous
in some measure to ease my mind, desiring that you may
stand fast, and faithful to Truth. Of my travels and
weakness it is likely you have heard, and of my afflic
tions, both by them that are without and also by them
that are within, which are hard to be uttered and spoken.
My love is to all faithful Friends.
G. F.

NO. CCXCI.

To all Women's Meetings.
Friends, 1672.
Keep your women's meetings in the power of God,
and take your possession of that which you are heirs of,
and keep the Gospel order. For man and woman were
helps meet in the image of God, and in righteousness and
holiness, in the dominion before they fell ; but after the
fall, in the transgression, the man was to rule over his
wife ; but in the restoration by Christ, into the image of
God, and his righteousness and holiness again, in that
they are helps meet, man and woman, as they were
before the fall. Sarah obeyed Abraham, and called him
lord. Abraham did also obey the voice of his wife
Sarah, in casting out the bondwoman and her son.

GEORGE FOX. 141
Dorcas, a woman, was a disciple. So there was a woman
disciple, as well as men disciples ; and mind the women
that accompanied her. And women are to take up the
cross daily, and follow Christ daily, as well as the men ;
and so to be taught of Him their Prophet, and fed of
Him their Shepherd, and counselled of Him their Coun
sellor, and sanctified by Him who offered Himself once
for all. And there were elder women in the Truth as
well as elder men in the Truth ; so they have an office as
well as the men, for they have a stewardship, and must
give an account of their stewardship to the Lord, as well
as the men.
Deborah was a judge ; Miriam and Huldah were pro
phetesses ; old Anna was a prophetess, and a preacher of
Christ, to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusa
lem. Mary Magdalen, and the other Mary, were the
first preachers of Christ's resurrection to the disciples,
and the disciples could not believe their message and
testimony that they had from Jesus, as some now a days
cannot ; but they received the command, and being sent
preached it. So is every woman and man to do, that
sees Him risen, and has the command and message ;
daughters shall prophesy as well as sons. So they are to
be obedient that have the Spirit poured upon them.
Women are to prophesy; and prophecy is not to be
quenched. They that have the testimony of Jesus are
commanded to keep it, whether men or women. Priscilla
and Aquila were both exhorters and expounders, or in
structors to Apollos. So in the church there were women
instructers, and prophetesses, and daughters prophetesses
in the church ; for Philip had four virgins that were pro
phetesses ; and there were women disciples in the church,
and women elders in the church, as well as men. So
women are to keep in the government of Christ, and to

142 EPISTLES, &C. OF
be obeyers of Christ ; and women are to keep the comely
order of the Gospel, as well as men ; and to see that all
that have received Christ Jesus, do walk in Christ Jesus ;
and to see that all that have received the Gospel, do walk
in the Gospel, the power of God which they are heirs of.
I say, they are heirs of the comely order of the Gospel ;
and therefore, I say, take your possessions of it, and
walk as becomes the Gospel ; and keep the comely order
of it, and in it keep your meetings. And here is the
ground and foundation of our women's meetings.
Now mothers of families, that have the ordering of
children, maids, and servants, may do a great deal of
good or harm in their families, to the making or spoiling
of children, maids, and servants ; and many things
women may do and speak of amongst women, which are
not men's business. So men and women become helps
meet in the image of God.
And the elder women in the Truth were not only
called elders, but mothers. Now a mother in the church
of Christ, and a mother in Israel, is one that nourishes,
and feeds, and washes, and rules, and is a teacher in the
Church, and in the Israel of God, and an admonisher, an
instructer, an exhorter. So the elder women and mothers
are to be teachers of good things, and to be teachers of
the younger and trainers up of them in virtue, in holi
ness, in godliness and righteousness, in wisdom, and in
the fear of the Lord, in the church of Christ. And if
the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the believing
wife, then who is the speaker, and who is the hearer?
Surely such a woman is permitted to speak, and to work
the works of God, and to make a member in the church ;
and then as an elder, to oversee that they walk according
to the order of the Gospel.
G. F.

GEORGE FOX. 1 43

NO. CCXCII.

To Friends in New England, Virginia, and Barbadoes.
Dear Friends, 1672.
Be faithful in the power of the Lord God, in what you
know, and then the Lord will preserve you ; that you
may answer the witness of God in every man, whether
they are the heathen, that do not profess Christ ; or
whether they are such as do profess Christ, that have the
form of godliness, and are out of the power. And keep
your meetings, you that know the power of the Lord and
feel it, that in it you may have unity with God, and one
with another. The Lord God hath a seed in those parts,
who shall be heirs of his grace, that brings salvation,
which grace is it that teacheth, in which grace they sing
praises to the Lord. So, now you who are come to the
dawning of the day, and to the ending of the night of the
apostacy ; happy and blessed are you, who are come to
see the hidden mysteries of God revealed, and his glorious
riches to the Gentiles, through the power of an endless
life. And you that are and have been faithful, spread the
Truth abroad ; let not principalities and powers separate
you from the love of God, which you have in Christ
Jesus, who hath all power in heaven and earth given unto
Him : mind his reign, his teaching, his kingdom, which
hath no end ; for God hath some to be brought out from
amongst those heathens, if you be faithful among them,
answering the witness of God in them ; for, as the Lord
saith, I will give Him for a covenant to the Gentiles : who
are called heathens. And as any are moved to go amongst
the heathen, in the power and love of God, to preach the
Gospel, which is the love of God to them, bring them to

1 44 epistles, &c. of
the power of God ; to that God who is the God of the
stones, which they make idols of, and the God of the
trees, earth, brass, silver, iron, and gold, which they make
gods of ; who is the living God ; for those are dead gods
that are made with men's hands.
He is the Living God who clothes the earth with grass
and herbs, and causes the trees to grow, and bring forth
food for you, and makes the fishes of the sea to breathe
and live, and makes the fowls of the air to breed, and
causes the roe and the hind, and the creatures and all the
beasts of the earth to increase, whereby they may be food
for you. He is the Living God, and causes the stars to
arise in the night, to give you light, and the moon to
arise to be a light in the night. He is the Living God,
that causes the sun to give warmth unto you, to nourish
you when you are cold. He is the Living God, that
causes the snow and frost to melt, and causes the rain to
water the plants. He is the Living God that made the
heaven and the earth, and the clouds ; and causes the
springs to break out of the rocks, and who divided the
great sea from the earth, and the light from the dark
ness, and divided the great waters from the earth; and
gathered them together ; which great waters He called
sea, and the dry land earth. He is to be worshipped
that doth this : He is the Livjng-God who gives unto
you breath, and life, and strength, and gives you beasts
and cattle, whereby you may be fed and clothed : He is
the living God, and He is to be worshipped. And that
which gives you to be sensible of Him, and to know Him,
is that which convinceth you in your hearts of sin and
unrighteousness. So all gods that are made of stone, mortar, wood,
silver, brass, iron, or gold, are not the Living God, but
are made of men's hands ; and the Living God is He

GEORGE FOX. 145
who gives you life, and breath, and strength, and all
things that are good ; and would have you to feel after
Him, with that which checks you for sin and evil ; and
would have you to worship Him in spirit, and serve
Him who is holy and righteous, and to live in peace ;
He hath promised that He will give Christ Jesus for
a covenant of light and peace, to you who are called
gentiles and heathens. And now is the day approach
ing to you, (this covenant of Light), by which you shall
come to have peace with the Lord God, the King of the
whole earth. This is the King of kings and Lord of
lords, in whose hand is the breath of all mankind. This
is the God of the spirits of all flesh, who hath made all
nations of mankind of one blood, to dwell upon the face
of the earth. And Christ, the Second Adam, the Lord
from heaven, saves men from sin ; who is the Prince of
Peace, and of Life, and the Covenant of God ; who
brings men to have peace with God, and one with
another, who destroys the devil, the author of strife.
This is Christ, the Second Adam, who brings the sons
and daughters of Adam, into reconciliation with God
again, and destroys sin, and finishes it, and makes recon
ciliation for sin and iniquity.
G. F.

NO. CCXCIII.

To Friends in Barbadoes.
Dear Friends, 1672.
To whom is my love in the Lord Jesus Christ, by
whom all things were made, and by whom all things do
consist, and who filleth all things, and doth uphold all by
his word and power ; who is the first and last, the holy

146 epistles, &c. of
Head of his holy church ; and the Door into the holy
way, for his holy people to walk in ; and the setter up of
a holy worship in the Holy Spirit and Truth, to worship
the Holy God in ; and the setter up of a holy religion,
to keep from the spots of the world ; which religion is
pure in his sight.
And therefore, all Friends, in your men and women's
meetings, be faithful, and see that you do grow in the
truth and power of godliness ; and witness your renew-
ings into the heavenly image of Him that created you ;
and that you all may be fruitful in the knowledge and
grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the orderer of all
things ; and wear his livery and fine linen, the righte
ousness of Christ ; and hold forth his ensign and his
standard, so that none may be carnally, but spiritually
minded. And walk as becomes the glorious order of the
Gospel, having the water of life in your cisterns, and the
bread of life in your tabernacles, and fruit on your trees,
to the praise of God. Amen.
And do not neglect your family meetings, among your
whites and negroes, but do your diligence and duty to
God and them ; which you will not neglect, if you keep
in the faith of Abraham, and of the blessed seed which
inheriteth the crown. And be at peace among your
selves, that you may show that you are in Christ the
Prince of Peace ; and that doth show that you are the
disciples of Christ, and learners and followers of Him.
So possess Him who is life eternal. Amen.
And your love and kindness towards us, the Lord re
double it of his mercy into your bosoms. We are all
pretty well. We have had great travail by land and sea,
and rivers and bays and creeks, in New England, Jersey,
Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Carolina ; where we have
had great service, among Friends, and governors, and

GEORGE FOX. 147
others, and with the Indians, and their kings and
emperor. Oh ! blessed be the Lord God Almighty, who
is over all, and over all giveth dominion : and glory be
to his great Name for ever ! Amen.
G. F.

NO. CCXCIX.

To Friends at Jamaica.
Friends, 1673.
We do hear that some, professing Truth amongst you,
do not keep to your meetings so diligently as they ought
to do, and that but few of you meet together on the First
days. And the reason is, that upon the First days some
of you write and make up your accounts ; so that you
cannot have time to go to and frequent the meetings.
Truly, Friends, this is an ill savour to come over here
into England, and shows that you mind your own busi
ness more than the Lord's, and the things of this life
more than the things that appertain to the life that is
without end ; which should be sought for first, if you
desire to be blessed and to prosper. And if you do not,
you will grow loose, and wither, and not have the bless
ing of God with you ; you cannot expect it. The Lord,
I say, will not, in so doing, prosper you.
And therefore, in the Name of Christ Jesus, keep
your meetings. And let there be meetings on the week
days, and also men's meetings, to see that nothing be
lacking among you, once in a fortnight ; and likewise a
women's meeting, though there be but a few. For you
that have seen the order of Truth in England, and other
places, how can you go out of the practice of it, without
growing wild and withering ? That so men and women
h 2

148 EPISTLES, &C. OF
in their distinct places, may be helps-meet in govern
ment. So that you may feel the presence of the Lord
with you. And that all Friends may be invited to the
meetings ; and that you may be good examples and
patterns unto all in the island, in righteous dealing and
doings, in weights and measures. And keep to the
sound language, and the honour that you have received
from above ; so let your lives and conversations preach in
virtue, righteousness, and holiness, that God may be
glorified through you, and among you all. And when
you have got up your First days' and weekly meetings,
and men and women's meetings, in the power of God,
which will preserve you in the truth and righteousness,
see that nothing be lacking among you ; then send word
over how things are with you, how Truth spreads and
prospers, from your men and women's meetings, to the
men and women's meetings in Old England. So no more
but my love. G. F.

no. cccn. 1673.
To all Friends that live in the Truth, and by it are
brought out of the world's vain fashions and customs, in
their feastings, and revellings, and banquetings, and
wakes, and other vain feastings, where they spoil the
creatures, and dishonour the Lord God more on those
times and days, which they call holy days and feast
days, than any other times and days ; — you that are
brought out of such things, aud do see the vanity and
folly of them ; and likewise of all the extravagant
feastings of companies in corporations, and of making
feasts, when the masters of companies are chosen, and
constables, and headboroughs ; you see their vanity, and

GEORGE FOX. 149
their folly and madness, in their destroying of the crea
tures, to the reproach of Christianity, and the dishonour
of God, and the blaspheming of his Name ; — I say unto
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
thy 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 re
compensed at the resurrection of the just.''
So here you may see how Christ ordereth you to make
a feast or a dinner, and to whom, contrary to the world ;
and 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.
G. F.

150 EPISTLES, &C. OF
NO. CCCIV.
To Friends in Virginia.
Dear Friends, Worcester, 1673.
I am glad of the increase of Truth amongst you ; and
may the Lord prosper his work, and increase people in
his knowledge, who will fulfil his promise, that, in the
New Covenant, the knowledge of the Lord shall cover
the earth as the water covers the sea. In the old cove
nant, 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
Saviour. And in his Name keep your men 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, whom 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 also as He is a Bishop, to oversee you with
his heavenly Power and Spirit — and as He is a Priest,
who offered Himself for you, who is made higher than
the heavens ; 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

GEORGE FOX. ^ _,'
\
if you visit them sometimes, it would be 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 counsel ; 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
who were friendly and courteous to me, when I was
there, and came to meetings ; and tell them, that I can
not 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.
 ? 
NO. CCCVIII. 1674.
My dear friends in England, and all parts of the world ;
the Gospel, which is the power of God, which you have
received from the beginning, keep in it, and the fellowship
of it ; in which there is neither sect, nor schism, but an
everlasting fellowship, and an everlasting order.
And at your general assemblies of the ministry at

il5( EPISTLES, &C. OF
/
London or elsewhere, examine, as it was at the first,
whether all the ministers that go forth into the countries,
do walk as becomes the Gospel : for that you know was
one end of that meeting, to prevent and take away
scandal ; and to examine, whether all who preach Christ
Jesus, do keep in his government, and in the order of the
Gospel, and to exhort them that do not : for the founda-
, tion is already laid, which is Christ, and his government
is set up ; of the increase of which there is no end. Had
those called Christians kept in his order and government,
they had not troubled themselves and others with so
many disorders ; so if you keep in the gospel order, and
government of Christ Jesus, you will keep out of the
apostacy, which they have been in, and the many false
orders and governments, that they went into, and made
one against another, when they went from the true ; as
you may see in the Scriptures of Truth, that it was some
high Cain and Corah-like spirits that did so ; for Cain
was able to build a city : and Corah, that opposed the
chief leader Moses, was of the princes of the people : and
so these opposed, with their many orders, the true order :
and Balaam, that was able to teach a nation, and prophesy
before a king, made the children of Israel to stumble by
his bad counsel. These were men of esteem — these are
they the world went after — these came to ride upon the
people; and such as these opposed Abel, Moses, and
Christ, the Leader and Governor, and his apostles, and
set up the many orders aud governments in their churches,
and broke all into sects. And therefore it concerns all
that profess themselves to be ministers, to be humble,
else they are no learners of Christ ; not to be harsh nor
high-minded, but walk as examples amongst God's flock,
and not to be lords over God's inheritance ; but let Him
be Lord whose right it is, &c.

GEORGE FOX. 1 53
And you have known the manner of my life, the best
part of thirty years, since I went forth, and forsook all
things ; I sought not myself, I sought you and his glory
that sent me ; and when I turned you to Him, that is
able to save you, I left you to Him. And my travails
have been great, in hungers and colds, when there were
few, for the first six or seven years ; that I often lay in
woods and on commons in the night ; that many times it
was as a by-word, that I would not come into houses, and
lie in their beds ; and the prisons have been made my
home a great part of my time, and I have been in danger
of my life, and in jeopardy daily. And amongst you I
have made myself of no reputation, to keep the Truth up
in reputation, as you all very well know, that are in the
fear of God. With the low, I made myself low; and
with the weak and feeble, I was as one with them, and
condescended to all conditions ; for the Lord had fitted
me so to do before He sent me forth ; and so I passed
through great sufferings in my body, as you have been
sensible. And few at the first took care for the establishing of
men and women's meetings, though they were generally
owned when they understood them ; but the everlasting
God, who sent me forth by his everlasting power first to
declare his everlasting Gospel ; and when people had re-
! ceived the Gospel, moved me to go through the nation,
to advise them to set up the men's meetings, and the
women's ; many of which were set up ; and I was moved
to write to other places, for them to do the like. So that
all now, in the restoration by Christ Jesus into the image
of God, may be helps-meet in holiness and righteousness ;
for in the church of Christ, where He is head, there is his
Gospel, and his order, and his government; there his
power is felt in every one's heart, and there are the offices
h3

154 EPISTLES, &C. OF
of admonishing, rebuking, exhorting, reproving, amongst
them that are convinced and converted, by them that are
in the power ; for there are several states. So they that
would not have people to be admonished, who go under
the name of Truth, and yet go into sin and wickedness —
those are out of the gospel order, and government of
Christ Jesus, and of loose mind themselves, and would
set up themselves, and be lords : but that spirit is for
judgment, for it is out of the power of God, and out of
the Spirit in which is the fellowship.
G. F.

NO. cccx.
Friends, 1674.
In every thing give thanks to the Lord; for from
Him you do receive every good thing ; the Apostle saith,
1 Thess. v. 18 : " In every thing give thanks:" for this
is the will of God in Jesus Christ concerning you ; and
they that do not obey this doctrine, do not do the will of
God in Christ Jesus. And the Apostle saith : " Every
creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it
be received with thanksgiving," &c. — 1 Tim. iv. 4 . And
David saith : "At midnight I will rise to give thee
thanks, because of thy righteous judgments." — Psalm
cxix. 62. And David saith, " 0 give thanks unto the
Lord, for He is good, because his mercy endureth for
ever ! " — Psalm cxviii. 1 . So the Lord is worthy of all
thanks and praises, through Jesus Christ, who created all
by Jesus Christ, to his glory and honour for evermore.
G. F.

GEORGE FOX. 155
NO. CCCXV.
To Friends at Barbadoes.
Dear Friends, 1675.
To whom is my love in the holy Truth — my desire is,
that you may all be valiant for it, against all deceit, that
the camp of God may be kept clean ; and all may be
faithful in your testimonies of light and life, against all
those things which have come up in this night of apostaev
from the light, life, and power of God.
Great persecutions are in most counties in England,
and many are imprisoned in many places, and their goods
spoiled. But we had a very large Yearly Meeting here,
and very peaceable and quiet. And the Lord's power
and presence was richly manifest in our meetings ; and
the Lord wonderfully supports Friends in all their trials
and sufferings ; and Friends generally are in much love
and unity one with another.
Now, Friends, we desire that, at your Quarterly Meet
ing, you may write over an epistle to the Yearly Meeting
in London, of the affairs of the Church of Christ, and
the prosperity and the spreading of his Truth there ; for
we had a large epistle from the Half-year's Meeting in
Ireland, which declares, that Friends were all in unity
there ; and likewise an account was given from Scotland,
that Friends were in unity there ; and likewise an epistle
was read in our Yearly Meeting here, from the Yearly
Meeting in Holland, which gives an account, that Friends
are in love and unity there ; and in Friesland, Germany,
and other places. At Embden and Dantzick, they are
under great persecution ; and we have lately a new meet
ing set up beyond Holland, which has been under much
suffering and persecution, but they stand faithful to the
Lord. And at Algiers, in the Turks' country, Friends

156 EPISTLES, &C. OF
who are captives there, have set up a meeting amongst
themselves ; about twenty Friends ; and some other of
the captives have been convinced at that meeting.
And one Thomas Tilby, a captive Friend, hath a
testimony for God, and speaks there among them ; and
their patroons, or masters, let them meet ; and one of
their masters spoke to a Friend, as he was going to a
meeting, and thought he had been going to a public tip
pling house, and he stopped him, and asked him whither
he was going ; and he told him, to worship the great
God ; and he said, it was well, and let him go : and
some of the Turks said, they had some among them of
their people that would not buy stolen goods. I have
written a large epistle to them to encourage them, and
that they might preach the gospel abroad in those parts,
both in their words, lives, and conversations, and this
meeting among the Turks may be of great service.
And now, Friends, all be careful of God's glory, and
seek the good one of another ; and strive all to be of one
mind and heart, and that the peace and gentle wisdom
of God may order you all. And be courteous, and kind,
and tender-hearted one to another ; and so the Lord
God Almighty, in his Holy Spirit, preserve you all in
unity and fellowship one with another. Amen.
And, Friends, you may send a copy of this to the
Caribbee Islands, to be read in their Quarterly Meetings ;
and you may read it in your own. G. F.

no. cccxix.
To Friends in Nevis, and the Caribbee Islands
Dear Friends, Swarthmore, 5th of Ninth Month, 1675.
To you all in Nevis, and the Caribbee Islands there
abouts. I have seen a letter from some of you, wherein

GEORGE FOX. 157
I understand that there has been some scruple concern
ing watching or sending forth watchmen in your own
way. Truly, Friends, this I declare to you, that it is a great
mercy of the Lord, to subject the governor's mind so
much by his power and Truth, that he will permit you
to watch in your own way, without carrying arms ;
which is a very civil thing, and to be taken notice of.
For, could Friends have obtained the same in Jamaica,
and other places, they would willingly have done it, and
did proffer themselves for to do it, to the governors.
But because that they would not bring swords and guns,
and other arms, to watch against the Spaniards, as
they pretended, their standing fine was about seventeen
shillings each man's neglect ; but they took often thirty
shillings-worth for it, and tied some of them neck and
heels besides, till the blood hath come forth at their
mouths, noses, and ears. And this I have seen upon
record of those who freely proffered to watch in their
own way, but it would not be accepted. And in other
places, it hath been the same.
And now as for watching in itself. Don't you watch
your plantations against thieves in the night ? And are
not common watches set to discover thieves in the towns,
or house-breakers, or such as might wickedly fire houses ?
Such civil things we are subject to ; and do submit our
selves, for conscience' sake, unto every such ordinance of
man, which is for the punishment of evil doers, and for
the praise of them that do well.
Now those evil doers that may rob your plantations or
houses, you complain to the magistrates for the punish
ment of them, though you cannot swear against them ;
or if the Indians come to rob your plantations or houses,
you complain to the magistrates for the punishment of

158 EPISTLES, &C OF
such evil doers, to stop them, which magistrates are for
the praise of them that do well. So this watching is for
preventing thieves and murderers, and stopping the burn
ing of houses. So we do submit to every such ordinance
of men for the Lord's sake ; for the Apostle exhorted to
submission, " whether it be to the King, as supreme, or
governors, as unto them that are sent by him, for the
punishing of the evil doers, and for the praise of them that
do well ; for so is the will of God, that with well doing
you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men ; as
free, not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness,
but as servants of God ;" so that justice, and truth, and
righteousness, may be set upon the unrighteous and un
just ; not using this liberty for a cloak of unrighteousness
to any one, but as servants in the righteousness of the
righteous God ; as you may see in 1 Peter ii. 13, and in
Titus iii. 1 : " Put them in mind to obey magistrates,
and to be ready to every good work." Mark, every good
work ; that is, against the evil, as drunkenness, murder,
whoredom, and all manner of uncleanness.
So far we can obey them, in the Lord's power and
truth, as they act against the evil, and that which dis
honours God; and if they act against the good, or if
they would compel us to those things which are matter
of conscience in us towards God, we resist not, but suffer
under them.
For if any should come to burn your house, or rob
you, or come to ravish your wives or daughters, or a
company should come to fire a city or town, or come to
kill people ; won't you watch against such evil things in
the power of God in your own way ? You cannot but
discover such things to the magistrates, who are to
punish such things ; and therefore the watch is kept and
set to discover such to the magistrate, that they may be

GEORGE FOX. 159
punished ; and if he does it not, he bears his sword in
vain. So if thou watch thy own plantation against
thieves, in thy own way, which thou art desired, for the
good of thyself and neighbours, against such as would
burn thy plantation, and thy neighbour's, and destroy
and rob you, wilt not thou discover this to the magis
trates, who are set for the punishing of the evil doers,
and executing wrath upon them, and for the praise of
them that do well ? Surely, yes.
And for this cause we pay tribute to them, and give
Caesar his due, that we may live a godly and peaceable
life under them, as they are God's ministers attending
upon this very thing, to wit, the punishing of the evil
doers, and the praise of them that do well ; for the law
was not made for the righteous, but for the sinner and
disobedient, and is good in its place. Now if they do
not do their duty, we are clear, having given them their
tribute or customs ; I say, if they do not do their duty
to keep down evil doers, and be for the praise of them
that do well, God Almighty will turn against them.
But if the magistrate would have all, both God's due
and Caesar's too, that we cannot give ; for God must
have his worship, his praise, his honour, and his due ;
and Csesar must have his due, his earthly custom and
tribute ; and so herein we render unto God the things
which are God's, and unto Csesar the things which are
his. And whereas some may say, that the Apostle would
not eat flesh, lest he should offend his brother, that was
a condescension upon a religious account ; and did not
give offence to the magistrate, who is set for the punish
ing of the evil doers, and for the praise of them that do
well. And whereas the Apostle saith, Col. ii : " Wherefore,

160 EPISTLES, &C. OF
if you be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the
world ; why, as though living in the world, are ye sub
ject to ordinances, (touch not, taste not, handle not,
which all are to perish with the using,) after the com
mandments and doctrines of men ?" — now these ordi
nances, these doctrines, these commandments, were con
cerning religion and worship ; and are quite distinct from
those whereof the Apostle saith : " Be subject to every
ordinance of man, for the Lord's sake ; for the punish
ment of evil doers. — 1 Peter ii. 13. For this was for
the Lord's sake, which was for the praise of them that
do well, and for the punishment of the evil doer. So he
makes a distinction here.
And you know that masters of ships, and Friends,
have their watches all night long, and they watch to
preserve the ship, and to prevent any enemy or hurts
that might come to the ship, by passengers or otherwise.
And Christ came in the fourth watch of the night,
walking on the sea, &c. And Peter was in the ship, and
his disciples as you may see in Matthew xiv. and in Mark
v. 48.
And Simon Peter had part of the ship, as you may
see in Luke v. And so it was that James and John, sons
of Zebedee, were partners with Simon.
And Christ saith, Luke xii. 38, 39, speaking of his
coming, and exhorting to watch ; " If he (to wit, the
master) should come in the second or third watch, and
find them watching, blessed are those servants." So this
watching was for Christ, and against sin and evil in their
own hearts. And then he brings a comparison : " And
this know," said he, " that if the good man of the house
had known what hour the thief would come, he would
have watched, and not suffered his house to be broken
up," &c.

GEORGE FOX. 161
And so here is the good man's watching against sin and
evil without, and the spoiler and the thief without, whom
the magistrate is to revenge, and to lay his sword upon.
And here is also a watching against sin and evil within,
and a waiting to receive Christ the Lord at his coming.
And as there is a shutting of the outward doors, to
keep out the murderers and the thieves, and a bolting and
locking of them out ; so there is a shutting up and lock
ing of the door of the heart, to keep out the adulterer
and murderer, and all that is deceitful, from coming
within, into the hearts.
And, Friends, the priests and professors used to bring
this Scripture, " You must be subject to every ordinance
of man for the Lord's sake," to the end that we should
pay them their maintenance, and hold up their worship.
And when the magistrates brought that Scripture for
these ends, we could not obey them in these things,
nor touch nor taste their ordinances, doctrines, nor com
mandments. But to be subject to every ordinance of
man for the Lord's sake, which was for the punishment
of evil doers, as drunkards, thieves, murderers, adul
terers, and such like; and to keep down such evil
doers, and that we might live a godly and peaceable
life under them, which was for the praise of them that
do well ; — this we always owned, and were subject to,
and watched against, and declared against in our own
way, and laid such actors and actions before the magis
trates, for them to punish and keep down with their
power, which is their sword of justice ; but if they would
compel us to things that we could not do, contrary to our
conscience, for the Lord's sake, we suffered for it.
So where Friends have the government, as in Rhode
Island, in that province Friends were willing to watch,
in their own way: and they made a law that none
should be compelled to take arms.

162 EPISTLES, &C OF
So Friends have always proffered the magistrates, to
watch in their own way against the evil doer, though
they could not join with them in carrying arms, swords,
and pistols.
And this they have proffered in Barbadoes, as I have
heard, to discover, if negroes should rise up to burn
plantations, or steal, or do any hurt ; or of Indians in
vading their land.
So with my love to all Friends in all those parts, as
though I named them ; be at peace one with another ;
neither judge one another about such things, but live in
love, which doth edify, and in the power of God; that
your hearts, and souls, and minds, may unite together in
it ; and all walk as becomes the Gospel. And let your
lives and conversations preach ; that with a measure of
the Spirit of God, you may reach to that of God in all ;
so that his Name may be glorified, and He honoured,
in your bringing forth much heavenly, spiritual fruit,
from the heavenly seed, that Christ the heavenly Seeds
man hath sown in your hearts ; that so an hundred-fold
of holiness, righteousness, godliness, virtue, and piety,
from this heavenly seed, you may bring forth and in
crease in this life-time, and in the world to come reap life
everlasting. And give no occasion to your adversaries^ neither in
your lives nor words ; but that you may all serve God
in the new life, showing forth that you are new men, and
that you are renewed in the image of God, and that you
are born again of the immortal, heavenly seed ; by the
Eternal, Everlasting Word, that lives, and abides, and
endures for ever. And that you do feed upon the heavenly
milk and bread from above, and that your conversation is
in heaven, and that you are clothed with the fine heavenly
linen, which is the righteousness of saints, which is Christ

GEORGE FOX. 163
the heavenly and spiritual Man's livery ; by which his
servants are known by his badge of righteousness, and
distinguished from all the servants of old Adam, Egypt,
Sodom, and Babylon, with their badge of unrighteousness.
And so be valiant for God's Truth upon the earth, and
spread it abroad: preach Christ and his kingdom, his
light, his grace, his truth to men, that all should walk
in it ; and his dreadful day upon all the talkers of God,
Christ, his prophets and apostles' words, that do not
walk in the same power, spirit, and life, grace, and truth,
which they walked in. I say, preach this to the magis
trates, and amongst the heathen men, and show your
selves to be quickened who have been dead in sins and
trespasses ; but that you are now made alive by Him ;
and so show forth his Light, Life, and Truth, and that
you are awakened to righteousness ; and therefore show
it forth to them that are asleep in the unrighteousness.
So that the Lord's glory, and righteous power, truth,
light, and life, may flow over all, to his glory over all, for
ever. Amen. G. F.

no. cccxx.

An Epistle relative to the station of Women in the
Church.*
Friends, 1676.
You may read how, in the old world, one family after
another, till Noah's time, served the Lord God. And
* The selections from this Epistle will serve to show how
much advanced is the general estimation of women, since the
day when it was needful to write so much to prove their import
ance in the scale of society, as intellectual and moral beings ; —
as co-workers with the grace of God, and co-heirs with man of
immortal life.
George Fox mentiQns, in page 6 of his Journal, meeting with
a people who held that women had no souls.

164 EPISTLES, &C. OF
then after Noah were Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and
their wives ; and after Moses and Aaron had brought the
children of Israel out of Egypt, and that they were come
to be a great people, Moses said, " I would all the Lord's
people were prophets." — Numb. xi. 29. And when a
young man said unto Moses, " Eldad and Medad do
prophesy in the camp ;" and he would have had Moses
to forbid them ; then Moses answered, and said unto
him again, " Would to God all the Lord's people were
prophets, and that the Lord would put his Spirit upon
them." So Moses here (who was captain, governor, and judge
over Israel) was far from restraining any from prophesy
ing in the camp, but reproved his envy that would have
had him forbid them ; and did moreover encourage them,
by saying, " I would to God all the Lord's people were
prophets." And surely all the Lord's people are made
up of both men and women.
Now in the time of the law, there were the assemblies
of the women ; for all the women that were wise of
heart, did work with their hands about those holy things
which God had commanded.
And all the women whose hearts stirred them up in
wisdom, these women wrought about those holy things
that belonged to the tabernacle and sanctuary ; as you
may see in Exodus xxxv.
And likewise the assemblies of the women, in the 38th
chapter, and of the women's assembling at the door of
the tabernacle of the congregation ; and in the margin
it is said, they assembled by troops.
Now Moses and Aaron, and the seventy Elders, did
not say to those assemblies of the women : " We can
do our work ourselves, and you are fitter to be at home
to wash the dishes ;" or such like expressions ; but they

GEORGE FOX. 165
did encourage them in the work and service of God, in
those things which God had commanded them in the
time of the Law.
For God had poured his Spirit upon the house of
Israel, to give them an understanding, to do those things
which God had commanded them ; by which Spirit their
hearts were stirred up to do God's work, both males and
females. And in the time of the law, the women were to offer
up sacrifices and offerings, as well as the men, upon
God's altar ; as you may see, Hannah, when she brought
Samuel, and offered him up to the Lord, she brought him
to the house of the Lord in Shiloh ; and when she
brought him, she took up with her three bullocks, besides
flour and wine. So see how she paid her vows to the
Lord, and offered up her sacrifices upon God's altar.
And other places might be showed of the women's offer
ings and sacrifices.
And you may see Hannah's fervent zeal to God, and
what a large speech she made in magnifying and exalting
the Lord, in 1 Samuel 1st and 2nd chapters.
And so you may see, the offerings and sacrifice of the
women were accepted upon God's altar, as well as the
men's. Now Hannah's husband, and the other women's
husbands, that offered up their offerings upon God's
altar, were not offended at them, nor did they say their
own offerings were enough for them both ; but every one
was to offer up their peace-offerings and thanksgiving
offerings themselves, and other offerings.
And it is said, in Joel ii, and in Acts ii. " That the
Lord would pour out of his Spirit upon all flesh in the
last days or times."
So this Spirit is poured upon all flesh in the Christian

166 EPISTLES, &C. OF
times, on sons and daughters, handmaids and servants,
old men and young men, that, by the Spirit of God, all
these might have his visions, prophecies, and dreams.
And it is by his Spirit that all should profit in the things
that are eternal, and serve God in the Spirit, both men
and women, sons and daughters, old men and young men,
handmaids and servants ; and all offer up to God his
spiritual sacrifices.
For all being dead in earthly Adam, Christ the
heavenly Adam has tasted death for them all, and is a
propitiation for the sins of the whole world ; and He en
lightens all, and his grace hath appeared unto all, and
his Spirit is poured upon all flesh ; and his Gospel, which
is the power of God, is preached to every creature under
heaven. And now, must not all receive the grace, and believe in
the light, and receive this Gospel, and walk and labour in
it, both men and women, sons and daughters, old men and
young, servants and handmaids.
And as the women were to offer in the old Covenant,
and in the time of the law, upon the outward altar, their
offerings ; and God poured out his Spirit upon the house
of Israel, that they might understand, and do what He
commanded them ; so, in this the time and day of Christ,
the Captain of our salvation, must not all these labour in
the Gospel, and in the word, and in the grace, and in the
light, and know and do God and Christ's work and service
about his heavenly tabernacle and sanctuary ? Have not
all their respective service that are enlightened? And
his grace, that hath appeared unto them, are they not
stewards of it ? And must not there be assemblies of the
women in the time of the Gospel, and of the new Cove
nant, and in the time of grace, and light, and life, as well
as in the time of the Law, and of the old Covenant ?

GEORGE FOX. 167
And so now the end of all our men and women's meet
ings in the time of the Gospel (the power of Christ
being the authority of them), is, that they may all labour
in his power, and in his grace, and in his Spirit, and in
his light, to do his service and his business in truth and
righteousness. So the women in the time of the Gospel, light, and
grace, are to look into their ownselves and families, and
to look to the training up of their children ; for they are
oft-times more amongst them than the men, and may
prevent many things that may fall out, and many times
they may make or mar their children in their education.
So now they come to be exercised in the grace of God ;
and to admonish and exhort, reprove and rebuke, and to
keep all their families modest, honest, virtuous, sober, and
civil, and not to give liberty, nor indulge that which
tends to vice, or lasciviousness, or any evil, or idleness,
or slothfulness, or the fashions of the world, which pass
away ; and to stop all vain words, and idle talking, and
stories and tales, which are unprofitable ; and rather to
turn their ears to godliness, which they should be trained
up and exercised in, and not fulfil the lust of the eye ; for
that being satisfied, brings the pride of life, and then
comes the lust of the flesh ; and this is not of the Father,
but of the world.
And if either men or women suffer such things, they
suffer that which defiles their children and families ; and
therefore such things are to be reproved in families ; and
their children to be stopped from going into such things.
And therefore they are to have an esteem of truth and
virtue above all such things, and not to indulge any such
things as will draw out their minds from virtue to vice.
Now when the women are met together in the light,
and in the Gospel, the power of God ; some are of a

1 68 EPISTLES, &C. OF
more large capacity and understanding than other women,
and are able to inform, and instruct, and stir up others
unto diligence, virtue, and righteousness, and godliness ;
and in the love and wisdom of God to inform and reform
their families, and to help them that are of weaker capa
cities and understandings, in the wisdom of God, that
they may be fruitful in every good work and word.
So that they may see that all their families are ordered
to God's glory ; and that which tends to looseness or evil,
either in words, ways, or actions, that would corrupt
them, either in their lives or manners, may be kept down
and reproved.
So that all their children and servants may be trained
up in the fear of God, in the new Covenant ; for among
the Jews in the old Covenant, they that sojourned
amongst them were to keep the sabbath ; and if they did
eat of their sacrifice, they were to be circumcised.
And the women had their assemblies in the days of the
Judges and the Kings ; and old Eli's sons abused them,
and old Eli did admonish his sons, but he did not restrain
them from their wickedness ; and therefore God cut oft
his sons, and he lost the ark of God, and the priesthood,
and his own life also.
And some there have been, that would not have the
women to meet without the men ; and some of them say,
the women must not speak in the church ; but if they
must not speak, what should they meet with them for ? .
But what spirit is this, that would exercise lordship
over the faith of any ? And what a spirit is this, that
will neither suffer the women to speak amongst the men,
nor to meet amongst themselves to speak?
But all this is for judgment, with that spirit that
gives liberty unto all that labour in the Gospel, in. the
light, and in the grace.

GEORGE FOX. 196
And some men and women there are that suggest, if
women should meet by themselves in the order of the
Gospel, the power of God, they would be too high ; but
such men and women as so suggest, are too high already,
and would be ruling over men and women's possessions,
and waste their own; for if they were in the power and
Spirit of God, they need not fear any one's getting over
them : for the power and Spirit of God gives liberty to
all ; for women are heirs of life as well as men, and heirs
of grace, and of the light of Christ Jesus, as well as the
men, and so stewards of the manifold grace of God.
So all the women, in all their assemblies in the time of
the Gospel, and of the new Covenant of light, life, and
grace, are to be encouraged, as they were in the time of
the law, and to be stirred up in the wisdom of God to
their diligence and service of God and Christ, in his new
Covenant, in his Gospel time, to do the Lord's business
about the heavenly tabernacle, and heavenly garments,
as the women were about the figure in the time of the law.
And now, you that stumble at women's meetings, had
not your women many vain meetings before they were
convinced, and you were not then offended at them :
when they met to satisfy the flesh, and had junketing
meetings to themselves, did you reprove them for such
meetings ?
And why should they not now meet in their conversion
in the Lord's power and Spirit, to do his business, and to
visit the fatherless and widows, and to keep themselves
from the spots of the world, which is the practice of the
pure religion, wherein the men and women may be helps
meet in the religion that is not of the world, that keeps
from the spots of the world.
But some have said that such meeting must not be,
but as business requires or occasions them : as much as
i

170 EPISTLES, &C. OF
to say, you must not make up the hedges till the beasts
have devoured your corn ; and then the parish over
seers must meet together to compute the damage. And
here their wisdom is seen, as if it were not more their
duty to meet, to prevent bad actions that may fall out,
and with the power of God to stop up gaps to prevent
evil, or weak places ; for when the evil is entered into,
it is of the latest to meet then, which rather brings scandal
than remedy ; and therefore the labourers in the Gospel,
men and women, (being helps meet,) are to see that all
walk and live in the order of the Gospel, and to see that
nothing be lacking ; then all is well ; for the women in
their assemblies may inform one another of the poor
widows and fatherless, and in the wisdom of God may
find the best way for the setting forth of their children ;
and to see that their children are preserved in Truth, and
to instruct them in the fear of the Lord.
And after the children of Israel came out of Egypt,
and saw the destruction of Pharoah and his host ; after
Moses made an end of his song, and praising of the
Lord, then Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron,
took a timbrel in her hand, and all the women went out
after her with timbrels and with dances, (mark, all the
women,) and Miriam answered them and said: " Sing
ye unto the Lord ; for He hath triumphed gloriously, the
horse and his rider-hath He overthrown in the sea," &c.
Now here you may see what an assembly there was of
the women, that praised the Lord, which were instructed
by Miriam the prophetess ; and Moses and Aaron were
not offended at them ; for they were sensible of their
joy, and were partakers of the deliverance and salvation,
the women as well as the men ; as you may see in
Exod. xv.
And Deborah, a prophetess, she judged Israel, and

GEORGE FOX. 171
sent to Baruch and exhorted and encouraged him : and
she prophesied to him, that he should not have the glory
of the battle ; but that the Lord should sell Sisera into
the hands of a woman ; as you may see in Judges, chap.
iv. and v.
Then sung Deborah and praised the Lord ; and there
you may see her large declaration, in praising and
magnifying the Name of the Lord, the whole chapter
throughout. And we do not read that the elders did
reprove her, or bid her hold her prating; for she was
filled with the power of the Lord to praise his name.
— Judges v.
And you may see how the Apostle set forth the
honourable women, and their faithfulness and constancy,
who by faith received the dead raised to life again. —
Hebrews xi. 35.
And Hannah, who prayed in the temple before Eli, as
aforesaid, who was ignorant of her condition, he reproved
her, and thought she had been drunk ; but she convinced
him, so that at last he encouraged her, and desired the
Lord to grant her petition. And when the Lord had
granted it to her, you may see how this honourable wo
man exalts the Lord. — 1 Sam. ii. 1 — 10.
And Ruth and Naomi, you may see what virtuous
women they were, and how the women blessed the Lord
on their behalf, and how they declared of the goodness of
the Lord to them.
And Huldah the prophetess, who dwelt in Jerusalem,
in the college, where the king sent out the priest Hilkiah,
and his scribe and others, to inquire of her. Now the
Jews here did not despise communication with a woman.
And she instructed the priest and the king's scribe, who
came to her.
So neither king nor priest did despise this prophetess'
i2

172 EPISTLES, &C. OF
teaching and instruction, but obeyed it, as you may see
what a large sermon she preached to them, in 2 Kings
xxii. from verse 14 to the end.
And you may see Abigail, that honourable woman's
wisdom, how she saved her family and her house from
destruction. Yet she did not go to ask her husband (old
churlish Nabal) at home, but she, who was innocent and
wise, took it upon herself; and you may see what a
brave sermon she preached to David, who heard her
patiently; and she told David, how that he was bound
up in the bundle of life with the Lord God. And David
blessed the Lord God that she came to him, and said, the
Lord God of Israel had sent her that day to meet him ;
and said : " Blessed be thy advice, and blessed be
thou which has kept me this day from shedding blood ;"
as you may read in 1 Sam. xxv. And was not this a
noble and honourable act of this woman, which prevented
so much evil and bloodshed, which her husband had like
to have brought upon them. So David did not despise
the counsel of this honourable woman, who was wiser
than her husband Nabal.
And the Lord sent Elijah in the time of the famine,
and said unto him, " Behold, I have commanded a
widow woman to sustain thee ;" and he arose, and went
to Zarephath, and when he came to the gate of the city,
the widow woman was gathering sticks to make a fire, to
bake her a cake ; she had but one handful of meal and a
little oil in a cruse, and yet in faith she made the man
of God a cake, though she had no more than this, that
she and her son might eat and then die ; but her meal
wasted not, nor her cruse of oil, according to the word of
the Lord ; and so the Lord blessed this woman, as you
may see in 1 Kings xvii.
And in 2 Kings iv. there you may see the faith

GEORGE FOX. 173
of the widow woman, and how largely she spoke unto
the prophet Elisha, and how the Lord increased her
stock of oil through her belief and faithfulness.
And Elisha passed unto Shunam, where there was a
great woman, and she constrained him to eat bread ; and
so it was, as oft as he passed by, that he turned in thither
to eat bread ; and she said unto her husband, ' ' Behold,
now I perceive that this is a holy man of God, which
passes by us continually : let us make him a little cham
ber, I pray thee, on the wall, and let us set for him there
a bed, and a table, and a stool, and a candlestick ; and it
shall be that when he comes to us, that he shall turn in
thither." Now to this good action of this holy woman
was her husband subject ; and how she was blessed after
wards for her faithfulness, and receiving of the man of
God !
Now the prophet of the Lord did not despise this
woman's speaking in the time of the law.
Neither did Solomon despise the prophecy which his
mother taught him. — Prov. xxxi.
And David said, " The Lord gave the word, and great
was the company of those that published it." — Psalm
lxviii. 11.
And the king's daughter was among the honourable
women. So there were the honourable women, that
feared and served the Lord God, in the time of the law
and before the law.
But now there should be much more in the time of the
Gospel, which is preached to every creature; which
Gospel light has enlightened every man that cometh into
the world ; and in the time of the Covenant of Grace,
which hath appeared unto all men, to teach them and
bring their salvation : and so in the time of the Gospel,
light, and grace, the honourable women should be meet

174 EPISTLES, &C. OF
helps, and fellow-labourers together in the work and ser
vice of the Lord, as man and woman were before they
fell, and as they were in the time of the law.
For that honourable Deborah, who was a valiant
mother in Israel, was a judge and a prophetess. Judges v.
And Jephthah's daughter, was not she a virtuous
young woman ? and see what a sermon she preached to
her father, and said to him, " Let me go up to the
mountains to bewail my virginity : and he said unto her,
go ; and she went and her companions, fellow virgins, and
she said unto her father : As thou hast opened thy mouth
unto the Lord, so do unto me according to what hath
proceeded out of thy mouth, forasmuch as the Lord hath
taken vengeance for thee of thy enemies."
And the daughters of Israel went yearly to lament the
daughter of Jephthah. — Judges xi.
So here they had a yearly meeting upon this occasion :
but the assemblies of the women about the works and
services the Lord commanded was beyond this.
And Manoah, Samson's mother, unto whom the angel
of the Lord appeared, and declared unto her great things,
these she declared unto her husband, but her husband did
not reprove her ; and when her husband was in fear that
they should die, then his wife encouraged him, saying:
" If the Lord were pleased to kill us, he would not have
received a burnt-offering, and have showed us all these
things." And here you may see the stedfastness of this woman's
faith, beyond her husband's, as in Judges xiii.
And the woman of Tekoah, see what a sermon she
preached to king David, 2 Sam. xiv.
And you may see what a large sermon the woman of
the city of Abel preached unto Joab the general; she
told him, she was one of them that were peaceable and

GEORGE FOX. ] 75
faithful in Israel ; " and thou seekest to destroy a city
and a mother of Israel ; why wilt thou swallow up the
inheritance of the Lord?" So she convinced him, and
preserved the city.
And so these and such women are recorded to posterity
for their wisdom, and their virtue and zeal, and their
faith, as you may see in 2 Sam. xx.
And what think you of Esther ? read her book, and
see the behaviour of this virtuous, honourable woman,
who by her wisdom, faith, and virtue, preserved her
people Israel. She was a nursing mother to them ; as
you may read in the Book of Esther, who kept a fast
with her maidens to the Lord, and also desired Mordecai
to keep a fast in Shushan. — Esther iv. 16.
And in Luke i. you may see how the angel of the Lord
appeared unto Mary the mother of Jesus, and what he
said to her, and what a noble, virtuous mind was in her ;
and she said unto the angel : " Behold the handmaid of
the Lord, be it unto me according to thy word." So her
belief was beyond Zachariah the priest's.
And when Mary came unto Elizabeth, what a meeting
and salutation was there ; and how she was filled with the
Holy Ghost, and the Babe leaped in her womb, and she
praised the Lord God, and called her the mother of her
Lord ! Read from the 40th to the 57th verse, and see
how she extols the Lord, and magnifies Christ Jesus ;
for here was a heavenly meeting of these two, which is
chronicled to ages.
So you may see her belief was above Zachariah the
priest's : so Mary and Elizabeth were notable preachers
of Christ Jesus.
And you may see in Luke ii. 7, how Mary wrapped
Christ in swaddling clothes ; and how tender she was of
the heavenly birth, conceived by the Holy Ghost ; (and

] 76 EPISTLES, &C OF
so must all true and tender Christians, that receive Him
in the spirit ) ; and how she kept all the sayings that were
spoken of Christ, and pondered them in her heart, verse
19, and so should every true Christian do.
And there was Anna, a prophetess, who was eighty-four
years old, who departed not from the temple, but served
God with fasting and prayer night and day; and she
gave thanks unto the Lord, and spoke of Christ unto all
that looked for redemption in Israel : She spoke of Christ.
Here was a notable old woman of eighty-four years of
age, a preacher and declarer of Christ.
And you do not read that ever any despised her, or
said it was forbidden for a woman to speak in the church,
But this woman is set forth for an example to all young
and old women, of her love to Christ her Saviour; and
not only so, but a preacher of Him to all that looked for
redemption in Israel.
And the woman of Canaan that came unto Jesus, and
said, " Lord, help !" but He answered and said, " It is
not meet to take the children's bread, and cast it unto
dogs :" and she said, " Truth, Lord, yet the dogs eat of
the crumbs which fall from their master's table." Then
Jesus answered and said unto her, " O woman ! great is
thy faith, be it unto thee even as thou wilt."
So you may see, by this woman's faith in Christ Jesus,
this woman's daughter was made whole ; which was an
example for all the faithful to look unto Jesus for help ;
as you may see in Matt. xv.
And Mary that took a pound of ointment of spikenard,
very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his
feet with her hair ; and the whole house was filled with
the odour of the ointment : but when Judas saw it, he
had indignation, saying, " To what profit is this waste?
Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred

GEORGE FOX. 177
pence, and given to the poor ?" as you may see in Matt.
xxvi. and Mark xiv. and John xii. Now this was
Judas, which carried the bag, and betrayed Christ ; and
many there are that carry the bag now, that would not
have their wives nor the women bestow any thing upon
Christ, nor his poor followers.
But Jesus said : " Let her alone : why trouble you
her ? She hath wrought a good work on me ; for the
poor ye have with you always, and whensoever ye will
ye may do them good, but me ye have not always ; she
hath done what she could ; she is come beforehand to
anoint my body to my burial. Verily I say unto you,
wheresoever this Gospel shall be preached throughout the
world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of, for
a memorial of her."
So Christ did not forbid the woman's practice, but en
couraged her ; and so He doth still, them that obey Him.
And the woman that was twelve years troubled with
an incurable disease, who had spent all upon physicians,
and grew worse and worse ; her faith was so strong, that
she believed if she could but touch the hem of his gar
ment, she should be well.
And as soon as she had touched his clothes, virtue
went from Christ and healed her ; and then the woman
came fearing and trembling, and fell down before Christ,
and told Him all the truth, what she had done ; " And
He said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee
whole, go in peace." — Mark v.
Now Christ, who is the Head of the Church, here
suffered a woman to speak before Him, from whom she
had received the healing virtue.
And you may see, when Christ was crucified, how
many women were there, as Mary Magdalene, and MaryT
the mother of James, and many others who came up to
i 3

178 EPISTLES, &C. OF
Jerusalem, that were about Jesus at the time of his being
crucified, as in Mark xv.
And Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James,
came to the sepulchre, and the angel said unto them :
" Be not afraid, ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was
crucified. - He is not here, He is arisen ; behold the place
where they laid Him. But go your way, tell his disciples
and Peter, that He goeth before you into Galilee, there
shall you see Him as He said unto you." For Jesus
appeared first to Mary Magdalene, as in Mark xvi.
And in John xx. it is said, two angels said to Mary,
" Woman, why weepest thou? And she said, because
they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where
they have laid Him ; and when she had thus said, she
turned herself, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not
that it was Jesus, &c. But Jesus said unto her, Mary I
and she turned herself, and said unto Him, Rabbi ! (as
much as to say, Master) ! and Jesus said unto her, touch
me not, for I am not yet ascended unto my Father ; but
go unto my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto
my Father, and your Father ; and to my God, and your
God, &c. And Mary Magdalene came and told the dis
ciples, that she had seen the Lord, and that He had
spoken these things unto her."
So here Mary Magdalene was a messenger of Christ
Jesus, who did not despise her speaking before Him, who
was the Head of the Church, and did not refuse to send
her to preach his resurrection to his disciples, though she
was a woman.
And in Luke xxiv. it is said, it was Mary Magdalene,
and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other
women which were with them, which told the apostles
that Christ was risen ; and this was said unto them,
" Why seek ye the living among the dead ? He is not

GEORGE FOX. 179
here, He is risen. Remember that He spoke unto you,
when He was yet in Galilee, saying : The Son of Man
must be delivered into the hands of sinful men," &c.
And they remembered these words, and they returned
from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the
eleven disciples, and all the rest.
And mark, as I said before, " it was Mary Magdalene,
and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other
women that were with them, which told these things unto
the apostles ; and these words seemed unto them as idle
tales, and they believed them not."
Now mark their message, and to whom it was ; and
who they were that were the messengers, the weaker
vessels ; and to whom, to the apostles ; and what they
preached was what they remembered Christ had spoken
to them before, to wit, that Christ should suffer, and rise
again. Now here you may see it was Mary, and Joanna, and
Mary the mother of James, and the other women that
were with them, that declared the resurrection of Christ
unto the eleven, which seemed but as idle tales to the
apostles. And here was a joyful women's meeting indeed, of
messengers and preachers of Christ's resurrection, which
is recorded to posterity to their renown, that all should
believe ; though their message and speech were as idle
tales to the disciples.
And the woman of Samaria, that Christ Jesus con
vinced, and taught her how God was to be worshipped, to
wit, in the Spirit and Truth : you may see what a large
discourse Christ had with her, as in John iv. from the
7th to the 27^, and suffered her to speak before the Head
of the Church.
And Christ's disciples marvelled that He talked with

180 EPISTLES, &C. OF
a woman ; and the woman left her pitcher of water, and
went away into a city of Samaria, and said unto the men
of the city: (mark, unto the men) ! " Come and see a
man that told me all that ever I did. Is not this the
Christ ? And many of the Samaritans believed, because
of the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me
all that ever I did." And when they heard Christ, they
said unto the woman, " Now we believe, not because of
thy saying only, but we have heard Him ourselves, and
know that He is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the
world." So here you may see, there was a woman preacher,
whom Christ (the Head of the Church) suffered ; and
through her means many were converted unto Christ.
And when they had crucified Jesus Christ, there were
many women that beheld him afar off, which followed
Him from Galilee, ministering unto Him, amongst which
were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James,
and Joses, the mother of Zebedee's children.
And here you may see, there was a women's meeting
with Christ, in his sufferings ; and when he was risen
some of them preached his resurrection, as you may
see in Matt, xxvii. 61 ; and xxviii. 5—7, where you
may read the message Christ gave to the women to de
clare to the apostles, as aforesaid, which is recorded and
set forth that others might believe their message.
And in Luke vii. Christ turned Him to the women,
and said unto Simon : " Seest thou this woman ! I
entered into thy house, but thou gavest me no water for
my feet ; but she hath washed my feet with tears, and
wiped them with the hair of her head. And thou gavest
me no kiss ; but this woman, since the time I came into
the house, hath not ceased to kiss my feet. My head
with oil thou didst not anoint ; but this woman hath

GEORGE FOX. 181
anointed my feet with ointment. Wherefore I say unto
thee, her sins which are many, are forgiven ; for she
loved much ; but to whom little is forgiven, the same
loveth little."
And they that sat at meat with him began to say,
" Who is this that forgiveth sins ?" and He said unto the
woman, " Thy faith hath saved thee : go in peace."
So here you may see how Christ justified the woman's
action above Simon, whose faith saved her ; which is
chronicled to her renown, and the honour of God. And
in Matt, xxviii. there you may see this Mary Magdalene,
which was a preacher of Christ ; it was she out of whom
Christ had cast seven devils ; and with her Joanna, the
wife of Chuza, Herod's steward, and Susanna, which
ministered unto Christ of their substance.
Now, would not some niggards be ready to say, these
women picked their husbands' pockets ; and others, with
Judas, who carry the bag, may say, we must have but
one purse, and is not our gift and benevolence sufficient ?
But this woman loved Christ ; and Christ said : " My
mother and my brethren are these, which hear the word
of God and do it." — Luke viii. 21.
And Martha received Christ into her house, and she
had a sister called Mary, that sat at Jesus' feet, and
heard his words ; but Martha was cumbered about much
serving : and Jesus said unto her : " Martha, thou art
careful and troubled about many things, but one thing is
needful ; and Mary hath chosen that good part, which
shall not be taken away from her." Which is the duty
of every good man and woman to do, if they will be kept
out of the many things. And you may see how Mary
talked with Christ, and Christ with her.
So this is chronicled, that all might choose the good
part, and the one thing, which cannot be taken away from

182 EPISTLES, &C OF
them ; and be kept out of the many things, that cumber ;
as you may see in Luke x.
And here you may see all these renowned, faithful
women, were encouraged by Christ and his followers ;
and are recorded and set forth to encourage all that are
faithful to wait upon Christ, and to light their candle at
God's light and fire, that so they may sweep their house
and find their treasure, that they may declare their joy
of it to their friends and neighbours.
And also you may see Dorcas was full of good works,
and alms-deeds which she did. And all the widows stood
by Peter, weeping, showing the coats and garments which
Dorcas made whilst she was with them, to wit, the
widows. Mark, and was not there a women's meeting
then, whilst Dorcas was with them ; to wit, the widows ?
and Dorcas was a disciple of Jesus. — Acts ix.
And Paul on the Sabbath went out of the city by a
river side, where prayers were wont to be made, and
spoke to the women which resorted thither ; and was not
there a women's meeting also, which resorted there to
pray together.
" And there was a certain woman named Lydia, a
seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped
God, whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended
unto the things spoken by Paul, and she besought him to
come to her house, if he judged her faithful to the Lord,
and abide there ; and she constrained him and them that
were with him." — Acts xvi. So you may see the faith
fulness of this woman, and the practice of the other
women before they were converted.
And Priscilla, who was a notable faithful woman,
whom Paul often mentions with her husband Aquila ;
and Philip's four daughters, which were prophetesses,
which were set forth to encourage others. And you may

GEORGE FOX. 183
see Phebe, whom the Apostle Paul sends his Epistle to
the Romans from Corinth by, and calls a servant of the
Church of Cenchrea ; and he saith, " Greet Mary, which
bestowed much labour upon us ; and Priscilla and Aquila,
my fellow -labourers in Christ Jesus."
So here you may see there were women labourers and
helpers in the Gospel. And he further saith, " I com
mend unto you our sister Phebe, who is a servant unto
the church," &c. And saith ; " Greet Priscilla and
Aquila, my fellow-helpers in Christ Jesus, who for my
life have laid down their necks, unto whom not only I
give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles."
So here you may see in what esteem were this man
and woman, and Phebe, and other women for their
faithfulness to the churches ; as you may read, Bom. xvi.
And the Apostle saith, That the unbelieving husband
is sanctified by the believing wife, &c, else their children
were unholy ; but now they are clean ; and the un
believing wife is sanctified by the believing husband.
So here is an equal share in the belief. — 1 Cor. vii.
And the apostle saith : " That every woman that
prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered, dis-
honoureth her head."
So women may pray and prophesy here, according to
order, in the Church, as well as the men. — 1 Cor. xi.
And the same apostle saith : "I beseech thee, Euo-
dias, and I beseech Syntyche, that they may be of the
same mind in the Lord ; and I entreat thee also, true
yoke-fellow, help those women which laboured with me in
the Gospel ; with Clement also, and with other my fel
low-labourers, whose names are in the book of life.
So here the apostle entreated his yoke-fellow to help
those women which laboured with him in the Gospel, the
power of God : so these women were meet helps with the

184 EPISTLES, &C. OF
apostle in the labour of the Gospel, (the power of God),
as you may see in Phil. iv. And all that be of his mind
in the Lord, will encourage women, either widows or
virgins, that have received the Gospel, to labour in it ;
and all that have not the mind of the apostle in the
Lord, will discourage women's labouring in the Gospel,
and not entreat others to help them ; but such will give
them liberty to labour in the power of darkness, and to
slothfulness, and carelessness ; which the woe is unto,
and not the blessing.
And John writes, in his Second Epistle, unto the elect
Lady and her children, " whom I love in the Truth,"
saith he, " and not I only, but also all they that have
known the Truth, for the Truth's sake, which dwelleth
in us, and shall be with us for ever," &c. " I rejoice
greatly," says he, " that I have found thy children walk
ing in the Truth." And he further saith, " I write no
new commandment unto thee, but that which we had
from the beginning, that we love one another."
And so he trusts to come and see her, and speak face
to face unto her ; " the children of thy elect sister greet
thee. Amen!"
So was not this an honourable woman, that had trained
up her children in the Truth, as was commanded by
John ? And he admonished her against such as did
transgress, and did not abide in the doctrine of Christ
Jesus, that they had not the Father nor the Son ; but
they that did abide in the doctrine of Christ Jesus, had
both the Father and the Son.
So is not this an encouragement to all faithful women,
to see that their children do walk in the Truth, and abide
in the doctrine of Christ ; that they may have both the
Father and the Son ?
And now, Friends, many of other examples in the

GEORGE FOX. 185
Scriptures might be showed, to encourage women's meet
ings in the service of God and Christ, both concerning
their faithful testimony for the Lord and Christ, and
their encouragement by the faithful in the Old and New
Testament, how that they had their assemblies and their
meetings ; and now they being heirs of life, and of grace,
and of the Gospel of Christ, which hath brought life and
immortality to light, you may see over him that has
darkened you, and before he was.
So administer of the heavenly and temporal refresh
ments, to such as want them ; and stand up for your
liberty in the light, and life, and grace, and glorious
Gospel ; being heirs of life and grace, and of the Gospel
of salvation, and of Christ Jesus, as well as the men.
And if there were no Scripture for our men and
women's meetings, Christ is sufficient, who restores man
and woman up into the image of God, to be helps meet in
the righteousness and holiness, which they were in before
they fell ; so He is our Rock and Foundation to build
upon. Now, all you careless women, that are out of God's
service, and think ye have no need to be in the service
and work of the Lord, hear the word of the Lord, what
Isaiah says to such : " Arise up, ye women, that are
at ease ; hear my voice, ye careless daughters, give ear
to my speech ; many days and years shall ye be troubled,
ye careless women ; for the vintage shall fall, and the
gathering shall not come." Nor can you expect it in
your case and carelessness, that neglect God's voice and
speech, and are not diligent ; your heavenly vintage will
fall, and of it ye will have little gathering. " Tremble,
ye women that are at ease ; be troubled, ye careless ones ;
strip ye, make ye bare, gird sackcloth upon your loins,"
&c. — Isaiah xxxii. Therefore put off that careless gar-

186 EPISTLES, &C. OF
ment, and shake off sloth, and put on diligence in the
service of God. G. F.

no. cccxxxiii.
To Friends in Barbadoes.
Swarthmore, Lancashire, 25th of Eighth Month, 1676.
My dear Friends in the heavenly relation, amongst
whom the Stone that the builders rejected is elect and
precious. In Him, Christ, you are elect, who is the
Head of the corner of God's building : and therefore in
the Name of Jesus keep your Meetings, in whom you all
have salvation, and not by any other name under heaven ;
and though the Lord may try you by the outward
powers, yet be valiant for God's truth upon the earth ;
and if some of you be cast into prison, and your goods
be spoiled, the Lord God, who giveth the increase of all,
both invisible and visible, can make the fleece to grow
again ; therefore let your faith be in the power and word
of life.
And all seek the peace and good one of another, and
dwell in the love of God, that does edify the body of
Christ, and which bears all things, and endures all things ;
and build up one another in the most holy faith, which
you have from Christ the Holy One.
And my desire is, that you may, in the power of God,
encourage all the faithful women in your island, in the
work and service of God ; and now you have six men's
meetings, if you had as many women's meetings, it
would include all the faithful women in all the corners of
your island ; and some of your ancient faithful women to
go from meeting to meeting, till they are settled in the

GEORGE FOX. 187
power of God, and that will keep all alive in the Lord's
working power and life.
And all that are not faithful, let them be admonished
to faithfulness, that so they may come into the light, and
life, and service of God and Christ.
And therefore, my Friends, be valiant for God's truth
upon the earth ; dwell in love, that will bear all things ;
and let there be an order entered in your books, that
there be no provoking words spoken in your meetings ;
but if any have any thing to say, let them speak to them
in love privately. And when ye have settled your six
women's meetings, then you may have a Six-weeks, or a
Monthly, as well as a Quarterly Meeting, as you may see
meet. I received your letter from your Quarterly Meeting,
and I am glad that you are in the Lord's work and
service. And my desire is, that ye all may stand up for the
glory and honour of the Lord God, and that his blessings
may abound among you.
And so if you were to write to New England and
Jamaica, where I hear they have precious men and
women's meetings, it might be well, to encourage one
another in the work and service of God.

G. F.

-?-

NO. CCCXXXVI.
To Friends at Dantzick.
Swarthmore, the 17th of Third Month, 1676.
Dear Friends,
In the love of God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, look
above all your outward sufferings, and him that is out of
Truth, who makes you to suffer ; and let none separate

188 EPISTLES, &C. OF
you from the love of God which you have in Christ
Jesus, by whom all things were made ; I say, let not the
birth of the flesh, with all his carnal weapons, gaols and
prisons, threats or reproaches, move you, nor separate
you from the love of God, nor from your foundation, the
Rock of Ages, Christ Jesus. And therefore let your
faith stand in the Lord's power, which is your hedge and
defence, which is your keeper, and which will keep you
safe, that you need not be afraid of your enemy.
0 ! be valiant for God's glory and his Truth upon the
earth, and spread it abroad, answeriug that of God in
every man and woman's conscience ; knowing Him that
hath brought everlasting peace into the earth : so that
the songs of salvation may be in your mouths ; for it is
said, " With the heart man believes, and with the
mouth confession is made to salvation." So every true
believer will confess to Christ, his salvation, his way,
light, and life, out of death and darkness ; his Prophet,
to open to him ; his Captain and Commander, to com
mand and to lead him ; his Counsellor to counsel him ;
and his Priest, who hath offered Himself for him, and
who sanctifies him, and offers him up to God. To whom
be all praise and glory for ever. Amen.
In this part of the world, and in America, Truth pros
pers and spreads ; and by it men and women are made
God's free people ; being redeemed from him that is out
of Truth, that they may serve God in the new life in
Christ Jesus, (out of the old life in Adam in the fall,)
and so come to live in the heavenly unity, wisdom, love,
and dominion.
So in that love that bears all things, and keeps your
hearts, minds, and souls up to God, which comes from
God, through which you come to love God and Christ,
and one another, in that live and dwell. G. F.

GEORGE FOX. 189
NO. CCCXL.
To Friends in New Jersey, in America.
Swarthmore, the 4th of First Month, 1676.
My dear Friends,
In New Jersey, and you that go to New Jersey, my
desire is, that you may all be kept in the fear of God,
and that you may have the Lord in your eye, in all your
undertakings ; for many eyes of other governments or
colonies will be upon you ; yea, the Indians, to see how
you order your lives and conversations. And therefore,
let your lives, and words, and conversations, be as be
comes the Gospel, that you may adorn the Truth, and
honour the Lord in all your undertakings ; let that only
be in your eye, and then you will have the Lord's bless
ing and increase, both in basket and field and storehouse ;
and at your lyings down you will feel Him, and at your
goings forth and comings in. So that you may answer
the Light and the Truth in all people, both by your
godly lives and conversations : serving the Lord, and
being valiant for his Truth, with a joyful heart, upon the
earth, and the glorious Name in whom you have salva
tion. And keep up your meetings for worship, and your men
and women's meetings for the affairs of Truth, both
Monthly and Quarterly : and after you are settled, you
may join together, and build a meeting-house. And do
not strive about outward things ; but dwell in the love
of God, for that will unite you together, and make you
kind and gentle one towards another ; and to seek one
another's good and welfare, and to be helpful one to
another. And let temperance, and patience, and kind
ness, and brotherly love be exercised among you, so that

1 90 EPISTLES, &C. OF
you may abound in virtue, and the true humility ; living
in peace, showing forth the nature of Christianity, that
you may all live as a family, and the church of God,
holding Christ your heavenly Head, and having Him to
exercise his offices among you, and in you.
And therefore be not over eager after outward things,
but keep above them in the Lord's power, and seed,
Christ Jesus, that is over all ; in whom you have all life,
election, and salvation.
And write over yearly from your Meetings, how you
are settled, and how your affairs go on in the Truth, and
how your men and women's meetings are settled.
And my desires are, that we may hear that you are a
good savour to God, in those countries : so that the Lord
may crown all your actions with his glory. So with my
love to all, G. F.

NO. CCCXLII.

My dear Friends and Brethren, 1676.
Do you all live and walk in that faith (which is the
gift of God) which all the saints lived in, and by which
they pleased God, and had the victory, by which they had
access to God, and by and in which faith they did walk :
and all the just in all ages and generations, did live by
the same faith. I say, walk in that faith by which
Enoch (the seventh from Adam) was translated, and by
which he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
Keep in that faith by which Noah built his ark,
wherein he and his family were preserved ; and the old
world, that grieved God, and his good Spirit, were
drowned. Walk in that faith by which Abraham forsook his

GEORGE FOX. 19]
father's house, and native country, and their idolatrous
religion. And live in that faith, by which Moses forsook Egypt,
and refused to be called the son of Pharoah's daughter,
and chose rather to suffer affliction with the people of
God, than to enjoy the pleasures of the world for a
season. And by this faith (which is the gift of God) he
saw God, who is invisible.
And by this faith was Rahab the harlot saved, and her
family ; and by this faith the walls of Jericho fell down,
without any outward instrument of war.
And by this faith Jacob went down into Egypt, and
his children ; and by this faith he knew they should
return again. And the Jews that did not keep in this
faith, their carcases fell in the wilderness ; but they that
kept in this faith entered into the land of promise. And
by this faith had all the valiants of God the victory, and
his holy prophets and prophetesses, as you may read all
along in the Scriptures. And by this faith were they
kept in the fire, and by it the violence of the fire was
quenched ; and by it the mouths of the lions were
stopped : so by this faith they had the victory.
And by this faith was Elijah taken up to heaven : and
so, as Christ Jesus saith, faith saves, and makes whole.
And all are to look unto Jesus, the heavenly and the
spiritual Man, the Second Adam, the Lord from heaven,
by whom all things were made and created, who is the
First and the Last, to be both the Author and Finisher
of their faith.
Now Christ said : " When the Son of Man cometh,
shall he find faith in the earth ?" for all, both Jews and
Gentiles, were concluded under sin and unbelief ; so sin
and unbelief were over them, and they shut up under it.
So whosoever hath this true, saving, and justifying faith,

162 epistles, &c. of
Christ Jesus hath been the Author of it, and is the
Finisher of this divine and precious faith. So all eyes
must look unto Him, for he is both Author and Finisher
of this living, precious, and divine faith. And this is the
faith of God's elect ; by which faith they have access to
God, and know their election ; by which faith they are
translated from death to life, and from the darkness to
the light, and from the power of Satan unto the power
of God, and from the corruption to the incorruption, and
from the mortal to the immortal, and from the natural to
the spiritual.
And by this faith the devil, the destroyer, is resisted,
who abode not in the Truth ; and by this faith the fiery
darts of Satan, the adversary of man, are quenched and
he thereby is overcome. So by this faith you come to
know the partition wall broken down, that hath been
betwixt you and God. So in this faith are all the
household of faith to build upon Christ Jesus, who
bruises the serpent's head, who is the Author and
Finisher of faith : and this is called the holy faith ; and
the one faith ; and by this one faith which Jesus Christ
is the Author and Finisher of, by whom (the Word of
God) all things were made and created ; and this is the
faith which all the household of faith are to contend for,
this one faith which Christ Jesus is the Author of;
which faith is the gift of God, and is held in a pure con
science ; and it is called the mystery of faith ; for the
natural man, with all the arts, languages, and wisdom
upon the earth, cannot find it out, or know this mystery,
or make it ; for Christ Jesus, the heavenly and spiritual
Man, is the Author and finisher of it ; and the natural
man, though he may have all the languages that began
at Babel, yet he may not know the mystery of this one
faith, which Christ Jesus is the author of. For Pilate,

GEORGE FOX* 193
that set Hebrew, Greek, and Latin over Christ, he was
so ignorant of the mystery of faith, that he asked Christ,
what is Truth ? And to the Greeks and the Hebrews,
the preaching of Christ, the Author and Finisher of the
true faith, was a stumbling-block and foolishness.
So I do conclude, that no man or woman hath true
faith merely by the natural knowledge, reading, or under
standing of the original tongue and language of the New
Testament, any more than the natural Jews had by the
reading or knowing of the natural tongue of the Old
Testament ; nor can any in the whole world have true
faith, except Jesus Christ be the Author and Finisher
of it. G. F.

no. cccxliii.
Friends, 1676.
Do not strive about men, like the carnal Corinthians,
who cried, " I am of Paul, and I am of Apollos;" and
leave those that do so to themselves, after you have
admonished them to keep to the light, grace, and faith
that comes from Christ ; if they will not hear it, nor
Him, nor you, then I say they must be left to them
selves. And you, whose faith stands not in men, but in
Christ, the Author of it, keep ye in the order of the
Gospel, (the power of God), all ye that are heirs of it :
and in this power of God keep your men and women's
meetings, the power of God being the author and autho
rity of them. Now this is an everlasting and invisible
power, in which you are all helps meet in the restoration
by Christ, the heavenly and spiritual Man, whereby you
are brought into the image, likeness, righteousness, holi
ness, and power of God, which man and woman were in
before they felL And now the same spirit that drew
K

194 EPISTLES, &C. OF
Adam and Eve from the image and likeness of God, and
his power, and righteousness, and holiness, under a pre
tence to feed upon that which God had forbidden them,
(for they thought they should have been wiser than God
had taught them), would keep man and woman in the
fall. Now they, by hearkening to that spirit, and eating
of the forbidden fruit, fell and lost the image of God, and
righteousness, and holiness, and the power in which they
had the dominion, and were brought into the fall by
hearkening to this false spirit, the adversary, who envied
their happiness and prosperity. And so by their fall
they came under another power, another image, another
likeness, and another god, even the god of the world.
Now this adversary and deceiver appeared against man
in paradise ; and men and women are now deceived by
him, and are under his power in the earth. This same
spirit, who is the adversary and destroyer, that led Adam
and Eve into the fall, strives to keep men and women in
the fall, and in the earth, and opposes them in their con
version, regeneration, and restoration,
And this was the same spirit that rose in Cain against
Abel, and envied his acceptable sacrifice, and his righ
teous state, as it did Adam and Eve's prosperity in the
ruling power, wherein they had dominion over all. And
the same spirit is risen now, striving to keep people in the
fall, that men and women should not be helps meet in the
restoration by Christ Jesus. So, I say, the same spirit
that envied Adam and Eve before they fell, the same
spirit opposes the men and women's meetings in the
order of the Gospel, in their restoration : and that which
led them into the fall, does strive to keep them in the fall,
that it might be lord ; and not Christ be Lord, who re
stores them.
So the same spirit is risen, that rose against Noah in

GEORGE FOX. 195
the old world ; but Noah was preserved in the ark, over
the floods, when the old world was drowned, and all God's
people are preserved in Christ Jesus, over the floods of
the world ; I say, they are preserved in Christ Jesus
(the Ark) over all the floods of the adversary, and from
the judgments that God brings upon him, and those
that follow him. And as Noah was preserved in the ark,
over the outward floods that drowned the old world, so
will God's people be preserved from the fire and brim
stone, that is prepared for the wicked, and the devil and
his angels.
And the same spirit is risen now, that arose in
Pharaoh, and in Corah, Dathan, and Abiram ; in
Pharaoh, to oppose the people, and stop them from
going out of Egypt ; and walking in the law of God, in
which they might worship God i which law of God was
good, just, and holy, and went over all transgression and
sin, which led into death, that it might reign : and not
the Lord and his law.
And that spirit which led Corah, Dathan, and Abiram,
who thought Moses took too much upon him, and busied
himself too much, pretending that the people were holy ;
so would not have them go further, but there to have
made a stop, and set down according to its will : — but
see how they were stopped, and what became of Pharaoh,
how he was sunk in the sea, and the other into the earth.
And what became of them that opposed Aaron in his
priesthood ; their rods did not bud, yet they would have
been teachers and ministers, but they had not the fruit
in the tabernacle in the morning that they might see
how to deal their bread to the hungry ; and therefore
they whose rods did not bud, God's fire consumed them ;
for they have nothing to offer to God, but manifest pre
sumption and rebellion : and see the end of such.
k 2

196 EPISTLES, &C. OF
And therefore keep under Christ Jesus's teaching, who
is the prophet God has raised up, like Moses, whom all
should hear and obey. And the same spirit is risen now
that rose against Christ and the apostles. And Christ
called them serpents, and of their father the devil, the
destroyer, the adversary, who had deceived Adam and
Eve by his false teaching ; and envied their happiness,
and led them from God.
And such as came to John, and were baptized by him,
and rejoiced in his light for a season, and many that fol
lowed Christ, and said He was a Prophet ; yet at last
these turned from Him that descended and ascended ; and
He told those that rejoiced in John's burning light for a
season, God's mind was not abiding in them, and that
they had not seen his shape, nor heard his voice at any
time ; and that they received honour of man, but knew
not Christ the Heavenly Man, that received not honour
of the earthly man. And such as said He was a Pro
phet — when He said, they must eat his flesh, the heavenly
bread that came down from heaven, they forsook Him ;
for their minds turned downward, to feed upon that
which was below.
And the same spirit is risen now, that rose against
the apostles, as you may see in their Epistles. Some got
the form of godliness, and denied the power ; and some
were enemies to the cross of Christ, the power of God ;
others were getting another Gospel than the power of
God, which brought them under the curse; others were
speaking the things of God, in the words that man's
wisdom taught them ; others, their faith was standing in
words, and not in the power of God ; others, their faith
which should have stood in Christ, was standing in Paul,
and Apolios : which grieved the Apostles ; others with
good words and fair speeches deceived the hearts of the
simple.

GEORGE FOX. 197
And therefore, all they which preached faith, and
made shipwreck of faith, were, and are still denied : and
all such as preach God and Christ, and crucify Christ to
themselves afresh, and deny God in their works, were
then, and are denied. All such as preach the Light, and
walk in darkness, and preach the Spirit, (the fruits of
which are love and peace), and are in strife and enmity,
were never owned by God, nor Christ, nor good men,
though they may be called Christians. And all such as
preach liberty, and themselves were servants of corrup
tion, were, and are still denied. And all such as cry,
Lord, Lord, and preach Christ, Christ, and do not his
will, enter not into his kingdom themselves : and into it
they can bring none, that do not go into it themselves :
which kingdom stands in power, and in joy, and peace in
the Holy Ghost.
And all such as preach the word of God, and are not
doers of the word, they are deceivers of their own souls,
and they may deceive others with their good words : but
such cannot be reconciled to God, neither can they bring
others to reconciliation with God.
So this spirit is but one ; which spirit all along has
wrought against the true Spirit of God in all his people :
and was in strife, and contention, and disquietness against
the righteous in all ages ; but it wrought its own de
struction, and the fall of them that followed it ; as you
may see through all the Scriptures.
And therefore all are to keep the unity of the Spirit.
the bond of the Heavenly Man Christ Jesus's peace ; He
being the head above all principalities, powers, thrones,
and dominions ; who is ascended above all, that He
might fill all things ; who is over all, the beginning and
ending, and lives and reigns from everlasting to everlast
ing, the Amen. G. F.

198 EPISTLES, &C. OF

NO. CCCXLVII.

Concerning subjection of the spirits of the Apostles one to
another, in the unity of the Spirit of Christ. 1677.
The apostles heard at Jerusalem, that the Samaritans
had received the word of God, and they sent unto them
Peter and John. Now Peter and John did not in op
position say, " We will stay till we have a motion : but,
as " the spirits of the prophets were subject to the pro
phets," so the spirits of the apostles were subject to the
apostles. And when tidings came to the church at
Jerusalem, that the Grecians had believed, they sent
forth Barnabas to them, and when he came he exhorted
"*them ; and when Barnabas had found Paul, he brought
him to Antioch, where the disciples were first called
Christians, and the Church sent the collection by the
hands of Paul and Barnabas unto the elders. — Acts xi.
22, 23, 30 ; and ix. 27. Paul and Barnabas took with
them John, whose surname was Mark ; and Mark did not
gainsay, and tell them, I must wait for a motion. — Acts
xii. 25. It pleased the apostles and elders, with the
church, to send chosen men to Antoch, with Paul and
Barnabas, and Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief
men among the brethren ; and they wrote letters by them
unto the gentiles, Acts xv. 22, saying : " Forasmuch as
we have heard, that certain that went out from us have
troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying,
Ye must be circumcised and keep the law ; unto whom
we gave no such commandment : it seemed good unto us,
being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men
unto you ; men that have hazarded their lives for the
Name of our Lord Jesus Christ."

GEORGE FOX. 199
Paul said unto Barnabas : " Let us go again unto
every city, where we have preached the word of the
Lord, and see how they do ;" and Barnabas determined
to take Mark with them ; and Paul chose Silas, beins
recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God ; and
they went through Syria and Cilicia ; " and as they went
tjiroughjhe l cities, .they delivered them the decrees for to
keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders which
were at Jerusalem ; and so were the churches confirmed
and established in the faith, and increased in number
daily. — Acts xvi. 4. The brethren exhorted the dis
ciples to receive Apollos. — Acts xviii. 27. And Paul
sent unto the Ephesians, and called the elders of the
church, and exhorted them. — Acts xx. 17. Paul com
mends Phebe, a servant of the church which is at
Cenchrea, and bids them receive her in the Lord, and
assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of. —
Bom. xvi. 1, 2. " Now if Timothy come, see that ye
receive him without fear. Let no man despise him, but
conduct him forth in peace, that he may come unto me,
for I look for him with the brethren." — 1 Cor. xvi.
10, 11.
Paul said to the Corinthians : " Did I make a gain of
you by any whom I sent unto you?" — 2 Cor. xii. 17.
Or, " Did Titus make a gain of you ?" " Tychicus, a
beloved brother and faithful minister of the Lord, shall
make known unto you all things, whom I have sent unto
you for the same purpose, that you might know our
affairs, and comfort your hearts." — Eph. vi. 21, 22.
Paul sent to the Colossians Onesimus with Tychicus, to
make known all things unto them that were done with
him. — Col. iv. 7 — 9. And when they had read his
epistle, they were to cause it to be read at Laodicea ; and
Paul charged the Thessalonians by the Lord, that they

200 EPISTLES, &C. OF
did read his epistle amongst all the holy brethren. —
1 Thess. v. 27. And Paul saith: "Take Mark, and
bring him with thee, for he is profitable to me for the
ministry ; and Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus."—
2 Tim. iv. 11, 12. Paul said to Titus, chap. iii. 12:
" When I shall send Artemas or Tychicus unto thee, be
thou diligent to come unto me to Nicopolis, and bring
Zenas the lawyer, and Apollos, on their journey dili
gently, that nothing be wanting unto them." Paul
saith to Philemon : " Having confidence in thy obedi
ence, I wrote unto thee, knowing that thou wilt also do
more than I say." — Philemon 21, 22.
John saith ; " Look to yourselves, that we lose not
those things which we have wrought, but that we re
ceive a full reward." — " I wrote unto the church, but
Diotrephes, who loveth to have the pre-eminence among
"ihem, receiveth us not : wherefore, if I come, I will re
member his deeds which he doeth, prating against us
with malicious words," 2 and 3 Epistles of John. And
Jude speaks of such as go in " Balaam, Cain, and Corah's
way, wandering stars, raging waves of the sea, wells
without water, clouds without rain, trees without fruit,
twice dead and plucked up by the roots ; their mouths
speak great swelling words ; to whom is reserved the
blackness of darkness for ever. These are they that
separate themselves, such as have not the Spirit. But,
beloved, build up yourselves in the most holy faith,
praying in the Holy Ghost ; and keep yourselves in the
love of God."— Jude 11—21.
Paul says : " Now I praise you, brethren, that ye re
member me in all things, and keep the ordinances as I
delivered them unto you ; and the rest will I set in order
when I come." — 1 Cor. ii. 11, 34. Paul says in his
Second Epistle to the Thessalonians, chap. iii. 4, 8.

GEORGE FOX. 201
" And we have confidence in the Lord touching you,
that ye both do, and will do the things which we com
mand you. Now we command you, brethren, in the
name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw your
selves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and
not after the tradition which he received of us." Again :
" Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are
unruly, comfort the feeble-minded, support the weak, be
patient towards all men ; for ye yourselves are taught of
God to love one another ; and that ye study to be quiet,
and walk honestly toward them that are without ; and
that ye may have lack of nothing," — 1 Thess. v. 14; iv.
9, 11, 12 ; and in 2 Thess. ii. 15 : " Therefore, brethren,
stand fast, and hold the traditions which you have been
taught, whether by word or our epistle."
G. F.

no. cccliii.
My dear Friends, 1678.
Whose faces are set towards Zion, from this dunghill
world of vanity and vexation of spirit ; the glory, com
fort, and pleasures of which pass away ; they that enter
into it, enter into trouble ; and when they are in it, it is
a great trouble to come out of it, and to be a fool for
Christ's sake, who is not of this world, but of the world
that hath no end. And therefore you must believe in
the light, grace, and truth, that cometh from Him, in
the inward parts or heart, which directeth your minds to
Christ, from whence this comes, and uniteth to Him that
is heavenly, who saith, " Seek the kingdom of God first,
and the righteousness of his kingdom, then all outward
things will be added,"
And take heed of your wills, and give not way to
k3

202 EPISTLES, &C OF
them, but give way to the power and Spirit of God,
which crucifieth them, and keeps them under the cross of
Christ ; so that your inward man may be renewed, and
the old Adam put off, and that the day-light of Jesus
Christ may be seen. And why have they so many reli
gions ? Because they are out of the pure and undefiled
religion before God, which was set set up above sixteen
hundred years ago, and which keeps from the spots of
the world. This religion must be above the world which
keeps from the spots of it ; and they that are gone from
this religion, into those of their own making, tell people,
they must not be perfect here, and must carry a body
of death with them to the grave : and others say, that
they must have a purgatory when they are dead ; this
doctrine is contrary to the apostles, who said, that they
were cleansed by the blood of Jesus, and washed by the
water of the word. And this blood and water God's
people must feel the effects of within, to wash and cleanse
their hearts and consciences ; their hearts and consciences
being sprinkled, as the apostle saith, " with the blood of
Jesus, from their dead works, to serve the Living God."
For many may talk of the blood of Jesus without them
in their dead works, not serving the Living God, their
hearts and consciences being not sprinkled with the blood
of Jesus ; for they must feel it within as well as without.
So all must come to the Spirit and the Truth in their
hearts and souls, if they do know the God of truth, who
is a Spirit, and must worship Him in spirit and in truth.
And as all that did eat of the passover in the old Cove
nant were to be circumcised in the flesh, so are all in the
new Covenant to be circumcised with the Spirit, by put
ting off the body of the sins of the flesh, that came upon
man by transgression, if they will feed on Christ their
heavenly sacrifice ; for the old Covenant of circumcision

GEORGE FOX. 203
was held in the flesh, and then they did feed upon the
natural sacrifices ; but the new Covenant is held in the
grace, light, and Spirit, by which they are circumcised,
and so do feed on their heavenly sacrifice : for in the old
Covenant they were not to eat the blood of beasts, or any
blood ; but in the new Covenant Christ tells you, " Ex
cept you do eat my flesh, and drink my blood, ye have
no part in me." For as by Adam and Eve's eating that
which God forbade, came death ; so, if Adam and Eve's
sons and daughters have life again, it is by eating of that
which Christ commands ; and as by eating came death,
so by eating cometh life, and not by talking ; no, not by
talking of the Son of God ; for all reprobates may do so ;
for the apostle saith, " If Christ be not in you, ye are
reprobates :" and " he that hath not the Son of God,
hath not life ; and he that hath the Son of God, hath
life ;" and the saints did confess the Son of God was
come, and had given them an understanding, and they
were in Him, and they were to walk as He walked, and
not only to talk as He talked : for there are too many
talkers, and few walkers in Christ ; my desire is there
may be more walkers.
And my desire is, that you, in your measures, may be
preserved to the Lord, and know what he doth require of
you, " to love mercy, to do justice, and to walk humbly
with God ;" for the more He gives, the more he requires ;
and the less that He gives, the less He requires ; who
will judge the world in righteousness, according to the
Gospel preached in every creature ; showing that there
is something of God in every creature that shall answer
his judgment ; and therefore my desire is, that all may
be faithful to what the Lord hath made known unto
them by his grace and truth, light, power, and Spirit,
and then the Lord will supply them with more ; to whom

204 EPISTLES, &C OF
be glory and praise, who is the Creator of all, through
Jesus Christ, by whom all things were made. Amen.
G. F.
 ?¦ 
no. cccliv.
Dear Friends,
My love to you all in the Seed of life and peace, which
floweth as a river, and bruiseth the head of the serpent,
that hath brought death and darkness, woe, misery, and
imperfection, upon and in man ; — and in this Seed, Christ,
all nations are blessed and elected ; and out of it is the
curse and reprobation. Out of this Seed are all the false
religions, false ways, false worships, and false churches,
or bodies without heads, like so many monsters ; which
the seed of the serpent hath brought forth since the
apostles' days ; and then they have made themselves
heads out of their bodies or churches ; and when one
head has fallen off, then they make another and set it
upon their body or church, having lost and gone from the
true head, Christ.
And sometimes the members do fall out about making
a head for their body, so that the members do destroy
one another about it. Now this monstrous body is
brought in by this evil seed in such as are gone from the
light, grace, power and spirit, that cometh from Christ
the heavenly Head, in whom dwelleth the fulness of
Divinity, and they are never likely to come to the true
Head, Christ, but by coming to the light, grace, power,
faith and spirit of Jesus, which cometh from Him, and
turneth to Him again.
And since men have gone from the light, grace, truth,
spirit, and power of Jesus in this night of apostacy,
they have gone from that which cometh from the Head

GEORGE FOX. 205
Christ and which joins to Him. In this night of apos-
tacy there have been many bodies without the true Head.
And therefore all must come to the grace, truth, power,
spirit and faith that cometh from Jesus, if they do come
to Him, and hold Him for their Head, Christ — by whom
all things were made, who is the first and the last, the
beginning and the ending. Hallelujah.
G. F.

NO. CCCLV.
To Friends in America, concerning their Negroes and
Indians. Swarthmore, the Tenth Month, 1679.
All Friends every where that have Indians or Blacks,
you are to preach the Gospel to them, and other servants,
if you be true Christians ; for the Gospel of salvation
was to be preached to every creature under heaven ;
Christ commands it to his disciples, " Go and teach all
nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father,
Son, and Holy Ghost." And this is the one baptism
with the spirit into one body, which plunges down sin
and corruption, which hath gotten up by disobedience
and transgression ; for all have been plunged into sin and
death from the life, for all died in Adam : then they
have been all subjected by the evil spirit, which hath led
them out of the Truth into the evil ; and therefore they
must all be baptized into the death of Christ, and put on
Christ, if they have life.
And also, you must preach the grace of God to all
Blacks and Indians, which grace brings salvation, that
hath appeared unto all men, to teach and instruct them
to live godly, righteously and soberly ; which grace of

206 EPISTLES, &C. OF
God is sufficient to teach and establish all true Christians,
that they may appear before the throne of grace.
And also, you must teach and instruct Blacks and
Indians, and others, how that God doth pour out of his
Spirit upon all flesh in these days of the new Covenant,
and new Testament; and that none of them must
quench the motions of his Spirit, nor grieve it, nor vex
it, nor rebel against it, nor err from it, nor resist it ; but
be led by his good Spirit to instruct them ; and with
which they may profit in the things of God ; neither
must they turn from his grace into wantonness, nor walk
despitefully against the Spirit of grace, for it will teach
them to live soberly, godly, and righteously, and season
their words.
And also you must instruct and teach your Indians
and Negroes, and all others, how that Christ, by the
grace of God, tasted death for every man, and gave Him
self a ransom for all men, to be testified in due time, and
is the propitiation not for the sins of Christians only, but
for the sins of the whole world ; and how that he doth
enlighten every man that cometh into the world, with
his true light, which is the life in Christ, by whom the
world was made.
And Christ, who is the Light of the world, saith:
" Believe in the light, that ye may become children of
the light. And they that do evil, and hate the light,
(which is the life in Christ), will not come to the light,
because it will reprove them ; and love the darkness
more than the light; this light is their condemnation.
And so, all must be turned from darkness to light, tp
believe in the light ; and from the power of Satan to
God ; and if they do not believe, they will be reproved,
condemned, and judged by Christ, who hath power in
heaven and in earth given unto Him, who will judge

GEORGE FOX. 207
both the quick and the dead, and reward every man
according to his works, whether they be good or evil.
And therefore you are to open the promises of God to
the ignorant, and how God would give Christ a Cove
nant, a Light to the gentiles, the heathen, and a new
Covenant to the house of Israel, and the house of Judah ;
and that He is God's " salvation to the ends of the
earth ;" and how that " the earth shall be covered with
the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea ;"
so that the glorious knowledge of the Lord should cover
the earth.
And the Lord said, " He knew that Abraham would
teach and instruct his family, that they should learn to
keep his laws and statutes after he was gone ; and Abra
ham did circumcise all his males, yea, them that he had
bought with his money of any stranger. Now they who
are of faith, and walk in the steps of faithful Abraham,
do preach up and instruct all their families in the circum
cision of the Spirit, that they might be circumcised with
the Spirit, which puts off the body of death, and the
sins of the flesh, that is come up in man and woman by
transgression ; so that in the Spirit they may serve and
worship the true and living God ; and so that ye all may
come to enjoy the presence of the Lord in your families,
and improve your talents that Christ hath given unto
you ; for David, that saw Christ in his new Covenant,
saith, " Let all nations praise the Lord:" and again,
" All that have breath praise the Lord ;" again, " Let
the poor and needy praise thy Name : and let all people
praise Thee, 0 God !" and, " O ye servants of the Lord !
praise the Lord ;" for " The Lord is good to all, and his
tender mercies are over all his works : and all thy works
shall praise Thee, 0 Lord ! and thy saints shall bless
Thee ; they shall speak of thy glory and of thy king-

208 EPISTLES, &C. OF
dom, and talk of thy power :" for the Lord saith :
" From the rising of the sun to the going down of the
same, my Name shall be great among the gentiles. And
in every place incense shall be offered unto my Name ;
and a pure offering ; for my Name shall be great among
the heathen, saith the Lord of Hosts."
And this heavenly incense and offering in every place,
is the spiritual offering in the new Covenant; for the
Jews were to offer but in one place, in the temple, in the
old Covenant ; but in the new Covenant their offering is
in the holy temple of their hearts, in the Spirit, with
which they offer the pure, and holy, and acceptable
sacrifice to God ; with that Spirit which God had given
them, they have a living sense of God their Creator and
Father of all their mercies, who hath made them, and
hath made all things for them, and redeems them by his
Son Christ Jesus ; to whom be praise, and glory, and
honour, and thanks, for evermore.
So let all bow at the Name of Jesus, to his power, and
light, and Spirit, for they have bowed to the power of
darkness, that foul and unclean spirit, who is out of
Truth, and in whom there is no truth. And therefore
now all are to bow at the Name of Jesus ; for there is no
I salvation in any other Name fefiicler heaven, but in the
j Name of Jesus, whose Name islabove every name under
the whole heaven ; who is the firstborn of every crea
ture, and the first begotten from the~dead, whom God
now speaks to his people by, his Son ; and all are to hear
Him, the great Prophet ; and every tongue is to confess
to Christ Jesus, to the glory of God the Father, who is
the First and Last, who bruises the serpent's head. And
so through Christ Jesus man and woman come again to
God. All blessings and praises be to the Lord God,
through Jesus Christ, for ever and evermore. Amen.
G. F.

george fox. 209
no. ccclviii.
Dear Friends.
With my love to you in the holy peaceable Truth
that never changes, nor admits of any evil, but makes all
free that receive it, and that walk in it, and is over all
the clouds without rain, and wells without water, and
trees without fruit : — and from the Truth floweth justice,
equity, righteousness and godliness, mercy and tender
ness. It brings a man's heart, mind, soul, and spirit to
the infinite and incomprehensible God ; and from it a
love flows to all the universal creation, and it would have
all come to the knowledge of the truth : it bends every
one to their utmost ability to serve God and his truth
and spread it abroad, and it brings their minds out of the
earth, which makes them brittle, and changeable, and
uncertain ; for it doth not change, neither doth it touch
with that which does change. As to unity : — it makes
all like itself that do obey it ; universal, — to live out of
narrowness and self, and to deny it : so it brings all into
oneness, and answereth the good principle of God in all
people, and it brings into humility and the fear of the
Lord, which is the beginning of his Wisdom ; and it
brings all to have a care of God's glory and his honour :
and watches over all the professors of it, for their good,
to keep them within its bounds, and to walk within its
order. Thanks, glory, and honour, to the Lord God of
truth over all for ever. Amen.
The Lord, who is the God of all peace and order, alone
protects and preserves his people with his eternal power ;
for the devil's power is not eternal ; it had a beginning
and must have an ending ; for the eternal power limits
that devourer and destroyer. And therefore, Friends,
patience must be exercised in the Truth ; so keep to the

210 EPISTLES, &C. OF
word of patience, which word was before the world was,
and abides and endures for ever : and it will keep Friends
over and out of all the snares of the world and its temp
tation. So with my love in the Seed of life, that reigns over
all ; and in it the Lord God Almighty preserve and keep
you all to his glory. Amen.
G. F.
 ? 
NO. CCCLX.
Friends, 1679.
Train up all your children in the fear of God, in his
new Covenant of light and grace, that they may know
Christ, who is their baptizer and circumciser. He
sprinkles your consciences and hearts with his blood, to
cleanse you from all sin ; and writes his heavenly law in
their hearts, that they may obey it and do it : for do not
all people in their several false religions, ways, and sects,
yea, the very Turks and Heathens, train up their chil
dren in their own ways ? and likewise, did not the Jews
train up their children in the old Testament, and old
Covenant of works ; which old testament and covenant
Christ hath abolished, and hath established the new Cove
nant of light, life, and grace ? And therefore must not all
the Jews in spirit, in this new Testament, train up their
children in this new Covenant of light, life, and grace ?
or else do they not bring themselves under condemnation ?
For do not the beasts and the fowls teach their young to
pick, and suck, and do they not feed their young ? and
will not the young ones cry after the old ones for their
food ? All these things might teach people.
Now you having your food from Christ, and God your
Father ; yea, your bread, your milk, your water, your

GEORGE FOX. 211
wine, your honey, your fine linen, your clothing, your
breath, your life, your souls, and the image of God,
which He made you in, which man and woman have lost
by transgression, but are to be renewed into again by
Christ, your Redeemer, Sanctifier, Reconciler, and Medi
ator, who makes your peace between you and God ; from
whom you have your light, grace, and truth, who gives
you his Gospel, faith, and Spirit ; in whose Name you
have salvation, and not by any other name under the
whole heaven ; and who is your heavenly, spiritual Rock
and Foundation : — cannot you train up all your children
in the fear of God, and tell them from whence you have
all these good things, that they may come to receive of
all these good things which you receive from the good
God, and Christ, the treasure of wisdom and knowledge ;
that you may say, the children of your children are the
crown of your old men in the Truth, and the glory of
their fathers in God ; and that you may say, your wives
are as fruitful vines by the sides of your house, and your
children like olive plants round about your table ; thus
shall they be blessed that fear the Lord ; that you may
say, your sons are plants of God, growing up in their
youth ; and that your daughters may be as corner-stones,
polished after the similitude of a palace ; and that your
garners are full, and afford all manner of store, so that
there is no complaining in your streets : and happy is
that people whose God is the Lord.
And now, my friends, if there happen any difference
among Friends, either with Friends or the world, let it
be put to reference, if it cannot be ended between them
selves. And all that are concerned to end any difference,
let them have but one ear to one party, and let them re-
servet he other ear to hear the other party ; so that they
may judge impartially of matters, without affection or

212 EPISTLES, &C. OF
favour, or respect of persons : for you may see how the
Jews in the old Covenant did judge of things among
themselves, as long as they kept the law of God, and
did not go to other nations, or to the heathen for them
to judge of their matters ; and therefore the apostle
reproves the Corinthians for that fault, for going to law
one with another before unbelievers ; and told them that
" the saints should judge the world, yea, angels ;'' and
then how much more might they judge of things appper-
taining to this life ! and therefore the apostle exhorted,
" If then ye have judgment of things pertaining to this
life, set them to judge that are least esteemed in the
church." — 1 Cor. vi. 7,

NO. CCCLXII.
Concerning true Liberty.
My Dear Friends, 1679.
The true liberty is in the Gospel, the power of God,
which the devil and his instruments, with his false
liberty, cannot get into.
The bondage, captivity, and thraldom, false freedom
and false liberty, was and is in old Adam, in transgres
sion ; and the true liberty is that which Christ the pure
and holy One makes free in ; and this is a pure, holy
liberty, which Christ makes, and sets his people free in ;
in which they are all to stand fast over all the false
liberties and freedoms, which are bondage.
For the Jews, in the days of Christ, boasted of their
liberty and freedom, though they were in bondage both
inwardly and outwardly ; they boasted that they were of
Abraham their father ; but Christ told them " the devil
was their father; and his lusts ye will do."

GEORGE FOX. 213
And also in the days of the apostles, many of the
false Christians boasted of their liberty ; but they who
were overcome by them were brought into bondage.
The true liberty and freedom is in the grace which
brings salvation, and not destruction ; and which teaches
to live godly, soberly, and righteously ; to deny the
world, and not to cleave to it, and follow it.
This grace establishes the heart, and seasons the
words ; the fruits of its liberty and freedom will mani
fest itself.
And the fruits of this pure Spirit are pure love,
righteousness, godliness, patience, temperance, and humi
lity ; by which Spirit all are made to drink into one
spirit ; so that all are the living wells, that have their
living water from God and Christ, their true and living
Fountain ; and in which Spirit they have a holy and
spiritual fellowship, in this baptizing, mortifying, circum
cising Spirit, yea, one with another, and with the Son
and the Father also, through which the love of God
warms every one's heart : but when the " love of many
waxes cold," as Christ saith, then they go from this
grace, light, truth, power, and Spirit, and the anointing,
and the " Word of God in their own hearts ;" then
such turn to be betrayers, and not saviours upon mount
Zion. And against such, God's swift judgment turns,
and suddenly falls, though they may cry for a time,
liberty, freedom, and peace, peace ; but a day of trouble
will overtake them ere they are aware.
And therefore, all ye friends of Christ Jesus, stand
fast in that " liberty wherewith Christ hath made you
free," by his light, grace, truth, Spirit, faith, and ever
lasting Gospel, the everlasting power of God, which is an
everlasting freedom and liberty above all bondage, and
false fallen liberties and freedoms.

214 EPISTLES, &C. OF
And now, ye babes of Christ, if the world do hate you,
it hated Christ your Lord and Master also ; if they do
mock, and reproach, and defame, and buffet you, they
did so to your Lord and Master also ; who was and is
the green tree, that gives nourishment to all his branches,
his followers.
If the world do persecute you, and take away your
goods or clothes, was not your Lord and Master so
served ? did not they cast lots for his garments ? was not
He haled from the priests to Herod, and before Pontius
Pilate, and spit upon ? and if they hate thee, and spit
upon thee, He was hated and spit upon for thee. Did
He not go to prison for thee ? And was He not mocked
and scourged for thee ? Did not He bow to the cross and
grave for thee, He " who had no sin, neither was guile
found in his mouth ?" And did He not bear thy sins in
his own body upon the tree ? and was He not scourged
for thee, " by whose stripes we are healed?" did not He
suffer the contradiction of sinners ? who died for sinners,
and went into the grave for sinners, and died for the un
godly, yea, tasted death for every man, who through
death destroyed death, and the devil, the power of death,
and is risen ; for death and the grave could not hold
Him, and the powers and principalities, with all their
guards and watches, could not hold Him within the
grave ; but He is risen, and is ascended far above all
principalities, powers, thrones, and dominions, and is set
down at the right hand of God, and remaineth in the
heavens till all things be restored : and He is restoring
with his light, grace, truth, power, Spirit, faith, Gospel,
and word of life ; so that you read of some " that came
to sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus,"
And therefore all must bow at the Name of Jesus their
Saviour, in his Spirit and Gospel, if you will rise with

GEORGE FOX. 21 5
Him ; and you must suffer with Him, if you will reign
with Him ; and die with Him, if you will live with Him ;
and all that are dead and buried with Christ, and are
risen with Him, they will seek those things that come
down from above, where Christ sits at the right hand of
God ; and there you will seek those things which come
down from above, and not things which are below.
For those which seek those things that are below, are
the talkers of God and Christ, and the prophets and
apostles' words, but they are not dead with Christ, nor
risen with Him ; and therefore they do not seek those
things that come down from heaven, where Christ sits at
the right hand of God. But they that seek the things
that are above, are dead with Christ, and risen with Him ;
they, I say, do not seek those things which come down
from heaven, where Christ sits at the right hand of God ;
and they have not only sought them, but have found
them, and received them, and come to sit together in
heavenly places in Christ Jesus, a safe established and
heavenly sitting, in the heavenly rest and habitation in
Christ Jesus, who is the First and Last, and over all,
from everlasting to everlasting. Blessings and praises
over all be to the Lord God, through Him, for ever.
Amen. G. F.

NO. CCCLXIV.
To Friends in America.
London, the 7th of the Twelfth Month, 1680.
Dear Friends,
My love is to you all in the holy, peaceable Truth ;
and my desires are, that whatsoever ye do may be done
in the Name of Jesus, to the glory of God the Father ;

216 EPISTLES, &C OF
and all be subject one to another in the fear of the Lord
God, so that ye may all come to dwell in the love of God,
which edifies the body of Christ, who is the heavenly
man. And let all strifes, and divisions, and backbitings,
or whisperings, or prejudices, cease and be buried ; and
so whatsoever is amiss, or hath been amiss, let it be put
down by the Truth and Spirit of God, that it may be
uppermost, which is a strong bond to unite your hearts,
and minds, and souls together, and to the Lord ; and be
kind and courteous one towards another, all studying to
be quiet, and to excel one another in virtue, purity, holi
ness, righteousness, and godliness, in all your words,
lives, and conversations ; so that you may all walk as
becomes saints and Christians, every one esteeming and
preferring one another above himself in the Truth, in
meekness, and lowliness of mind, and humility: for He
that inhabits eternity, dwells with the humble heart.
And therefore do not quench the least motion of God's
good Spirit in yourselves, nor in any other; but let
truth and goodness be cherished in all ; and let all harsh
ness, and bitterness, and revilings be kept down by the
Truth, that in it you may bear one another's weakness
and infirmities, and so fulfil the law of Christ ; keeping
down revenge, hastiness, or passion ; as knowing ven
geance is the Lord's, and He will repay it, on every one
that does wrong, without respect of persons.
For, Friends, you should be as lights, or as a city
that cannot be hid ; and as the salt of the earth, to be a
good savour : take heed of losing the salt's savour, either
in word or conversation ; for if you do, you will come
under the foot of men, they will trample upon you;
therefore be careful, fervent, circumspect, and faithful in
the Truth, and let your moderation, temperance, and
sobriety appear to all men, shewing forth the work of the

GEORGE FOX. 21 7
Lord, and your honesty and justness in all your words
and dealings between man and man ; and owe nothing to
any man but love, that every one of you may be adorned
with a meek and quiet spirit, which is with the Lord of
great price : and be endued with wisdom from on high,
which is pure and peaceable, gentle, and easy to be en
treated, and full of mercy and good works ; let the fruits
of this wisdom appear among you all, and then you will
all be gentle and easily entreated one of another.
And keep in the unity of the Spirit, which is the bond
of the heavenly peace ; and all walk as becomes the
glorious, joyful, peaceable Gospel of Christ, which is the
power of God. And therefore, all you who know this
glorious Gospel of peace, live and walk in it, keeping
your glorious, heavenly, comfortable fellowship in this
glorious Gospel of peace, in which enmity cannot come ;
and in this everlasting Gospel, the everlasting God, who
is over all, from everlasting to everlasting, will have the
praise, glory and thanks, who is worthy of all, for ever
and evermore. G. F.

NO. CCCLXVI.

A Letter to the Captives who meet together to worship God
in Algiers.
London, the 17th of the First Month, 1682.
Dear Friends,
I understand by a letter from a Friend, a captive
amongst you, dated the 20th of the Tenth Month, 1681,
that you have a meeting in Algiers of about twenty, I am
glad to hear you meet ; and it is very well, that you have
so much liberty from your Patroons ; and my desire is,

218 epistles, &c. of
that the Lord may preserve you all, that do meet in the
Name of Jesus, that in your lives, and conversations,
and words, you may preach righteousness and holiness,
and godliness, and the life of Truth ; so that you may
answer the Spirit of God, both in the Turks and Moors,
and the rest of the captives ; that God's city may be set
upon the holy hill there, which cannot be hid ; but that
all may see it with the light wherewith Christ hath en
lightened every man that cometh into the world. And
that Christ's ensign may be set up in those parts ; that
with his light in all men, they may all see it, and flock
to it ; and Christ the ensign furnisheth all that come to
Him, with heavenly armour and spiritual weapons.
Now Christ enlightens every man that cometh into
the world, that every one may believe in the Light, and
may become a child of the light, and have eternal life,
and be saved ; and so the Gospel of salvation, the power
of God, is to be preached to every creature under heaven.
And he that believes, is saved, and hath the salvation ;
for Christ, by the grace of God, hath tasted death for
every man. And the grace of God that brings salvation
hath appeared to all men : and therefore all men, if they
will have salvation it must be by believing, receiving, and
walking in the grace of God, which brings it. And the
Lord pours out of his Spirit upon all flesh ; and there
fore all men and women must come to this Holy Spirit
of God, by which the spirit of enmity may be slain and
crucified in them ; that in this Holy Spirit of God, they
may all be in love and unity ; and, with the Spirit of
God, they may all come to know the eternal, immortal
God, and serve and worship Him in his Holy Spirit of
Truth, which He hath poured upon them. And in this,
all will honour God, and glorify Him through Jesus
Christ, in his new Covenant of light and grace.

GEORGE FOX. 219
And so, my dear friends, be faithful and valiant for
God's Truth upon earth, and do not deny the Name of
Jesus, in whom you have salvation ; whose Name is
above every name under the whole heaven ; that ye may
all be with his light built upon Him, your Rock and
Foundation that stands sure. And now, my dear friends,
though you remain as captives, yet if ye be the freemen
of God and Christ who leads the devil into captivity,
that led you captive into his prison of death, darkness,
and corruption ; — if Christ, I say, has led you out of
that prison and captivity, into the glorious liberty of the
sons of God, stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ
hath made you free ; and be not entangled with any yoke
of bondage, to bring you out of that heavenly, spiritual
liberty. For in this you are free, notwithstanding the
prisons and captivity of men ; and they are but small
matters to it : and therefore trust in the arm of the
Lord's power, who can lay the mountains low, and re
move the hills out of their places, and make his lambs to
skip over all. And therefore mind the Lord and his
power, that is over all that which makes you to suffer.
Now your sorrows and afflictions may bring many to
call upon the Name of the Lord, when He hath brought
you low ; for God is merciful and gracious to the righ
teous ; and his mercies endure for ever. And though
hunger and thirst and cold, many times you are in, and
many distresses, yet the Lord is able to support you.
And now, may you mind the Lord in your poverty, and
prize his mercies ; and consider whether you did enough
prize his mercies and liberty and plenty ! And ye may
read the 107th Psalm throughout ; there ye may see how
the Lord brought down such as contemned his counsel,
and rebelled against his words : well, what can you tell,
but that this may be the day of the Lord with you, in
l2

220 epistles, &c. of
your captivity, to bring down your hearts and spirits,
that with the Spirit of the Lord you may turn to Him,
who is a God at hand ; and that you may call upon the
Lord in truth and righteousness, that all your sufferings,
afflictions, and captivity may be sanctified to you. So
that you may say : " All things shall work together for
good, to them that love God." And so, with Job, you
may bless God, " who giveth and taketh away," and
that you may glorify God in whatsoever condition you
may be ; that no trouble may move you ; and that you
may rejoice in afflictions, persecutions, and tribulations
in the Lord, through his Spirit that doth uphold you.
And as you do walk in the light, grace, spirit, and
gospel, you may turn others to it : that you may have
unity with them in it ; and that they may come out oi
the spiritual prison of death, darkness, and corruption
and captivity, into the liberty of the sons of God in
Christ Jesus. Amen.
So with my love to you all in the holy seed Christ
Jesus, that reigns over all from everlasting to everlasting,
the Lord preserve you all tender vines in Him. Amen.
G. F.

GEORGE FOX. 221
NO. CCCLXVII.
To Friends in Burlington, West Jersey.
Dear Friends, 1 681 .
The Lord, by his mighty hand and power, having
brought you to that place, and settled you there, my
desire is, that your lives and conversations may preach
righteousness and holiness ; for without holiness none
shall see God. And the cause why there is not peace in
a nation or people, is, that they do not live and walk in
righteousness ; but walk and follow the unrighteous spirit,
which is out of the Truth. And again, Christ says,
" Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God :"
for it is the defiled and impure hearts that do not see
God. And therefore keep in the pure Spirit of God, that
does mortify all impurity and unholiness, which doth
blind people from the sight of the pure God.
And now, my friends, the eyes of other nations will be
upon you ; and you professing Truth beyond them all, if
you do not exceed them in truth, righteousness, holiness,
justice and equity, and in the wisdom of God, which is
pure, peaceable, &c, by which you may answer the good
of your government, and all governments about you like
wise, you will bring both the judgment of God upon you,
and the judgment of Truth that you and we profess.
For you know how that Friends in England and other
places have admonished the governors and rulers to do that
which is just and right ; and therefore now you are come
into place, have a care that you do that which is just and
right, lest you come under the same reproof by others.
And therefore have an eye to the Lord in all your
actions for David saith : (2 Sam. xxiii. 3). " The God
of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me : He that

222 EPISTLES, &C. OF
ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God :
and he [that doth so] shall be as the light of the morn
ing when the sun riseth, even as a morning without
clouds ; as the tender grass springing out of the earth,
by clear shining after rain." Here you may see, it must
not be unjust men, and men that do not fear God, that
must be rulers, for they do not receive his wisdom to rule
withal ; and such will be as clouds without water (as in
Jude) and then they are not like to refresh the tender
grass, but hurt it.
And Solomon saith, " As the roaring lion, and the
raging bear, so is a wicked ruler over the poor people."
And therefore, with the Spirit of God, keep down the
wicked spirit in you ; and then you will keep down the
" roaring lion and the raging bear," with the spirit of
meekness and patience and wisdom and understanding.
— Prov. xxviii. 15.
And the apostle says, " Rulers are not a terror to
good works, but to the evil." Therefore both rulers and
ruled must be out of the evil works : and the rulers can
not be a terror to evil works, if they live in them them
selves. Therefore all ought to live in the power of God,
which brings them out of the evil, to do that which is
good ; and then they will be an honour to God, and a
praise one to another, both ruler and ruled.
Now the Lord said unto Moses : " Judges and officers
shalt thou make in all thy gates, (so they were not to
be made in corners), which the Lord giveth thee in all
the tribes ; and they shall judge the people with just
judgment, (mark, just judgment) ! Thou shalt not wrest
judgment, thou shalt not respect persons ; thou shalt
take no gift : for the gift blindeth the eyes of the wise,
and perverteth the words of the righteous. Thou shalt
not wrest the judgment of the poor in any case : keep

GEORGE FOX. 223
thee far from a false matter : the innocent and righteous
slay thou not ; for I will not justify the wicked. That
which is altogether just shalt thou follow, that thou
mayst live and inherit the land which the Lord thy God
hath given thee." Now a people's following and doing
that which is not just, is the cause they do not live and
inherit the land. — Deut. xvi. 18 — 20; Exod. xxiii. 6.
And therefore do that which is just, that you may inherit
Christ and your spiritual land. " Thou shalt not oppress
a stranger, seeing you were strangers ; nor vex the
widows and fatherless." And the Lord saith : " You
shall be holy men unto me." Again the Lord says :
" Thou shalt not raise a false report," &c. " Put not
thy hand with the wicked to an unrighteous witness.
Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil ; neither
shalt thou speak in a cause, to decline after many, to
wrest judgment." — Exod. xxiii. 1, 2.
Again, the Lord saith : " Ye shall not do unrighte
ousness in judgment ; thou shalt not respect the person
of the poor, nor honour the person of the mighty : but
in righteousness thou shalt judge thy neighbour. — Levit.
xix. 15. And Deut i. 16, 17; and Josh. vii. 24. "I
charged your judges," says Moses, " saying, hear the
causes between your brethren, judge righteously between
every man and his brother, and the stranger that is with
him." So let all the strangers that are with you have
righteous judgment, as well as those among yourselves.
And again he saith, " Ye shall not respect persons in
judgment ; but ye shall hear the small as well as the
great : you shall not be afraid of the face of man ; for the
judgment is God's ;" so long as ye judge righteously.
And therefore now, friends, my desire is, that you all
may be kept in the power and Spirit of God and Christ,
in humility, and in that you will have a sense of all

224 epistles, &c. of
things, that whatever you act, it may be done in the
Spirit and power of Jesus Christ, to the praise of God
the Father, who is set over all, from everlasting to ever
lasting who beholds and sees all your words and actions ;
that you may behold and see with his Spirit, his and his
Son's divine majesty among you. Amen.
Bead this in your assembly, and in your meetings.
G. F.
 ? 
NO. CCCLXVIII.
To suffering Friends at Horsham, in Sussex.
Dear Friends, London, 20th of Twelfth Month, 1681.
Who suffer for your testimony, and to all the rest in
your county. I am glad to hear of your faithfulness,
and of your standing for the church which Christ is the
head of, which is in God, and are become his living mem
bers ; and therefore wheresoever you are, in prison or out
of prison, " where two or three are gathered in His
name," there is a church, and Christ the Living Head in
the midst of them ; a Prophet, to open to his church the
things of his kingdom ; and a Bishop, to oversee his
living members, that they be preserved in his light, grace,
truth, spirit, and gospel ; and He is a Shepherd, to feed
them with heavenly food, who gives life eternal to his
sheep, which he hath purchased with his own blood ; and
a Priest, who has offered Himself up a sacrifice for the
sins of the whole world, who cleanses, and washes, and
purifies his church, his people ; " a High Priest, made
higher than the heavens." — Heb. vii. 26. And no priest
made below the heavens will become Christ's church ; and
therefore feel and see Christ, exercising his prophetical,
priestly and kingly offices, and his ruling in your hearts.

GEORGE FOX. 225
And all that will know the right way, or high way, or
path to the church in God, (2 Thess. i.) " must walk in
the light," which is the life in Christ : and that will
guide them to Christ, the way to God, the Head of the
church, the Rock and Foundation of God that stands
sure. And now, dear friends, my desires are, that you may
all live in the love of God, and in the unity of his Spirit,
which is the bond of peace, in which you will be all kind
and courteous one to another ; and so the God of all peace
and power support you, and strengthen you, and uphold
you, throughout all your trials and sufferings ; that He
may be glorified in you all, who is over all, from ever
lasting to everlasting, blessed for ever ; from whom ye
have blessing and life.
G. F.

NO. CCCLXIX.

To the flock of Christ Jesus everywhere, to be read in their
Assemblies. 21 st of the Ninth Month, 1681.
Grace, mercy, and peace be multiplied among you all,
from God the Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who is
the Fountain of all ; and God hath called you by his
grace, and gathered you to be a people by his power and
Spirit, to his Son Christ Jesus, your holy, heavenly,
spiritual Head, Life, Rock, and Foundation. Now all
walk in Christ Jesus, and abide in Him, your Vine, and
in Him you will all bring forth heavenly fruit, to the
praise and glory of God.
Christ saith : " In me ye have peace ; in the world ye
have trouble :" and therefore keep out of the spirit of the
l3

226 EPISTLES, &C. OF
world ; let not the spirit of the world come into you ;
for if ye do, ye go into trouble both inwardly and out
wardly : but if ye keep in Christ, who is not of the world,
you keep in your heavenly place and region : for " he
that hath the Son of God, hath life," and therefore keep
in the life in Christ ; and he that hath not the Son of
God, is in old Adam, in death without life.
And, " without me," says Christ, " ye can do no
thing ;" without his grace, his light, his truth, his gospel,
his power, his Spirit, his faith, ye can do nothing ; and
if Christ be not in you, ye are reprobates ; and if He be
in you, and you in Him, you are in the election, and in
the Seed, in which all nations are blessed.
And keep in the cross of Christ, the power of God,
that keeps you crucified to the world ; that is, dead to
the world, and the world dead and crucified to you ; for
if you do not keep in this power of God, which would
keep you crucified to the world, but let in the spirit of the
world, you let in his god, which will crucify the good in
you, and you will come to crucify to yourselves the Son
of God afresh, and put Him to open shame. Therefore
keep that crucified with the power of God, which did and
would crucify the just ; and then you will keep alive in
the power of God, and live in Christ Jesus, and he will
be alive in you, and you in Him.
And now, all friends and brethren, let your meek
ness, your temperance, and your gentleness and sobriety,
and tenderness and moderation, appear to all men ; that
" your light may so shine before men, that they may see
your good works, and glorify your Father which is in
heaven." And keep out of the restless, discontented, disquieted
spirit of the world about the government : for you know
it has been always our way to seek the good of all, and

GEORGE FOX. 227
to live peaceably under the government, and to seek their
eternal good, peace, and happiness in the Lord Jesus
Christ ; and to lay our innocent sufferings before them,
who have suffered as lambs and sheep, and made no re
sistance, but have " prayed for them that persecuted us,
and despitefully used us, and hated us," according to the
command of Christ.
For ye were as sheep going astray, but are now re
turned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls : for
hereunto ye are called ; because Christ hath suffered for
us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps ;
who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth ;
who when He was reviled, reviled not again ; when He
suffered, He threatened not ; but committed Himself to
Him that judgeth righteously. And he that will love
life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from
evil, and his lips that he speak no guile.
G. F.

NO. CCCLXX.

To Suffering Friends in Leicester.
Dear Friends, London 18th of Twelfth Month, 1681.
Your sufferings have been long in that county, and
great have been your trials, and spoiling of your goods,
through your adversaries and persecutors' rage against
you ; but the Lord's secret hand and power is that which
hath upheld you through all to Himself ; and therefore we
may say : — What shall separate us from the love of God,
that we have in Christ Jesus ? Shall tribulations, perse
cutions, powers or principalities, thrones or dominions ?
Nay, there is not any thing able to separate us from the
love of God in Christ Jesus, whom you have chosen ; a

228 EPISTLES, &C. OF
Priest that is from above, not from below, who has offered
up Himself to God for you, who is not like the Jews'
priests, that had the tithes of the people for offering up their
outward offerings, and such like services. So you have a
Priest from heaven, who is made higher than the heavens,
and is the Prophet that God has raised up like Moses,
whom ye are to hear, in his light, grace, and truth. And
He is your Shepherd from heaven, who has laid down his
life for his sheep, who is above all the earthly shepherds
below ; and this Shepherd will feed you with that which
is heavenly. And he is your Bishop from heaven, to
oversee you, that you may be kept from sitting down in
any earthly place, with your minds, spirits, and souls, but
only to sit down " in the heavenly places in Christ
Jesus," who is the heavenly and spiritual Bishop, who
lives for evermore, the First and Last, the Beginning
and Ending, who is the first-born of every creature, and
the first begotten from the dead, who does quicken and
makes alive, and begets from the death, and makes them
whom He has made alive to sit together in the heavenly
places in Himself.
And now, dear friends, I do feel the Lord's eternal
power present with you, in all your sufferings, how it
hath and doth support you : and therefore let your faith
be stedfast in the power of God, which will keep you all
unto the day of salvation. And that you may all be
valiant and faithful for God's truth upon the earth, in
this day of trial and persecution, from teachers, profes
sors, and profane, which are below, whose persecuting
spirit will have but a time ; and therefore be of good
faith ; for " a sparrow shall not fall to the ground with
out the will of the Father; and ye are of more value
than many sparrows." And, " Blessed are they which
suffer persecution for righteousness sake, for theirs is the

GEORGE FOX. 229
kingdom of heaven : and blessed are ye when men shall
revile you, and persecute you, and say all manner of evil
against you falsely for my sake : rejoice, and be exceed
ing glad, for great is your reward in heaven." For so
the old persecutors persecuted the prophets and apostles
before you. " But rejoice in as much as ye are par
takers of Christ's sufferings : for the Spirit of glory and
of God rests upon you," who are railed upon, and suffer
for his Name's sake. And though He is evil spoken of
by your persecutors, yet on your part He is glorified,
that suffer for his Name. And, therefore, let none be
ashamed to suffer as a Christian, but let him glorify God
in his sufferings, who doth support him.
And so, dear friends, live in love and unity, and be
kind, and courteous, and tender-hearted one towards
another ; yea, and to all your persecutors, that you may
heap coals of fire upon their heads, and so overcome evil
with good. And so the God of all peace establish you
all upon his heavenly Rock and Foundation of life, Christ
Jesus, which standeth sure, and cannot be moved. The
Lord God Almighty keep and preserve you all, in the
holy Seed in which all nations are blessed : which bruises
the head of the evil seed^that makes you to suffer. And
the Lord God Almighty arm you with his armour, and
strengthen you, that you may be able to stand to his glory,
and that He may be glorified in and among you. Amen.
So fare ye well in the Lord. G. F.
 *, 
NO. CCCLXXIII. *
To Friends in Jamaica.
Dear Friends, Dalston, 24th of Seventh Month, 1682.
It hath been often in my mind, from a sense of the
Spirit of the Lord, to lay before you, and commend it to

230 EPISTLES, &C. OF
the witness of God in all your consciences ; to have once in
a year a Yearly Meeting, as they have in Holland, Ger
many, and Friezland, and at Rhode Island, and in Eng
land, and elsewhere, which are and have been of great
service ; by Friends seeing one another, and knowing
how the affairs of Truth prosper, and how Friends do
grow in the Truth of God, to the comfort and joy of one
another in it ; in which the Lord Jesus Christ is ex
alted : and if there should be any difference among
Friends which they cannot settle, it may be ended at the
Yearly Meeting, by some Friends not of the meeting
where the difference exists : so that all things, by the
truth and power of God, may be kept in peace and love,
all dwelling in the wisdom of God that is from above
which is pure, and peaceable, and gentle, and easy to be
entreated. And so for you once in a year to meet to
gether in the Lord's power, and to wait upon Him in his
Spirit and Truth one day, and then another day you may
have a Yearly men and women's Meeting in the Lord's
power ; in which you may feel his presence and blessing
flow among you : as for place and time, I shall leave it
to your best convenience. And the Lord direct you,
that you may do all things, whatever you do, to his
glory. You know that in other countries, or provinces,
they have either Half-yearly Meetings, or Yearly Meet
ings, except it be in Jamaica, which several times hath
been in my mind ; for where they are settled, a great
service is found in them ; and the Lord hath owned
them, and, honoured them with his presence ; and that
keeps all in a sense of a care of his glory, and a care of
one another, that they may be kept and preserved in
God's eternal Truth, in meekness, gentleness, and ten
derness, and in love, that edifies the body of Christ.
And so that all you, in godliness, holiness, and righte-

GEORGE FOX. 231
ousness, may spend your days to the glory of God ; that
your conversations may be in heaven, and not below in
the earth, among the wicked ; that the Lord God, and
his Son Christ Jesus, may be glorified in you all, who is
over all, blessed for ever. A men.
And friends, it would be very well, if you brought
forward your case of not swearing, and taking oaths,
your liberty in which hath been lost through that spirit
which was unfaithful. Now the same Governor is gone
over again, in whose time (when he was there formerly)
that act was obtained, at the Assembly, in which your
yea and nay was taken instead of an oath and swearing.
Therefore, see if you can prevail with this Governor and
his Assembly, to have the same act renewed again, and to
clear yourselves from that spirit which was the cause the
act was repealed.
So, with my love in the Lord Jesus Christ to you all,
my desires are, that you may all be preserved in God's
power, to his glory; and that you may grow in the
Truth, and spread it abroad, and that with it your hearts
may be united together. And that ye may be good ex
amples in the Truth, and* in righteousness and holiness,
and show forth Christianity in the possession of it, above
the outside professors. G. F.

NO. CCCLXXIV.
To Friends in Holland.
London, 17th of Eleventh Month, 1682.
Friends and brethren in the holy Seed of life, that
reigneth over all ; in it walk, and in the power, and
Spirit, and truth of God, that you all may be as a city
set upon a hill, that cannot be hid ; and the salt of the

232 epistles, &c. of
earth, and light of the world, to answer the light of
Christ in all ; and be a good savour in them that are
saved, and in them that perish. Live in love, that
beareth all things, and doth edify the body of Christ, and
grow up in Him, your Head and Life ; and be kind, and
courteous, and tender in affection to one another, and walk
as becometh the Gospel of Christ, the power of God.
And, dear friends, in this Yearly Meeting the Lord's
power was over all ; and the Lord's living refreshing
presence was among us in all our meetings. And your
Epistle from your Yearly Meeting in Holland was read,
to the refreshing of Friends ; and one from the Half-
year's Meeting in Ireland ; and a Testimony from Scot
land, that Friends are in love and unity there, and that
the Truth prospereth and spreadeth ; and by letters from
America, we find that Friends are pretty well there ; and
at Algiers, in the Turk's country, Friends that are cap
tives, about twenty, have set up a meeting ; and a Friend
that is a captive, declareth the Truth there among them ;
and their masters do let them meet, and it may be
of great service there. The Lord's power is over all.
In it be valiant for God's Truth upon the earth, and
spread it abroad ; that you may all, in humility exalt
the Lord, and that the presence of God, and his Son, may
be among you all ; and so the blessing of the Lord be
with you all. Amen. G. F.

NO. CCCLXXVI.

To Friends in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
Dear Friends, 1682.
With my dear love to you all, in God's holy peaceable
Truth ; my desire is that you may be all kept careful of

GEORGE FOX. 233
God's glory. Now in the settling of plantations and
provinces, and especially in woody countries, as yours
are, you may have many trials and troubles ; but if you
keep in the wisdom of God, it will keep you gentle, kind,
and easy to be entreated one of another, and will preserve
you out of heats, or extremes, or passions ; and let all
Friends that come over, be with speed settled in their
plantations, that they may not lie and waste the time of
themselves and their servants, and spend that which should
help to settle them in their plantations. And therefore
you that are concerned in ordering those things, have a
care that no reproach come upon yourselves and your
countries ; but that there may be such care taken in all
things, that there may be no complaints come into Eng
land against you.
And I desire that you may be very kind and courteous
to all in necessity, in the love of God ; for there are
many people go over to your countries, some poor and
some rich ; and so, many eyes are upon you, and those
that go over to you ; and therefore my desire is, that
you may all be careful in the love of God, and in his
truth and righteousness, as the family of God ; and be
careful and tender to your servants, in all respects, that
there may come no complaints from them or others ;
that so in all things you may be ordered by the wisdom
of God, that his blessing may be amongst you.
And, dear friends, I desire that you would send over
an account by the next ship how many meetings you
have, and how many Meetings Monthly, of men and
women, and how many Quarterly Meetings, and Half-
year meetings ; and let us know how Truth spreads and
prospers amongst you ; which you would do well to
write over every year, to the Yearly Meeting at London.
So with my love in the Seed which reigns over all, in

234 EPISTLES, &C. OF
whom you have all life and salvation, and peace in the
Lord God. G- F-
 ? 
NO. CCCLXXVII.
To Friends that are prisoners in York.
Dear Friends, 1682.
My love is to you, and all the rest of the faithful
Friends in bonds ; and my desire is to the Lord, that ye
all may stand faithful and valiant for his glorious Name,
and his holy peaceable Truth, now in this day of storm
and tempest ; that none may turn their backs on the
Lord in this day of trial, and that none may be ashamed
of confessing Christ before the adulterous generation, as
Christ said, lest Christ be ashamed of them, before his
Father and before his holy angels. And therefore now
is the time and day of your trial ; for the Lord is just ;
though I know that the faithful and innocent, just and
righteous, must stand it out ; and therefore mind the
Lord in all your sufferings, and keep low, and in the
humility of heart, and there you will feel that He that
inhabits eternity, dwells with an humble heart, and He
will be your Shield and Buckler, and Defender in time of
trouble. The Lord hath promised to deliver his people
in the six troubles, yea, in the seventh, the perfection of
troubles ; and therefore do not think time long, and your
sufferings long, for the Lord will lay no more upon his
faithful people than you are able to bear ; I know it, and
am a witness for God in all my sufferings and imprison
ments, and haling before magistrates about sixty times,
in about these thirty-six years.
And so, friends, when you have been tried, you may
come forth more precious than gold that is tried in the

GEORGE FOX. 235
fire ; and keep the word of patience, and it will keep you
from the temptations that come upon the world to try
them ; for the Word of God was before the world was :
and though you be in outward bonds from your wives,
families, houses, and relations, yet the Word of God is
not bound, neither can they bind it ; the Word of God
is at liberty, it abides and endures for ever ; it will make
you all rich, though they think to make you poor with
their bonds, and cast you into prisons ; but, I tell you, the
Word of God will make you rich, for the Word of God
was before the wicked and his bonds were. " They that
will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution by
the ungodly ;" for it was the just that suffered by the un
just in all ages ; and Christ said to Saul : ' ' Why perse-
cutest thou me ?" So it was Christ that was persecuted, as
well as those in whom He reigned. And do not you under
stand and know the sufferings and trials which the holy
men of God went through ; and how by faith they sub
dued the mountains ? And consider the faith of Abra
ham, Isaac, and Jacob, and the faith of Abel, and Enoch,
and Noah, and the faith of Jeremiah, and the rest of the
prophets, and the faith of Daniel and the three children,
and the faith of all the apostles, what sufferings and im
prisonments they went through ; and consider all the
martyrs since the apostles' days, consider what sufferings
they have gone through ; and God and Christ is the
same to uphold you, who are given up in his Spirit,
power, and faith, to stand for his glory, and to be valiant
for his Truth and Name upon the earth.
And therefore keep in your sanctuary, Christ Jesus,
who destroys the destroyer, and bruises the Serpent's
head; and so in Christ Jesus, your sanctuary, you all
are in safety, and ajl have life and salvation, and peace
with God. In Him you may all triumph and rejoice

236 epistles; &c. of
with exceeding great joy, and say : " What shall sepa
rate us from the love of God which we have in Christ
Jesus ?" And the apostle said, that " there was not any
thing able to separate him from the love of God in Christ
Jesus." And so with my love to you all in Christ Jesus,
who was before the devil was, that makes you to suffer,
and will be when he is gone. In Christ you have
heavenly peace, that none can take away from you ; in
Him dwell and live. Amen.
G, F.

NO. CCCLXXIX.

An Epistle to all Planters, and such as are transporting
themselves into foreign plantations in America, fyc.
London, 22nd of Ninth Month, 1682.
My friends, who are gone or are going over to plant
and make outward plantations in America, keep your own
plantations in your hearts, with the Spirit and Power of
God, that your own vines and lilies be not hurt. And in
all places where you do outwardly ' live and settle, invite
all the Indians, and their kings, and have meetings with
them or they with you ; so that you may make inward
plantations with the light and power of God (the Gospel)
and the grace, and truth, and Spirit of Christ ; and with
it you may answer the Light, and Truth, and Spirit of
God, in the Indians, their kings and people ; and so by
it you may make heavenly plantations in their hearts for
the Lord, and beget them to God, that they may serve
and worship Him, and spread his Truth abroad ; and so
that you all may be kept warm in God's love, power, and
zeal for the honour of his Name, " ^hat his Name may
be great among the heathen," or gentiles ; and ye may

GEORGE FOX. 237
see over, or be overseers with the Holy Ghost, which
was before the unclean ghost got into man and woman.
So with this Holy Ghost, you may see, and oversee, that
the unclean ghost and his works may be kept out of the
camp of God : so that his camp may be holy, and all the
holy may come into it : and He who is holy may walk
in the midst of you his camp, and be glorified in and
among you all, who is over all, and worthy of all glory,
from everlasting to everlasting, blessed and praised for
evermore. " From the rising of the sun, even to the going down
of the same, my Name shall be great among the gentiles ;
and in every place incense shall be offered unto my Name,
and a pure offering ; for my Name shall be great among
the heathen, saith the Lord of hosts. — Mai. i. 11.
" The Lord reigneth ; let the earth rejoice, let the
multitudes of the isles be glad. Let every thing that
hath breath praise the Lord, for the Lord taketh pleasure
in his people. He will beautify the meek with salvation."
-y Psalms xcvii ; xcviii ; cxlix. and cl.
G. F.
¦  ? 
NO. CCCLXXX.
To all Christians, to keep to yea, yea, and nay, nay, and
to fulfil their word and promises.
Edmonton, 23rd of Eleventh Month, 1682.
All my dearly beloved friends and brethren every
where, the Lord God Almighty, with his holy power and
Spirit, hath gathered and kept and preserved you to this
day a people to Himself. And now, dear friends and
brethren, in all your words, in all your business and em
ployments, have a care of breaking your words and pro-

238 epistles, &c. of
mises to any people ; but that you may consider before
hand, whether you may be able to perform and fulfil
both your words and promises, that your yea be yea, and
nay, nay, in all things ; which Christ hath set up instead
of an oath, yea, above an oath and swearing, in his New
Covenant and Testament : and the apostle James holds
forth the same doctrine.
So let none make any promise, or speak yea, yea, or
nay, nay, rashly, which they cannot perform : for such
kind of inconsiderate, and rash speaking is not in the
everlasting Covenant of light, life, and grace : take heed,
lest ye be numbered among the covenant-breakers, spoken
of, Rom. i. 31. and such truce-breakers as the apostle
speaks of, 2 Tim. iii. " which have a form of godliness,
but deny the power thereof ; from such turn away," saith
the apostle. And therefore they that deny the power of
godliness, will not be faithful to God nor man ; and such
cannot exercise a good conscience to God, in obedience to
Him, nor to man, to perform that which is just, righ
teous and honest. Therefore the apostle exhorts the
Christians in the New Testament, to " speak the truth
in love, and to put away lying, and to speak every man
the truth to his neighbour." — Eph. iv. 15, 25. And
David saith : " Who shall abide in thy tabernacle ; and
who shall dwell in thy holy hill? He that walketh up
rightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the
truth in his heart : but they that speak vanity, every one
to his neighbour, with flattering lips and a double heart,
the Lord shall cut off."
And Solomon, speaking of wisdom, says : " My mouth
shall speak truth ; and wickedness is an abomination to
my lips." And James says in his general Epistle, " So
speak ye, and so do," &c. So see here how certain and
stedfast the holy men of God would have God's people

GEORGE FOX. 239
to be in their words and doings. And also James was
careful, that the saints in their very outward dealings
were to be just, and reproved such for saying ; " To-day
or to-morrow we will go into such a city, and continue
there a year, and buy, and sell, and get gain : whereas
they did not know what should be on the morrow. But
they ought to say, if the Lord will, we shall live, and do
this or that." Therefore you may see how careful the
apostle was, to keep all true Christians in the fear of the
Lord, and in the sense of his will.
God is true and faithful to his people in all generations ;
and so He would have his people to be true and faithful to
Him, and to one another, and to all men in his Spirit and
Truth. And Christ saith, " He that is faithful in that
which is least, is faithful also in much ; and he that is
unjust in the least, is unjust also in much." And fur
ther He saith: " If ye have not been faithful in the
unrighteous mammon, or riches, who will commit unto
you the true riches ?" Therefore there must be a just
ness and faithfulness in the outward riches between man
and man, if you will have a place in your hearts for the
true heavenly riches : the inward faithfulness to God
bringeth forth faithfulness to men in outward things.
And, as the apostle said to the saints, " Finally, bre
thren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are
honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things
are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things
are of good report ; if there be any virtue, and if there be
any praise, think on these things :" which are very good
things to be minded, thought upon, and practised by the
church of Christ.
And so as every one hath received Christ Jesus, who
is the Truth, walk in Him the Truth, and speak the
truth as it is in Jesus : " For you are bought with a

240 epistles, &c. of
price, therefore glorify God in your bodies and in your
spirits, which are his."
And the Lord in mercy grant, that all his people (who
profess his Name) may do so to his praise, to his glory,
and to his honour over all for ever. Amen .
G. F.
 ? 
NO. CCCLXXXI.
An Epistle commended to the consciences of all concerned. 1682.
First, all you vintners that sell wine, that keep
taverns or such like houses ; and all you inn-keepers, and
you that keep victualling-houses, ale-houses, strong water
shops, &c, see that you never let any man or woman
have any more wine, ale, strong drink, brandy or strong
waters, or other strong liquors, than is for their health
and their good ; in that they may praise God for his good
creatures. For every creature of God is good, and
ought to be received with thanksgiving.
But if you do give or let men or women have so much
wine, brandy, strong liquors, strong beer or ale, as to
make them drunk :
1. You destroy the good creatures of God.
2. You destroy them that have not power over their
lusts. 3. You are a great cause of ruining them in their
healths, purses, and estates, (their children and families,)
in feeding them in their lusts, by letting them have more
than doth them good ; which also tends to bring God's
judgments upon you, to your own ruin and destruction.
For when they are overcome by strong liquors then
are they fit and do lie open to all manner of wickedness,

GEORGE FOX, 241
And though you think, by selling or letting people
have wine or strong liquors, more than doth them good,
or is for their health, that the more they drink, the more
gain it brings you ; and the more you vend your goods,
the more profit you get ; — ah poor sellers ! do not you
think that God with his all-seeing eye doth behold you
and your actions ? And cannot the Lord soon bring a
blasting upon all your undertakings, and such ungodly
gain and profits, and whatsoever you have gained by your
covetousness from the lusts of others. Will not this
bring destruction upon you and your unrighteous gain,
which you have gotten by feeding their lusts.
For are not you sensible, how many, after they have
spent their estates or part of them, will run into your
debts for wine or strong liquors, yea, such as you let
have more than did or doth them good ? And is not this
the cause that many break, by trusting, and other ways
as before mentioned ? Trust should be with that which
is trusty, which doth not waste or destroy ; and such
God will bless. And therefore take heed of letting any
man or woman have any more wine or strong liquors
than what is for their nourishment, health, and good.
See what a dreadful woe the Lord pronounced against
" them that rise up early in the morning, that they may
follow strong drink ; that continue until night, till wine
inflame them : then they call for the harp and the viol,
the tabret and the pipe," &e. " But such regard not the
work of the Lord, neither consider the operation of his
hands." A sad state !
Secondly. Let all who go under the name of Christian
families, train up their children in the fear of God, and
keep themselves in the fear of God, that they may keep
all their servants and families in the fear of God ; out of
all looseness and wantonness, and vanities, and excess,
M

242 EPISTLES, &C OF
and from all unrighteousness and ungodliness ; that they
may keep out of all those things that displease or dis?
honour the Lord God. And do not nourish up the lust
of the eye, nor the pride of life, nor the lust of the flesh ;
for if you do, you nourish up that which is not of God
the Father. And therefore shun all these evils, and de
part from them, and keep in the fear of God. This is
the way to bring the blessing of God upon a land, kingr
dom, nation, or family.
" God will destroy them which destroy the earth." —
Rev. xi. 18. G.' F.

NO. CCCLXXXII.

An Epistle to the Household of Faith.
Friends, 1682.
Consider how the blessing of the Lord came upon the
obedient and faithful to the Lord, and rested upon them.
The Lord said to Abraham : " Get thee out of thy
country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's
house," &c. " And I will make of thee a great nation,
and I will bless thee," &c. " And thou shalt be a bless
ing, and I will bless them that bless thee, and curse them
that curse thee ; and in thee and thy seed shall all the
families of the earth be blessed." Abraham obeyed the
Lord, and went forth from Ur of the Chaldees, and so
he left all the religions, and worships, and teachers of the
country of the Chaldees behind him, and followed the
Lord. And the Lord said unto Abraham : " Walk be
fore me, and be thou perfect." — Gen. xvii. 1. And again,
the Lord said unto Abraham : " Seeing that Abraham
shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all
the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him." — (

GEORGE FOX. 243
xii. 1 — 3 ; and xviii. 18. And again the Lord said unto
Abraham : " In blessing I will bless thee, and in multi
plying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of heaven,
and as the sand which is upon the sea. shore, and thy seed
shall possess the gates of his enemies ; and in thy seed
shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because thou
hast obeyed my voice." Abraham obeying God's voice,
brought this blessing npon him, as in Gen. xxii. " And
the Lord said, I know Abraham that he will command
his children and his household after him, that they shall
keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment,
that the Lord may bring upon Abraham all that which
He hath spoken of him."
Now you may see here what it is that brings the
blessing, and kept the blessing upon Abraham and his
seed, &c. " Now if you be of the true faith, you are of
Abraham, and are blessed with faithful Abraham." — Gal.
iii. 9. And in this seed and faith of Abraham, you will
command your children and your household after you, to
keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment,
that the Lord may bring the blessing upon you and your
household and children ; keeping in the same faith and
seed of Abraham, and you and your children and your
household, keeping in the way of the Lord, to do justice
and judgment : then, I say, the blessing which came upon
Abraham, will come upon you, and upon your children and
household ; and then you will know the promise of God
fulfilled : " Cursed is he that curses thee, and blessed is he
that blesseth thee." And therefore live and walk in the
Seed " which bruises the head of the serpent," in which
Seed all nations are blessed, yea all families, households,
and children ; in which faith and Seed you " command
(mark, command) your children and your household after
you, to keep the way of the Lord, as Abraham did, to
m 2

244 EPISTLES, &C. OF
do justice and judgment." — Gen. xviii. 19. Now you
that have not this authority to command over your
children and households, you are not in the faith and
seed of Abraham, to wit, " to command your children
and household after you, to keep the way of the Lord,
and to do justice and judgment."
Now the Lord had a confidence in Abraham, and so
He hath in all them that be of his seed and faith now,
that they will command their children and household to
keep the way of the Lord, as he did, and to walk before
the Lord, and to do justice and judgment ; and that
Abraham's family and children should not go back again
into those country religions or ways which the seed
and faith of Abraham hath and had led them out
of : for they that are commanded to come out of them,
into God's way, into the way of the Lord, are com
manded to keep in the way of the Lord ; and they are
to command their children and their household to keep
the way of the Lord, and to keep out of all the way
of the world, and out of all the ungodly, unjust ways, in
the Seed which bruises the head of the serpent. " And
the Lord said to Isaac, I will make thy seed to multiply
as the stars of heaven," &c. " And in thy seed shall all
the nations of the earth be blessed." — Gen. xxvi, 4.
Now here you may see that Isaac inherited his father's
inheritance in the seed, and in the faith and way of the
Lord ; in which Seed all nations are blessed. And so do
all they that are of the faith and seed of Abraham, that
walk in the steps of faithful Abraham, in the way of the
Lord, and obey his voice, inherit the blessing of Abra
ham ; for you may see it was not the only care, that
their children might inherit a little earth after them, but
that they might inherit the Seed and the faith, which had
the blessing.

GEORGE FOX. 245
And Isaac said to Jacob, " God Almighty bless thee,
and give the blessing of Abraham to thee, and to thy
seed with thee." — Gen. xxviii. And this Isaac spake to
Jacob before Jacob had any children. And here you
may see Isaac's care, that Jacob and his seed might in
herit the faith and blessing of Abraham and Isaac ; and
this should be their first inheritance, and then they
should inherit the outward land : and this should be the
care of all them that walk in the steps of the faith of
Abraham, to see that their children and household do in
herit the faith, seed, and blessing of Abraham, in the
first place, by keeping " in the way of the Lord," &c.
And they are to command their children to walk
" in the way of the Lord," &c, that they may so do.
And you may see that Jacob did inherit the blessing of
Abraham and Isaac, in Abraham and Isaac's seed and
faith. And the Lord said unto Jacob : ' ' Thy seed shall be
as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to
the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the
south, and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families
of the earth be blessed :" — so here you may see Jacob's
possession, who did inherit the blessing of Abraham and
Isaac ; and they that are of the seed and faith which
keep the way of the Lord, they do inherit this blessing
in the Seed in which all nations are blest. And this is
according to Christ's doctrine, " Seek ye first the king
dom of God and his righteousness, and all these things
shall be added unto you ;" to wit, " what ye shall eat,
or what ye shall drink, or wherewith ye shall be clothed ;
for after all these things do the gentiles seek ; for your
Heavenly Father knoweth that you have need of all these
things." And here Christ, (who was of the seed of Abraham,

246 EPISTLES, &C. OF
and of David, according to the flesh,) would have people
to seek their inheritance in the kingdom of heaven and
its righteousness, before they seek outward things ; and
they were to " lay up for themselves treasure in heaven,"
&c, and to know that portion for them and their children.
— Matthew vi. And the apostle saith, " The children
of the promise are counted for the Seed." — Rom. ix. 8.
" For in Isaac shall thy seed be called." — Gen. xxi. 12.
And Christ saith, " The good seed are the children of
the kingdom."— Malt. xiii. 38. And this is the seed in
which all nations are blessed, who keep the way of the
Lord, and justice, and judgment ; such the Almighty
hath blessed with " the blessings from above, the bless
ings of the deep, the blessings of the breast and of the
womb." — Gen. xlix. " And He will also bless the fruit
of the land, thy corn, and thy wine, and thy oil, and the
increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep." —
Deut. vii. ': And they that serve the Lord their God,
He will bless their bread and their water." — Exod. xxiii.
" And a faithful man shall abound with blessings." —
Prov. xxviii. 20.
So you may see they that are in the faith, and in the
holy Seed, who keep in the way of the Lord, and com
mand their children and household to do the same ; they
have the blessings from heaven above, and the blessings
below, yea, the blessings of the eternal inheritance, and
of the kingdom of God ; and that was their chief inheri
tance, that all the faithful seed of Abraham sought to
possess their household and their children in, who did
command their children and household to keep the way
of God, that they might inherit the blessing. David
saith: "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the
counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sin
ners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful : but his de-

GEORGE FOX. 247
light is in the law of the Lord, and in his law doth he
meditate day and night." Now here is the condition of
them that do enjoy the blessing, they must keep from the
counsel of the ungodly, and in the way of sinners, and
the seat of the scornful : now here you may see David's
instruction, how people might inherit the blessing.
Levit. x. " That you may put a difference betwixt the
holy and unholy, and between the clean and unclean, and
that you may teach your children all the statutes, which
the Lord hath spoken unto them by the hand of Moses."
And it was so in the Old Testament, that they might
learn the statutes there. Surely much more they are to
learn the commands of Christ in his New Testament.
And in Deut. iv. 9, 10, they were to " teach their
sons, and their sons' sons ;" and again, they were to
" teach their children, that they might learn to fear God
all the days that they lived upon the earth," &c. This
they were to teach their children ; and again, in Deut.
xi, it was the command of God, that they were to teach
their children the commandments of God ; and~they were
to speakuf them, when they sat in their house, and when
they walked by the way, when they lay down, and when
they rose up ; and in Deut. xxx. Moses told them, that
" the word was nigh them, in their mouths, and in their
hearts, that they might do it." And David said:
" Come, you children, hearken to me, and I will teach
you the fear of the Lord. 0 ! fear the Lord, you saints ;
there is no want to them that fear Him." — Psalm xxxiv.
9, 11. " Ye that fear the Lord, trust in the Lord ; He
is their help and their shield." — Psalm cxv. 11.
And you may see all along in the Old Testament, they
that feared the Lord were commanded to teach and in
struct their children in the way of the Lord, that they
might walk in it, and inherit the blessing ; which was a

248 EPISTLES, &C. OF
better portion than outward riches which will pass away ;
for they make themselves wings and fly away." Solo
mon saith : " Train up a child in the way he should go,
and when he is old he will not depart from it : foolishness
is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of correc
tion shall drive it far from him." — Prov. xxii. 15. " He
that spareth the rod, hateth his son ; but he that loveth
him, chastiseth him betimes." — " By mercy and truth
iniquity is purged out ; and by the fear of the Lord
they depart from evil." — Prov. xiii. 24. and xvi. 6.
And the Apostle's command is, for " children to obey
their parents in the Lord, for this is right." — Eph. vi. 1 ;
and Col. i. 3, 20.
It is well pleasing to the Lord " for children to obey
their parents ;" and the bishops or elders were to " rule
well their own houses, and to have their children in sub
jection, with all gravity ;" and likewise the " deacons
were to rule their own children and their own houses
well." — 1 Tim. iii. And likewise you may see the good
report of the widows bringing up children, " which fol
lowed every good work,'' &c. And in Titus, such as
were elders or overseers, their children were to be faith
ful, " not accused of riot, or unruly ;" and the aged
women were to be of good " behaviour, as becometh
holiness," <kc, " and teachers of good things ; and that
they teach the younger women to be sober," &c, and
" that the word of God be not blasphemed."
And Titus was to " exhort young men to be sober-
minded: — for the grace of God which brings salvation
hath appeared unto all men, teaching us, that, denying
ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly,
righteously, and godly in this present world; — that
being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs
according to the hope of eternal life." And Peter saith,

GEORGE FOX. 249
" As obedient children not fashioning yourselves accord
ing to your former lusts, in your ignorance ; but as He
who hath called you is holy, so be you holy in all
manner of conversation ; and be not like them, feeding
themselves without fear, which are the clouds without
rain, and wells without water, and trees without fruit,"
whom Jude declares against ; such cannot eat and drink
to the praise and glory of God, &c.
So you see what care, both in the Old and New Testa
ments, the faithful parents had to teach their children
the way of the Lord ; and the Lord hath a confidence in
all them that fear Him, and are of the faith and seed of
Abraham, that they will not only admonish their children
and household, but " command their children and house
hold after them, to keep the way of the Lord," &c.
Gen. xviii., and to keep out of the wicked ways of the
world. The apostle saith, " They which be of faith
are blessed with faithful Abraham." And so are all the
children of God by faith in Christ Jesus ; and if you be
" Christ's, then are you Abraham's seed, and heirs accord
ing to the promise." — Gal. iii. And so the children of
God are counted for the seed, which the good Seed, Christ,
saith, are " the children of the kingdom."
And the apostle spake to the Romans, that they should
"walk in the steps of the faith of Abraham." Again,
the apostle saith to the Corinthians, concerning Titus :
" Walked we not in the same spirit ? walked we not in
the same steps V And in the First Epistle of Peter :
" Christ hath suffered for us, leaving us an example that
we should follow his steps, who did no sin, neither was
guile found in his mouth." So these were holy steps ;
and they are a religious, holy people, that walk in the
steps of faithful Abraham, and of Christ and the apostles,
and these have the pure religion, and " do visit tha
m 3

250 EPISTLES, &C. OF
fatherless and widows in their affliction, and keep them
selves unspotted from the world ;" and these are they that
are circumcised with the Spirit, and baptized with the
Holy Ghost, and serve God night and day, and worship
Him in spirit and in truth ; and these are the religious
families, which are of the holy, divine, pure, and precious
faith, which Christ is the Author and Finisher of, which
faith purifies their hearts, and is their victory, by which
they have access to God, in which they please Him,
and which is called the gift of God ; and they that
are of this faith, the same are the children of Abraham,
and are blessed with faithful Abraham; and Abraham
was called " the friend of God ;" and so all his chil
dren are friends of God, and are not friends of the
devil, the wicked and unrighteous one ; but him and his
works they forsake ; and they are friends of righteous
ness and holiness, &c.
And such the blessing of God rests upon, who walk irt
the Seed, Christ, that bruises the serpent's head, in
which are all nations blest ; and out of the mouth of the
Seed's seed shall not God's Word depart ; but the Word
of God doth not abide in them who make a profession of
the Scriptures, but live not in the power and spirit of the
Holy Ghost, that gave forth the Scriptures ; such are
like the Jews, John v, and such think to have life in the
Scriptures, but they will not come unto Christ that they
may have life ; for none come to Christ but by believing
in the light, which is the life in Him the Word.
Now, dear friends and brethren in Christ Jesus, if you
keep in the seed and faith of Abraham, in it you will
command your children and families to walk in the way
of the Lord ; for in it youhavejiuthority, that they may
keep the pure, holy andrighteous way of the Lord after
you, when you are gone ; that they may succeed you in

GEORGE FOX. 251
the faith and seed, and way of the Lord, and in the
blessing of God, as Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob did.
Amen. G. F.

NO. CCCLXXXIII.
To the Quarterly Meeting at York. 1683.
Dear friends and brethren in the Lord Jesus Christ,
your Life and Salvation, your Rock and Foundation, Rest
and Sanctuary, in all storms, trials and sufferings ; my
desire is, that you may all strive for that which makes
for peace : for " blessed are the peacemakers," they are
called the children of God." And therefore, whatsoever
things are honest, just, pure, lovely, and of good report,
if there be any virtue and praise, think on these things
to practise them. So that in the power of the Lord,
which is over the devil and his power, all may be kept
chaste, pure, and holy to the glory of God ; and all that
are in the true faith and knowledge may show it forth in
virtue, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kind
ness, and true charity or love, which beareth all things :
for they that dwell in love, dwell in God, who is their
habitation. And let all things be done in love, in the
name and power of Jesus Christ. And all to strive in
the Spirit of the Lord God, and his truth, to be of one
mind and judgment; so that you may all be baptized
with one spirit into one body, and so all drink into one
spirit. And keep the unity and fellowship in the Holy
Spirit of God, which is the bond of peace amongst all
God's children, who are led by his Holy Spirit, whose
communion and fellowship is in the Holy Ghost, by
which ye are led into all truth.
Now, dear friends, let there be no strife in any of your

252 EPISTLES, &C. OF
meetings, nor vain janglings nor disputings ; but let all
that tends to strife be ended out of your meetings, that
they may be kept peaceable ; so that you may be at peace
among yourselves, and the God of peace and love may
fill all your hearts with that love which edifies his church.
And condescend one to another in the fear of the Lord,
to that which is honest, just, virtuous, and of good report.
And where any weakness has been in any thing, let it be
covered and buried in the Spirit and love of God, that his
Spirit and love may be uppermost in you all, to unite all
your hearts together. And that you may all show forth
that you are the children of whom the heavenly wisdom
is justified, which is pure, (mark, pure,) peaceable, gentle,
and easy to be entreated ; which is above the wisdom
that is below, which is neither pure, peaceable, nor easy
to be entreated, &c.
And in all matters of business, or difference, or con
troversies, treat one another in such things kindly and
gently, and be not fierce, or heady and high-minded ; for
that spirit will bring men and women to be lovers of
themselves, and to be despisers of others, and of that
which is good ; which leads nature out of its course, and
so loosens natural affections, and at last brings to be
without natural affections ; which spirit we see most of
Christendom is led by. For if they were in natural
affections they would not destroy their fellow-creatures
about religion ; but being without natural affections, they
have not affections to their fellow-creatures ; to wit, man
and woman, that were made in God's image. The law
and the prophets commanded : " Love your neighbour as
yourselves ;" and Christ commands, to " do unto all men
as ye would have men do unto you ;" and to " love your
enemies, and to pray for them, and to forgive one another,
as Christ has forgiven you."

GEORGE FOX. 253
And now, dear friends, whereas there have been
formerly some discourses by some in your meeting, of
marrying within a year after the decease of the wife or
of the husband ; my desire is, in those things, Friends
may show forth both chastity, and virtue, and tem
perance. For formerly hasty marriages were reckoned
amongst the infamous things, as for a man or a woman
to marry within the year of the death of the wife or
husband. And therefore, for virtue and chastity's sake,
and the Truth and good example's sake, that which is
honest, lovely, and of good report, keep and walk in, and
follow. For our heavenly light ought to " shine so before
men, that they may see our good works, and glorify our
Fathsr which is in heaven." And therefore all in the
church of Christ ought to live in the Spirit and power of
Christ, in which they do judge the world and all the
fallen angels.
So in this heavenly power, the virtue, purity, chastity,
flows and shines over all ; and they that do possess,
possess as though they did not ; and they that marry, as
though they married not. They are all resigned in the
power of Christ, that gives dominion over the world,
which brings all into one mind, and to be of one heart
and soul, and to one judgment ; and are a chosen genera
tion, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people,
that show forth the praise of Christ, who hath called
them out of darkness into his marvellous light ; and, as
living stones, are built up a spiritual household, an holy
priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to
God by Jesus Christ.
And so, my dear friends, my desire is that in Jesus
Christ ye may all live and walk, who is the " Seed of the
woman, that bruises the serpent's head ;" which is the
head of all wickedness and strife. And in this Seed,

254 EPISTLES, &C. OF
Christ, all have rest and peace, who is the First and the
Last, over all, blessed for ever. Amen. In Him is my
love to you all, as though I named you. Read this in your
Quarterly Meeting at York. G. F.

NO. CCCLXXXIV.
To the Six Weeks'" Meeting in Barbadoes.
Kingston, the 7th of the Ninth Monh, 1683.
Dear Friends,
In Christ, in whom we have peace, purity, holiness
and righteousness, you must be kept holy and righteous
to the glory of God ; and righteousness, and holiness,
and purity, must wear and outlive all that is contrary to
it ; and patience, and meekness, and humility, and kind
ness, and sobriety, must wear out passion, envy, strife,
and wrath, high-mindedness, and loftiness, and wilful
ness ; and therefore consider, the holy men and women of
God must not strive, but be gentle to all ; and in that
alone keep their dominion. For truly, friends, love
gathereth into love, and edifies the body of Christ ; and
let nothing be done with strife, but in love to the glory
of God, in the name of Christ, and in his power ; so that
you all may see and feel Christ among you, ordering you
all to his glory, with his wisdom, which is pure, peace
able, and easy to be entreated ; so that none may be
burdened nor oppressed in your meetings, but that the
life and Seed may reign in you all ; and so the Lord may
have the glory of all, and ye may all have comfort in
Him your Head.
And do not strive much with unruly talkers, but keep
your peace in the Spirit and power of Christ, that will

GEORGE FOX. 255
overcome and wear out all that is contrary to it. So that
all may keep their own habitation in Christ Jesus,
who is over all, the First and Last ; and in his power
and Spirit live and walk, that so you all may be trees
with fruit, and wells with water, and have bread in your
own tabernacles, and your own lamps trimmed and burn
ing ; and that there may be no strife among you, but
dwell in love ; for he that dwelleth in love, dwelleth in
God ; so God, who is love, is to be your salvation. And
condescend to the meek, and to every appearance of the
Lord God, and make every one's condition in the Truth
your own ; in that you will deny yourselves, and become
all to all in the Truth ; so that none may be hurt. in the
Truth, nor made to stumble, nor the blind caused to
wander, but be directed into the right way ; and all, as
the tender .plants, may grow together, as the Lord's
planting, and He watering them, and giving the increase
and growth to his glory ; so that the Lord may have the
praise and glory of all his works. Amen. G. F.

NO. CCCLXXXVI.
London, 23rd of Twelfth Month, 1683.
Dear Friends of the Monthly Meeting of Charlestown, in
Ashly Cooper River, in Carolina.
I received your letter, dated the Sixth day of the
Eighth Month, 1683, wherein you give an account of
your meeting and of the country, and of your liberty in
that province ; which I am glad to hear of, though your
Meeting is but small ; however, stand all faithful in truth
and righteousness, that your fruits may be unto holiness ;
and your end will be everlasting life. And be you

256 epistles, &c. of
patterns of virtue, modesty, chastity, and sobriety,
showing forth the fruits and life of Christianity in your
lives and conversations, that they may preach righteous
ness, truth, and holiness to all people in that dark wilder
ness; that you may answer the Truth, both in them
that are called Christians, and in the Indians.
And my desire is, that you may prize your liberty,
both natural and spiritual, and the favour that the Lord
hath given you, that your yea is taken instead of an
oath ; and that you do serve both in assemblies, juries,
and other offices, without swearing, according to the
doctrine of Christ ; which is a great thing worth prizing.
And take heed of abusing that liberty, or losing the
savour of the heavenly salt, which seasons your lives and
conversations in truth, holiness, and righteousness. For
you know, when the salt hath lost its savour, it is good
for nothing but to be trodden under the foot of men.
For we here are under great persecution, betwixt thirteen
and fourteen hundred in prison ; an account of which
hath lately been delivered to the king ; besides the great
spoil and havoc which is made of Friends' goods, by
informers ; and besides the great spoil upon the two-
thirds of our estates, and upon the twenty pound a month
acts, and for not going to the steeple-house ; and besides
many are imprisoned and premunired for not swearing
allegiance, both men, women, widows and maids ; and
many are fined and cast into prison as rioters, for
meeting to worship God. And we are kept out of our
meetings in streets and highways, in many places of the
land, and beaten and abused. And therefore prize the
liberty, both natural and spiritual, that you enjoy. And
many are cast into prison because they cannot pay the
priests' tithes ; and also many are cast into prison by the
bishops' writs, de excommunicato capiendo. So that at

GEORGE FOX. 257
present we are under great sufferings, persecutions, and
imprisonments : but the Lord's power is over all, and
that supports his people.
But in Ireland, Scotland, Holland, Germany, and
Dantzic, we hear that Friends are in peace and quiet
ness; and therefore you that have great liberty, both
natural and spiritual, be valiant for God's truth upon the
earth, and spread it abroad, both among them that are
called Christians and Indians ; turning them from dark
ness to light, to Christ Jesus the Saviour, whom God
hathset up for an ensign among the gentiles or heathen,
and to be his salvation unto the ends of the earth. So
seek the good of all, and the profit of all, and the salva
tion and the glory of God above all ; and the exalting of
his Name and Truth in your day and generation ; and
live in love, and in the Truth, and the love of it ; and
"overcome evil with good .;" and " hold fast that which
is good ;" then you can try all things.
And so with my love to you all in the holy Seed of
life, Christ Jesus, that reigns over all, who is your sanc
tuary, in whom you have all life, and peace, and salva
tion ; in Him the Lord God Almighty preserve and
keep you all, holy, pure, and clean, to his glory. Amen.
G. F.
 ? 
NO. CCCLXXXVII.
To the Monthly and Quarterly Meetings in England, Sj-c.
Friends, The 9th of the Fourth Month, 1683.
Be all faithful in your testimony against tithes, and all
those things that have come up in the night of apostacy
from the light, life, and power of God and Christ, and
against all looseness whatsoever, that the heavenly camp

258 EPISTLES, &C. OF
of God may be kept clean and pure. And all Friends,
look at the Lord above all your sufferings, and trust in
Him, who by his eternal power has preserved you to this
day. The Lord, in his glorious power, was with us in all
our assemblies, at this Yearly Meeting ; He over all hath
the dominion, and over all evil spirits gave dominion to
his people. Glory to his Name for ever. Amen.
And therefore let your eye be to the Gospel, the power
of God, which has brought life and immortality to light
in you, which is farther than the law to be looked at.
G. F.

NO. CCCLXXXVIII.
To Friends that are Captives at Algiers.
Gousey, in Essex, 10th of Second Month, 1683,.
Dear friends who are captives in Algiers, whom the
Lord hath enlightened with his " day spring from on
high," and visited you with his tender mercies in your
slavery and captivity, that you may know his will, and
do it in his light, grace, truth, and Spirit, that you may
serve and worship the holy, eternal, and invisible God
that made you.
Now, dear friends, to you is my love, and to all the
rest that fear God, that meet with you ; my desires are
that you may all keep low in humility in the fear of God ;
there is then no danger, for God dwells with the humble,
and teaches the humble the way they should walk in.
And therefore be careful of God's glory, you who profess
the name of God and his Son, that your lives, and words,
and conversations may preach godliness, righteousness,
holiness, virtue, sobriety, and modesty, both to Turks,

GEORGE FOX. 259
Moors, Jews, and to your patroons, and to the families
where you live : for Christ hath enlightened every man
that comes into the world ; He hath enlightened the
Turks, Jews, and Moors, with the Light, (which is the
life in Him the Word,) that all in the Light may know
God and Christ ; and " the grace of God which brings
salvation hath appeared unto all men ;" therefore to the
Turks, Jews, and Moors, yea, to all nations ; so that
with the grace of God they may be taught to deny un
godliness and unrighteousness, and live righteously and
godly. And therefore all must come to this grace of God in
their hearts, which brings their salvation, (if they have
salvation), and come to the throne of grace ; and this is
the covenant of grace, in which is the election ; and God,
who made all, pours out of his Spirit upon all men and
women in the world, in the days of his new Covenant,
yea, upon whites and blacks, Moors, and Turks, and
Indians, Christians, Jews, and gentiles, that all with the
Spirit of God might know God and the things of God,
and serve and worship Him in his Spirit and Truth, that
He hath given them ; but they that do resist the Truth,
and quench, and vex, and grieve, and rebel against the
Spirit that God hath given them, such are not like to
serve and worship God in his Spirit and Truth ; but he
that endures to the end in God's grace, Spirit, light, and
truth, shall be saved ; and the Gospel of salvation is
preached to every creature under heaven ; which Gospel
is the power of God, and the Gospel of peace ; and so it
is glad tidings to every creature under heaven, and to all
nations, who receive and obey it. Now this is the day of
God's gathering : and therefore all must come to the
light, grace, truth, power, and Spirit of God in their own
particulars, which they have from God and Christ, that by

260 EPISTLES, &C OF
it they may be built upon Christ, their heavenly Rock
and Foundation, who is their way to God, who bruises
the serpent's head, and through death destroyed death,
and the devil, the power of death ; for sin brought death ;
and now Christ, who destroys death which sin brought,
and makes an end of sin, is the sanctuary for all his
believers in all storms and tempests, trials, and troubles,
and sufferings, to rest upon, in whom they have peace,
yea, life and salvation.
Now there is a common saying among the Turks to the
Christians, your crucified God, meaning Christ. Now
there is a mistake in this their saying. Though God was
in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, it was not the
Eternal God that was crucified and died, that was in
Christ ; for Christ said, when He was about to suffer :
" My God, my God ! why hast thou forsaken me ?"
So Christ suffered in the flesh, and died, and was cruci
fied, as He was man ; not as He was God, the Word
which was in the beginning ; but as He was man, who
bore the sins and iniquities of all mankind, and was an
offering for the sins of the whole world ; who tasted death
for every man, (all being in death in Adam,) that they
might have life through Christ, the Second Adam. So I
say again, that Christ did not die as He was God, but as
He was man. " He was crucified and buried, and rose again
the third day, and ascended, and is at the right hand of
God :" this He did by the power of God, as He was man.
So the Turks are mistaken, to say or to think that the
Eternal God could be crucified or die.
Dear friends, I thought needful to write a letter to
you concerning this their mistake, which you may be
wise in making use of; and my desires are, that you
may be preserved, and exalt God's name in your places
of captivity, and in your lives, words, and conversations,

GEORGE FOX. 261
answering God's witness in the Turks, Jews, Moors, and
your patroons. And keep low, and walk wisely, that
you may be a good savour in the hearts of all there-
aways ; and then the blessings of the Lord, and his
presence, will rest upon you, and be in you. I think
you have more liberty to meet there than we have here ;
for they keep us out of our meetings, and cast us into
prison, and spoil our goods. And therefore prize your
liberty in your meetings, and do not abuse it ; and the
Lord preserve you all in his grace, fear, and wisdom, that
you may grow up in Christ the head, and walk in Him, to
the glory of God. Amen.
Read this openly in your meetings. And I have sent
you here some books that you may read them, and give
them to the Turks or English, as you may see fit ; which
books are to the Turks, one concerning good conversation,
and another concerning the temple, and another concern
ing Abraham instructing his family ; and one to all kings
and princes ; and another concerning revelation and in
spiration ; with some others to read among themselves.
And, friends, it would be very well for you, if you
could get the Turks and Moors' language, that you might
be the more enabled to direct them to the grace and Spirit
of God in them, which they have from God, in their
hearts ; and then getting their language, you would be
able to write and translate any papers to them, which
may be serviceable to instruct them, and for the spread
ing of the Truth among the Turks and Moors. So with
my love to you. G. F.

262 EPISTLES, &C. OF
NO. CCCLXXXIX.
To all the Household of Faith. 1683.
The apostle saith : " Be ye not unequally yoked
together with unbelievers : for what fellowship hath
righteousness with unrighteousness? And what com
munion hath light with darkness? And what concord
hath Christ with Belial ? And what part hath he that
believeth with an infidel ?" (mark, part) " and what
agreement hath the temple of God with idols ? Where
fore come out from among them, and be ye separate,
saith the Lord, and touch no unclean thing ; and I will
receive you, and I will be a Father unto you, (that is,
take care for you), and ye shall be my sons and daughters,
saith the Lord God Almighty."
Therefore have no " fellowship with the unfruitful
works of darkness," but rather reprove them : for the
church of Christ's fellowship (that are the believers) is in
the light, which is the life in Christ. And so their fel
lowship is with the Father and the Son ; and their com
munion is in the Holy Ghost, which proceeds from the
Father and the Son. And, therefore, the church of
Christ is to abstain from every appearance of evil ; then
they cannot join or have unity with them in whom evil
appears. Therefore such lepers that defile the camp of God,
ought to be turned out of it, till they be healed and
cleansed from such leprosies ; as knowing that such ac
tions and actors are out of the kingdom of God, and out
of the holy city, new and heavenly Jerusalem. And no
unclean thing comes into the kingdom of God ; nor
enters into the kingdom, the holy city. And none come

GEORGE FOX. 263
into the holy city but by repentance, and being turned
and changed from all manner of evil and uncleanness
whatsoever. And again, the apostle saith to the church of the
Thessalonians, that " they were to study to be quiet,
and to do their own business, and to work with their own
hands, and to walk honestly towards them that are with
out : and that ye may have lack of nothing." So here
you may see the diligence in the Truth, that the apostle
exhorted the church to practise. First, " They are all
to study to be quiet." Secondly, " They are all to do
their own business, and work with their own hands, that
they may lack nothing." And thirdly^, " To walk
honestly towards them that are without." And if they
walk honestly towards them that are without, they must
walk honestly towards them that are within. For the
apostle had some occasion to write to the Thessalonians
upon the matter : " For," saith he, " we hear that
there are some which walk among you disorderly, work
ing not at all, but are busy-bodies. Now them that are
such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ,
that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread :
and if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note
that man," &c, " and have no company with him, that he
may be ashamed : yet count him not as an enemy ; but
admonish him as a brother."
You may see there were not those gross evils charged
upon him, as were upon some among the Corinthians.
So you may see the apostle's care in the church of Christ
was to keep all things clean and pure, and all diligent in
their places, serving the Lord ; apd not to be busy-bodies,
and talkers about other men's business ; but to be quiet,
and not idle, but " doing their own business, that they
may lack nothing;" and so eat their own bread, natural
and spiritual.

264 EPISTLES, &C. OF
Now the apostle speaks of widows in his first Epistle
to Timothy, chap, v, what sort of widows they were to
receive. And ye may see, first, the decent and lovely
practice in the church of Christ : " Rebuke not an elder,
but entreat him as a father, and young men as brethren ;
and the elder women as mothers, and the young women
as sisters, with all purity." So are these to be en
treated; " And honour widows that are widows indeed.
And if any widow have children or nephews, let them
learn" (mark, learn) " first to show piety at home, and
requite their parents : for that is good and acceptable
before God." So this piety must be learned and showed
at home ; and these the widows must learn to look to.
Here these widow women have a service : and in the
first place they must " learn to show piety at home, and
to their parents and nephews, and then to show it abroad
in the church of Christ." So all must learn this lesson,
to show piety to their children and nephews, and to re
quite their parents. For this practice and service is good
and acceptable before God.
Now the state of desolate widows : " She that is a
widow indeed and desolate, trusteth in God, and con-
tinueth in supplications and prayers night and day : but
she that lives in pleasure is dead while she lives. These
things give in charge, that they may be blameless : but
if any provide not for his own, and especially for those of
his own house, he has denied the faith, and is worse than
an infidel." For the faith brings every man and every
widow to be diligent, and to provide for their own ; that
is, their children and nephews, or kindred and parents, as
before : but the apostle says, " especially those of his
own house:" and so here is piety to be shown still two
ways ; " for his own, and especially to those of his own
house" or family ; and here are nephews and parents, as
before mentioned.

GEORGE FOX. 265
And the apostle says : " If any man or woman that
belie veth have widows, let them relieve them, and let
not the church be charged; that it may relieve those
that are widows indeed." So here you may see the care,
piety, and duty, which is required. So let men and
women learn to show piety to widows, to nephews, and to
parents. Now, friends, concerning putting on of apparel. The
apostle in the spirit and power of Christ had a care in the
church of God, that they should adorn themselves as be
comes the Gospel, with chaste lives and conversations, and
with " the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not
corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit ;
which is in the sight of God of great price." This is
that which arrays and beautifies God's church ; and not
the outward adorning and plaiting the hair, and every
new fashion that comes up into the world. — 1 Pet. iii.
And also the apostle writes to Timothy, and gives him
that exhortation to the church : " That women adorn
themselves with modest apparel, with shamefacedness and
sobriety, not with broidered hair, or gold, or pearls, or
costly array ;" (for that was the practice of the Jew out
ward, and is to this day) ; but with that which becomes
women professing godliness, with good works. So this
is the adorning that all that profess godliness must be
arrayed withal. — 1 Tim. ii. 9. Sp that all may be in that
good behaviour, which becomes godliness and holiness;
and likewise chaste and discreet, teachers of good things ;
that the word of God may not be blasphemed, which
they profess, as in Titus ii.
And it is desired, that all Friends that have children,
families, and servants, may train them up in the pure
and unspotted religion, and in the nurture and fear of
God ; and that frequently they read the Holy Scriptures,

266 EPISTLES, &C. OF
which is much better than to be gadding abroad. And
exhort and admonish them, that every family apart may
serve and worship the Lord, as well as in public. And
that when they go to meetings, they may take their
servants and families with them, that they may not go
wandering up and down in the fields, or to ale-houses, as
many have done, to the dishonour of God, and to the
dishonour of their masters and mistresses' families, and
to their own ruin and destruction. And therefore, for
Christ's sake and his pure religion, let there be care taken,
to prevent all these things. For such an one as cannot
rule well his own house, having his children in subjection
with all gravity, how can he take care of the church of
God. — 1 Tim. iii.
Now, dear friends, consider old Eli's case, who did ad
monish his children ; but because he did not restrain them
from the follies and the evils they run into, therefore the
Lord brought his judgments upon him, that he lost his
children's lives, and his priesthood, and his own life.
And do you think that this was not written for an exam
ple, that others should be warned, hear, and fear ? And
was not the Gospel and the law given forth to restrain
people from sin and evil, and such things as dishonour
God? G. F.

NO. CCCXC.
An Epistle to all Friends everywhere.
Dolston, 13th of Tenth Month, 1683.
Friends, This is the word of the Lord unto you all. Live in
the Seed, in which all nations are blessed; in which
Seed you are blessed every way, in your goings forth

GEORGE FOX. 26 7
and in your comings in : and you have the blessings
from beneath in this holy Seed — yea the blessings of
him that dwelt in the bush that made the very ground
holy, which Moses trod upon — which bruises the ser
pent's head, who was the first questioner, tempter,
liar, and deceiver; and man and woman by harken-
ing or giving ear to this questioner, liar, and tempter,
the serpent, fell from their habitation in the image
of God, and so went out of their habitation and service
which God had placed them in. But the Seed of
the woman is come that bruises the serpent's head, in
which Seed, Christ, all nations are blessed. And all
you who live and walk in this Seed, you live in Him
that bruises the serpent's head, that liar, tempter, and
questioner: yea, and every one by this seed, Christ,
may be renewed up into the image of God, which Adam
and Eve were in, in the beginning. And you living in
this holy Seed, live over all vain unruly talkers, and vain
disputers, men of corrupt minds, who have the form of
godliness, but deny the power thereof. You turn away
from such, for their work is to destroy ; whose words eat
as a canker, who profess the truth in words, and may
have the form of godliness, but in their works deny the
power thereof, who are, to every good work or service,
reprobate. Christ said to his disciples, that the false prophets and
the antichrists should come to them, to try them : they
had the sheep's clothing, and outward profession of Chris
tianity, but were inwardly ravening wolves to devour
them. And the apostle John speaks of such as " went out
from us." It seems they were once among them, " but,"
saith he, " they were not of us ; for if they had been
of us, they would no doubt have continued with us ; but
they went out from the true church, that they might be
n 2

26S. EPISTLES, &C OF
manifest that they were not of it. And these were the
antichrists and false prophets, that Christ said should
come ; which John and the apostles saw were come, and
exhorted the church to beware of, and to keep to the
unction which they had from the Holy One. And this
unction and anointing, as it abides within the saints, the
true church, and they in it, it will teach them all things,
and is Truth ; and by it they shall continue in the Son
and the Father, and so in the holy Seed, Rock, and
Foundation, that cannot be shaken.
And the apostle saith : " There was to be a falling
away first, before the man of sin was revealed ; the son
of perdition, who opposeth and exalteth himself," &c.
And then the apostle saw the mystery of iniquity already
working ; and his " coming is after the working of Satan,
with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that
perish, because they receive not the love of the truth,
that they might be saved. And such go into strong de
lusions, that they should believe a lie," and not the
truth. And here you may see there is a falling away,
before the son of perdition, or Judas, be revealed : and
they that fall away, receive not the love of the Truth,
that they might be saved, but believe lies that they shall
be damned. And the Lord will consume him with the
Spirit of his mouth, and will destroy him with the
brightness of his coming, the wicked one, and son of per
dition, that is against the righteous, and is the opposer
and betrayer of them.
Therefore all the church of Christ are to stand sted-
fast, and be established in Him, in every good word and
work, who are from the beginning chosen for salvation
through Jesus Christ, through the sanctification of the
Spirit, and the belief of the Truth, and are called by the
Gospel, the power of God, to the obtaining of the glory

GEORGE FOX. 269
of the Lord Jesus Christ, in whom the glorious rest and
peace is.
And you may see how the church of Christ was
troubled by such as went out from them, and fell away
from Truth, and inwardly ravened ; some went like unto
the swine into the mire ; and some like the dogs to the
vomit ; and some like wolves that inwardly ravened, and
yet kept the sheep's clothing. Some went in the nature
of Cain, sacrificers, and yet were destroyers of the
righteous; and some went in the nature (or spirit) of
Jannes and Jambres, that withstood Moses ; and others
in the nature of Judas to betray ; and others in the
nature of Corah, Dathan, and Abiram, to gainsay and
resist the Truth ; and others in the nature of Jezebel.
And this spirit and nature troubled the church in the
Old Testament, and troubled the church in the New Testa
ment, and they are troubling the church in this Gospel day,
that is come and coming out of the apostacy. But God's
trumpet, spirit, and power, was and is always sounded
against it ; that all people may beware of this evil spirit
and nature, and keep in the Seed Christ Jesus, that
bruises the head of it ; in whom ye have love, rest, sal
vation, quietness, and peace. Hallelujah.
And all dwell in love, then you dwell in God, who is
love; which love edifies the body of Christ, and builds
you up in Him who is your sanctuary, in whom the true
believers live, and have peace; who clothes them with
salvation, and with his righteousness, the fine linen of the
sanctified ones.
So all walk worthy of the mercies of God, and his
blessings from above and from below, to the glory and
praise of God.
And they that dwell not in love and charity, are
like the sounding brass, and tinkling cymbal ; as you
may read, 1 Cor. xiii. 1,8. G. F.

270 EPISTLES, &0. OF
NO. CCCXCI.
To the Meeting of Friends in Truth, that are Captives in
Algiers. London, 4th of Third Month, 1684.
Now dear Friends, the Lord hath drawn you by his
Spirit to his Son Christ Jesus, in whose Name ye
are gathered; in whose Name ye have salvation, and
not in any other Name under the whole heaven : so
that now you know Christ your Saviour, who destroys
the destroyer, the devil, and his works; and it is
He that brings forth everlasting righteousness, that
makes an end of sin, and finishes transgression. So
that now you may live and walk in the everlasting
righteousness of Christ Jesus, who is your Priest, who
is made higher than the heavens : Heb. vii, and who
is your Prophet, that God has raised up, and not man,
" whom ye must hear in all things." — Acts iii. 22 ;
and vii. 37. You were as lost sheep gone astray ; " but
are now returned to the chief Priest and Bishop of your
souls ;" namely, Christ Jesus. — 1 Pet. ii. 25. And
Christ saith, "He is the true Shepherd, that hath laid
down his life for his sheep ; and his sheep know his voice,
and follow Him." He is the Holy and Just One, and
no guile was found in his mouth. And Christ says :
" No man comes to the Father but by Me." So He is
the new and living way ; and God has given Him for a
Leader and Counsellor, to counsel his people ; who is the
holy and living Rock and Foundation, which is above all
the rocks and foundations below : for He the Rock and
Foundation is from above, whom all the children of the
light, that believe in his light, which is the life in Him,
and are grafted into Him, do build upon. And so the

GEORGE FOX. 271
Lord God Almighty with his eternal power support you
all, in all your afflictions and sufferings, trials and temp
tations ; that you may be built and settled upon this
Rock and Foundation, that cannot be shaken.
And now, dear friends, my desires are, and the desires
of Friends here, that you may all walk soberly, honestly,
modestly, and civilly, and lovingly, and gently, and ten
derly, to all your patroons, and to all people : and that ye
may walk righteously, justly, and holily, in all your
words, dealings, and doings ; that his Name which you
do profess now, may be honoured, and you may reach by
your righteous godly lives and conversations, the good in
all your patroons, and in all others ; so that you may
show forth the fruits of the Spirit, and the fruits of
Christianity ; and that you are the possessors of Christ
Jesus your Mediator, who has made peace betwixt you
and your God. And as you have received Christ, so
walk in Him, and know Him to rule in your hearts by
faith. For herein, as Christ said, is my Father glorified,
that you bring forth much heavenly fruit, and that your
spiritual and heavenly light may shine before men, " that
they may see your good works, and glorify your Father
which is in heaven."
And now, friends, we understand that some that have
come lately among you, have been under great sufferings
and abuses by their patroons, because they cannot honour
them with that honour which other slaves do, or as they
have done before. Now, if you wait in patience upon the
Lord in his Truth (for you are to buy the Truth and not
to sell it ; and truth is that which is stronger than all)
the Lord in his time (though He may try you) can
mollify that nature in them, as He hath done in other
places, where He hath tried his people with such things.
And when they have seen that it is for conscience' sake

272 EPISTLES, &C. OF
towards God, and that they worship the Most High God,
who is an Eternal, Incomprehensible Spirit, who is God
in heaven and God in the earth, and dwells by his Spirit
in his humble people, they have been overcome.
And now, friends, consider they are blessed that suffer
for Christ's sake ; and it is not only given you to believe,
but to suffer for his Name. " And that they who will live
godly in Christ Jesus, must suffer persecution." But the
apostle says of the true Christians : " Who shall separate
us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or dis
tress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or
sword ? as it is written, for thy sake are we killed all the
day long : we are counted as sheep for the slaughter: Nay,
in all these things we are more than conquerors through
Him that loved us. For, I am persuaded that neither
death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers,
nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor
depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us
from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our
Lord."— Rom. viii. 36—39 ; Psalm xliv. 32.
Now, dear friends, you may see here was a godly sin
cerity, fervency, stedfastness, and resolution in the true
Christians, which ought to be in all such now, without
boasting. And the apostle says : " Rejoice, for as much
as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings, that when his
glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceed
ing joy : for if ye be reproached for the name of Christ,
happy are ye : for the Spirit of glory and of God rests
upon you; on their part He is evil spoken of, but on
your part He is glorified." — 1 Pet. iv. 13 — 15.
And so, dear friends, I do commend you to Him that
has all power to support, who is God all-sufficient to sup?
ply you, and is near unto all that call upon Him in truth
and righteousness. Therefore cast your care upon Him ;

GEORGE FOX. 273
for He careth for you. And so, as you walk in the
Truth, to answer the Truth in your patroons and others,
you will see in time that you will reach the good in them,
that they will give more credit to you, and trust you
more than those that disobey the Spirit of God in their
hearts. So the Lord preserve you faithful to himself.
Let us hear as often as you can how things are with
you. G. F.
 ? 
NO. CCCXCIII.
To Friends in Holland.
Amsterdam, 14th of Fourth Month, 1683.
Dear friends in the peaceable truth, the glory of God
let all mind, in your lives and conversations, that you
may all bring forth the heavenly fruits of the Holy
Spirit of God to his praise; living in righteousness,
meekness, and humility, learning of Christ Jesus your
Saviour, who is meek : for God doth teach, the humble
and they grow up in his grace and favour. And
therefore all take heed of going back again into the
world's ways, spirit, and words, but keep to the holy
Spirit of God, that doth lead you in the narrow way to
life eternal. And in the Lord's light, power, and Spirit,
meet together, and keep your meetings in the name of
Jesus Christ, who hath all power in heaven and earth
given to Him, that you may feel his living and divine
presence among you, and in his pure, gentle, and heavenly
love and wisdom, you may be valiant for the name of
Jesus, and his Truth upon the earth ; be not ashamed
of Christ your Teacher and Prophet, that God hath
raised up in his New Covenant and Testament, whom you
n3

274 EPISTLES, &C. OF
are to hear; neither be ashamed of Christ your Shep
herd, who hath laid down his life for his sheep, whose
voice you are to hear ; who doth feed his sheep, and give
them life eternal, and none is able to pluck his sheep out
of his hand, his power ; neither be ashamed of your
High-priest, who hath offered up Himself for you, and
doth sanctify you, who is a Priest made higher than the
heavens ; neither be you ashamed of your Bishop, and
the chief Shepherd of your souls, to whom now ye are
returned by his grace and truth, who doth oversee you
with his heavenly eye, that you do not go astray from
God : so in Him let your faith stand, who is the Author
and Finisher of it. My love is to you all in the Lord
Jesus Christ, who is your Sanctuary, in whom you all
have life, peace, rest, and, salvation, who is the Amen.
" Greet ye one another with a kiss of charity : peace
be with you all that are in Christ Jesus." — Amen. This
charity keeps all God's people in the heavenly love and
unity. G. F.

NO. cccxcvi.
To the suffering Friends at Dantzic.
Friends, 1684.
With my love to you in the Lord Jesus Christ, who
is your Saviour and Prophet, that God has raised up for
you, to hear in all things ; your Shepherd, that has laid
down his life for you, whose voice ye must hear, who will
feed you in his living pastures of life ; who is your Priest,
that offered himself for you, who sanctifies you, that
He might present you to God : so He is become your
Highpriest, who is made higher than the heavens ; a
higher Priest than the priesthood of Aaron, and all the

GEORGE FOX. 275
priesthoods upon the earth, that are made by men below ;
" for He is a High-priest, made higher than the heavens."
— Heb. vii. And so He is the Chief Shepherd and
Bishop of your souls, to oversee you that you do not go
astray from God, who is your Sanctuary, in whom you
are preserved from the destroyer ; who destroys the devil,
the great destroyer, and his works, and bruises his head,
and breaks his power. He, namely, Christ, is your
Saviour ; in Him you have rest and peace, salvation and
life eternal.
Now, dear friends, we do hear and understand, that the
magistrates have cast you into prison again in Dantzic ;
and that they have proffered you your liberty, upon
condition that you would go away, or forsake your com
mon meeting-place, or divide yourselves into several
little meetings. Truly, Friends, we have had many of
these proffers made to us within this twenty or thirty
years, but we never durst make such bargains or cove
nants, to forsake the assembling of ourselves together as
we used to do : but did leave our suffering cause wholly
to the Lord Christ Jesus, in whose name we were
gathered, who has all power in heaven and earth given
unto Him : and the Lord at last did and hath tendered
the hearts of many of our prosecutors, both in England
and other places ; and therefore it is good to be faithful
in the Spirit and power of the Lord Jesus Christ ; who
is God all-sufficient to support and supply you all in
whatever you do, and strengthen you in all conditions.
For if that should get a little advantage upon you, and
get you into weakness, it would not rest so, but get more
upon you. And therefore it is good to stand fast in the
liberty in Christ Jesus, the Second Adam, the Lord from
heaven, who hath made you free out of the snares, and
bondage, and limitations of the wills of the sons of old
Adam.

276 EPISTLES, &C. OF
And whereas some of the magistrates have alleged,
that Christ departed out of the. coasts of the Gadarenes
upon their request, after he had cast the devils out of the
possessed men, and they had entered into their swine, and
run into the sea: — this argument is of no weight, for
you to go out of their coasts or city, who are settled
citizens, and have wives and families ; for Christ went up
and down from place to place and preached ; as He said :
The Son of Man hath not where to lay his head,
though the subtle foxes had holes, and the high-flown
fowls had their nests. And would they take it kindly
themselves, if the King of Poland, their protector, who
is of a contrary profession, should use the same argument
to them, and say : " Be gone, or else do not meet at
your great public places of worship, but meet in small
companies, or else depart out of these coasts, as Christ
did out of the coasts of the Gadarenes ; and, if you do
not, then you are disobedient to Christ's example : as
they do apply it upon you ?" And so, let them weigh
the matter and their argumeut, with the just law of God,
to do unto you, as they would be done unto themselves.
And now, dear friends, I desire, however, that you
walk wisely, gently, lovingly, meekly, and soberly, to
all the magistrates, and all people, that they may have
no just occasion in any thing against you : for the
good must overcome the bad, as the apostle says :
Overcome evil with good, and dwell in that love that
can bear all things, and endure all things. And nothing
can separate you from this love which you have in God
through Jesus Christ : in this love build up and edify
one another, that by it you may answer the good in all
people, and spread his Truth abroad, and be valiant for
that upon earth. So in his holy peaceable Truth, and
his Seed Christ Jesus, in which all nations are blest, God
Almighty preserve and keep you to his glory. Amen.

GEORGE FOX. 277
And now, dear friends, you that have stood such hard
-and cruel sufferings so long, for the Lord's name and
Truth, and could not be overcome by cruelty, take heed
now lest you be overcome by fair words and flattery ; for
in that-there is a greater danger.
G. F.

NO. CCCXCVIII.

An Epistle to all the prisoners and sufferers for the name
of the Lord Jesus Christ and his worship.
" The "Word of God is not bound."— 2 Tim. ii. 9.
London, 3rd of the Tenth Month, 1684,
Dear Friends,
In the seed of life that is over all, whom the Lord doth
support, and hath supported by his eternal arm and power,
to stand for his glory ; be valiant for his truth and his
name upon the earth, who is God, All-sufficient and
Almighty, over all, to support you all, and to supply you
with all things needful. Now, dear friends, it is not only
given you to believe in the name of Christ, but also to
suffer for his name's sake ; so you see and know, it is a
gift given you to believe, a gift to suffer for Christ's
sake and his righteousness ; but however, as Christ saith,
" Be ye wise as serpents, and harmless as doves ;" for
Christ's believers are as sheep or lambs among wolves ;
he hath declared that they shall be brought before coun
cils, and before rulers, for his name's sake ; but Christ bids
his disciples " take no thought how or what you shall
speak, for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye
shall speak ; for it is not you that speak, but the Spirit of
your Father which speaketh in you ;" and this Spirit of the

278 EPISTLES, &C. OF
Father is sufficient to trust to, for it shall answer all, if they
have ears to hear, and will comfort his people, his lambs
and sheep. And Christ further said, speaking to his dis
ciples, " Ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake ;
but he that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved ;"
and he that heareth you, (to wit, Christ's sheep) heareth
me, saith Christ ; and he that despiseth you despiseth me
(namely Christ) ; and he that despiseth me, despiseth him
that sent me, to wit, the Father. — Mat. x ; Luke x.
And the disciple is not above his master, nor the servant
above his lord ; for Christ the lord and the master of the
sheep was despised ; so it is enough for the disciple that
he be as his master, and the servant as his lord ; for if
they call the master of the house Beelzebub, how much
more shall they call them of his household ? But the
very hairs of your head are all numbered : Fear ye not,
therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows, and
not one of them shall fall to the ground without your
heavenly Father. See here Christ encourages his
lambs and his sheep, therefore stand in his will. And
now [be content,] if it be the will of the Lord to try
you, his lambs and sheep, by spoiling of your outward
goods, as he did his servant Job, and others of his ser
vants and children, in the days of the apostles, who " took
joyfully the spoiling of their goods:" and Moses by faith
" chose rather to suffer affliction with the people of God,
than to enjoy the pleasures of sin which are but for a
season, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches
than all the treasures of Egypt ; for he had an eye to the
recompense of reward ;" as in Heb. ix.
And consider how Noah, Lot, Abraham, Isaac, and
Jacob, by faith served the Lord, and went through suf
ferings and trials ; and Jeremiah and the rest of the pro
phets, through faith, went through great sufferings and

GEORGE FOX. 279
imprisonments ; and Daniel, and the three chil dren,
passed through great sufferings and trials by faith ; so
faith was their victory, which was the gift of God, which
Christ is the author and finisher of; and you read in the
days of the apostles, what sufferings and imprisonments
they were carried through by faith ; and since the apostles'
days, how all the martyrs were carried through great
sufferings and imprisonments by their faith, which was
their victory; in which faith they pleased God, and
had victory over the devil ; in which faith they were all
in unity.
Now, dear friends and brethren, if it doth please the
Lord to try you who are the believers in the Light, and
the children of the light and [of] the day of Christ ; I
say again, if it please the Lord, and it be his will, to try
youin stinking prisons and dungeons, bridewells, and houses
of correction, and suffer you to be put in such places, who
are his sheep and lambs, plants and branches ; I say the
Lord can sanctify all such places for his people, his
children, his sons and daughters, and make all pleasant
to them ; for his sheep and people cannot go anywhere
from the Lord — for the Lord and his presence is with
them, and the Angel of his presence saves them ; and
therefore such jails and dungeons, bridewells, and houses
of correction, which are for evil-doers, if the Lord do try
or suffer his people to be put in such places, yet his people
are all in the hand and under the wings of Christ, and
he can sanctify all such places to them ; and you, in that
state, are to pray for the enemies that put you there ; and
if they curse and hate you, you are to bless them, and to
do good to them ; and you are to pray for them that
despitefully use you and persecute you, and love your
enemies, that you may be children of your Father which
is in heaven ; for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil

280 EPISTLES, &C. OF
and on the good, and causeth his rain to fall on the just
and on the unjust. And the apostle saith to the believers,
" Try all things ; hold fast that which is good." So you,
holding fast that which is good, with that you can try all
things, whether they be good or bad ; " and be not over
come with evil, but overcome evil with good. " This is
the command. So it is the good that must overcome the
evil ; and what have the children of God to overcome the
evil with, but the good ? Therefore, then, all must hold
fast that which is good ; but when any do go from the
good in themselves, they are not likely with it to over
come the evil, nor to try all things ; for by the good evil
is overcome, and with it you can try all things, whether
they are good or bad. Of a good man, David saith,
" He hath dispersed, He hath given to the poor ; his
righteousness endureth for ever; his horn shall be ex
alted with honour." They that choose the things that
please the Lord and keep his covenant, " even them will
I give a name in my house and within my walls, a place
and a name better than of sons and of daughters, saith
the Lord, and I will give them an everlasting name
which shall not be cut off." — Isaiah lvi. So you may-
see how the Lord doth encourage his people to walk in
the truth, in faithfulness to him ; for the Lord hath loved
his people with an everlasting love ; therefore with loving-
kindness hath he and doth he draw them unto himself;
to serve and worship him. — Jer. xxxi. And Christ saith,
he that believeth on Him hath everlasting life ; mark,
hath it. And again, (as in John) Christ saith, " He
that drinketh of the water that I shall give him, shall
never thirst, but the water that I shall give shall be in
him as a well of water, springing up to eternal life." So
every one, mind this well in you, who have drunk of the
water Christ hath given you.

GEORGE FOX.

281

And the apostle saith, God will punish them that dis
obey his gospel " with an everlasting destruction from
the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his
power." — 2 Thess. i. 9. Here you may see everlasting
destruction to the wicked, that disobey the Gospel ; and
everlasting life to them that believe and obey the gospel
of Christ. Now, they that disobey the gospel of Christ
refuse their own comfort and joy of life and salvation ;
which gospel is the power of God which is preached to
every creature under heaven to believe and obey ; there
fore, happy are you who have received and obeyed that,
which brings life and immortality to light in you ; so that
you see over the enemy which darkened you, and are now
become heirs of this comfortable and joyful gospel of life
and everlasting salvation, in which everlasting gospel
you have an everlasting glorious fellowship ; and in this
everlasting Gospel, you can praise the everlasting God,
that reigns over all from everlasting to everlasting. And
all that are of the seed and faith of David can say as
David said, " Blessed be God from everlasting to ever
lasting; and let all the people say, Amen. Praise ye
the Lord." And further they can say, " That the mercy
of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon all
them that fear him, and his righteousness unto chil
dren's children." — Psalm ciii, 17. For the Lord God he
changeth not, he is the same that he was ; who inhabits
eternity, and dwells in the humble heart ; and therefore
you humble ones, fear and serve and worship him. And
keep under the wing of Christ and in him your sanctuary
and Saviour, who destroys the destroyer, and is over all,
the first and the last. Amen. G. F.

282 EPISTLES, &C. OF
NO. CCCXCIX.
Concerning the pure and undefiled Religion.
The 4th of the Second Month, 1685.
Dear Friends,
You who profess the light, faith, grace and Spirit of
Christ, and the pure undefiled religion before God the
Father, are to keep yourselves unspotted from the world,
and to bridle your tongues from evil words, which corrupt
good manners ; the light of Christ Jesus letteth you see
the spots of the world ; and the grace of God will teach
you to deny them ; and the Spirit of Truth, if you'be
led by it, teacheth you to mortify and subdue them.
And now, friends, here is the pure and undefiled
religion which the Apostle in the primitive times did
own, and which, now, we do own. First, this religion is
pure — Secondly, it is undefiled before God the Father.
And that which is pure and undefiled before God the
Father, if you live in it and obey it, will keep you
unspotted from the world : and that which keeps you
from the spots of the world, will keep you from the body
of death and sins of the world.
And now, friends, you that profess this pure and un
defiled religion before God the Father, take heed of
greediness, and earthly-mindedness, and covetousness,
which the apostle called idolatry ; for it is a great spot
and blot of the world that lieth in wickedness. And take
heed of over-reaching, or using any deceitfulness or fraud
in your trade or commerce : for over-reaching, and using
deceit, or any unjust thing, will blot you and spot you,
and they are contrary to the pure and undefiled religion.
And take heed of unrighteousness, ungodliness, unholi-
ness, profaneness, looseness, filthiness, naughtiness, and
evil words, which corrupt good manners. These things
will blot you and spot you, and are contrary to the pure

GEORGE FOX. 283
undefiled religion before God the Father ; and they are
blotted and spotted with the actions of the world that
lieth in wickedness, and their religion is vain.
All such as follow the lust of the eye, the pride of life,
and the lust of the flesh, which are not of the Father,
but of the god of this world, that abode not in the Truth,
such are spotted with the spots of the world, and are
proud, vain, lofty, scornful, high ; and are void of the
pure, undefiled religion before God the Father. And
take heed of malice, hatred, envy, wrath, rage, and fury ;
they are the spots of the world, and are contrary to
the spirit of meekness, gentleness, kindness, tenderness,
sobriety, love, and mercifulness, which are the fruits
of the pure Spirit of God, which leadeth to the pure un
defiled religion before God the Father, which is " to
visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and
to keep unspotted from the world;" this pure unde
filed religion keepeth in the purity of life and conversa
tion ; and this is above all, and keeps from all the vain
religions in the world ; and this is the religion that was
set up above sixteen hundred years ago, in the church of
Christ ; and happy had all Christendom been, if they
had kept to this pure undefiled religion to this day ;
then they would not have made so many religions as
they have done ; but to this pure undefiled religion they
must come again, if ever they come to the true religion ;
for none can make a better, than the pure undefiled reli
gion, which was set up in the church, in the apostles'
days, above sixteen hundred years ago ; unto which all
that profess Christianity should be conformable.
So here is one God, the Creator of all, and one Lord
Jesus Christ, by whom all things were made and created,
who is the one Mediator betwixt God and man ; even the
man Christ Jesus. There is one body, and one Spirit,

284 EPISTLES, &C. OF
even as you are called to one hope of your calling, and
one God and Father of all, who is above you all, and
in you all, and through you all ; and there is one faith,
which Christ Jesus is the Author and Finisher of; and
there is one baptism, and by one Spirit we are all baptized
into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, bond or
free ; and must all drink into this one Spirit of Christ,
and so keep the unity of the Spirit, which is the bond of
peace ; for the apostle saith : " If any man have not the
Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. Rom. viii. 9. And
Christ saith, in his prayer to his Father, " That they
may be all one," meaning the true Christians, " as Thou
Father art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be
one in us ; that they may be one, even as we are one ; I
in them, and Thou in Me, that they may be made perfect
in one." — John xvii. 21 — 23. Here you may see God
and Christ are one in them (so he prayeth that his people
may be one) in whom they have rest, life, peace, and
salvation with God, through Jesus Christ. Amen.
" Let your conversation (or practice) be without covet
ousness," &c. — Heb. xiii. 5.
" Only let your conversation be as becometh the gospel
of Christ."— Phil. i. 17. G. F.

NO. CCCCI.

Bednal-Green, 14th of Fourth Month, 1685.
Dear Friends and Brethren,
In the Lord Jesus Christ, who is your holy, heavenly
Rock and Foundation of God, that standeth sure, who was
the Foundation and Rock of his Church, in the apostles'
days, and is now. You may see how Christ sent John
to encourage his church ; and saith in Rev. iii. 8, "I

GEORGE FOX. 285
know thy works : behold, I have set before thee an open
door, and no man can shut it ; for thou hast a little
strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied
my Name. Behold, I will make them of the synagogue
of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie ;
behold, I will make them to come and worship before
thv feet, and to know that I have loved thee. Because
thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep
thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon
all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth."
Now you may see what comfort the sons and daughters
of God have, that keep the word of patience ; what a
door is opened to them of the blessings, mercies, and
riches of God, which no man can shut. And they which
said they were Jews, and were not, or such as make out
ward profession of the words of Truth, and form of god
liness, and are not in the Truth, of such the Lord
saith : " Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of
Satan," &e.
Dear friends, be ye followers of that which is good ;
and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: for
it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for
well-doing, and not for evil-doing ; because " Christ also
suffered for us, leaving us an example that we should
follow his steps ; who, when He was reviled, reviled not
again ; when He suffered, He threatened not, but com
mitted Himself to Him that judgeth righteously. If ye
suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye ; and be not
afraid of their terror, neither be troubled, having a good
conscience ; that whereas they speak evil of you, as of
evil-doers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your
good conversation in Christ : and if ye are reproached for
the name of Christ Jesus, happy are ye ; for the Spirit
of glory and of God resteth upon you ; on their part He
is evil spoken of, but on your part He is glorified.

286 EPISTLES, &C. OF
And the apostle saith to the Philippians : " I count all
things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of
Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss
of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may
win Christ, and be found in Him ; that I may know
Him and the power of his resurrection, and the fellow
ship of his sufferings ; being made conformable unto his
death." And blessed are they who suffer for righteousness'
sake, and in whose hearts there is no enmity. And
blessed are they that dwell in the love of God, that can
bear all things, and are in the wisdom of God, which is
pure and peaceable. For troubles, afflictions, sufferings,
imprisonments, spoiling of goods, and many perils, do
attend God's people, by the world that lieth in wicked
ness ; and therefore it is good for all God's people to keep
in Christ their sanctuary, in whom they have eternal rest
and peace.
And God's people are exercised now, as in days past,
with trials and perils by false brethren, as the Church
of Christ was in the apostles' day ; such as went from
the Church, in the way of Cain, Corah, and Balaam, as
the apostle saith, " Fierce despisers, false accusers of
those that are good ;" and you may read in 2 Pet. ii.
throughout, of such as forsook the right way, and of
many following their pernicious ways, by reason of whom
the way of Truth was evil spoken of." And so it is now,
as it was in the apostles' days. And the apostle saith to
the church : " You have heard say that antichrist shall
come ; even now are there many antichrists : they went
out from us, but they were not of us ; for if they had
been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us ;
but they went out from us, that they might be manifest
they were not all of us."— -1 John ii. 18, 19. Christ did

GEORGE FOX. 287
forewarn his disciples of these antichrists and false pro
phets, that they should be inwardly ravening wolves,
and by the fruits of their trees they should be known to
be of the nature of the wolf, and not of the lamb. Such
as these went from the church (in the apostles' days)
into the world; and such as these are gone from the
Church of Christ now, into the spirit of the world : their
evil spirits are tried ; as in 1 John iv.
And the sufferings and perils by false brethren, have
been more grief many times to the church of Christ than
open persecution ; for they cause the way of Truth to be
evil spoken of; that turn from the way of righteousness,
like the dog to the vomit, or the sow to the mire.
Now when God had raised up this Prophet, Christ
Jesus, you see many of the Jews would not receive Him,
nor believe Him, and many would hardly hear Him,
though they were called brethren, but they mocked Him,
and persecuted Him, and blasphemed Him ; and the
chief priest gave money to Judas, one of his disciples, to
betray Him. And what became of all the Jews, and of
Judas, that betrayed and persecuted Christ and the pro
phets ! And what became of all those false apostles and
antichrists, that went in Cain, Corah, Balaam, and Jeze
bel's way ? And will not all of the same spirit in our
age, that have gone and are going in the same way, or
path, have the same end ? yea, their latter end will be
worse than their beginning. But in Christ, the Lamb of
God, the saints have their rest and peace, and can sing
Hallelujah, G. F.

288 EPISTLES, &C. OF

NO. CCCCIII.
London, 10th of Fourth Month, 1685.
Dear Friends in Holland, Friezland, Hamburgh, Fre-
derickstadt, Dantzic, Palatinate, and all other places
there-aways, where God's Truth and ensign is set up,
peace, grace, and truth be multiplied among you, from
God the Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ, the Foun
tain of all life, peace, grace, and heavenly wisdom and
understanding ; and the God of all power and peace,
through our Lord Jesus Christ, fill you with it, and his
heavenly riches; that you may all walk worthy of his
heavenly calling, in all holiness, righteousness, and godli
ness, &c, in life and conversation ; and that, by the
word of life and patience, you may answer the Truth in
all, both high and low ; so that you may be of good
savour to God in the hearts of all people.
For you know there is no other way to God than by
Christ Jesus ; and you know, that God has raised up
Christ to be a Prophet in his New Testament, to be
heard in all things : and you know, He opens, and none
can shut, and He shuts and none can open : and you
know, that Christ is the Bishop of your souls, to oversee,
that you do not go astray from God : and you know, that
Christ is the true Shepherd, and has laid down his life for
his sheep ; and they know his voice, and they follow Him,
and He gives them life eternal : and also you know, that
Christ is your High-priest, made higher than the heavens,
by the power of an endless life ; and by Him you are
made a spiritual priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices
to God,
At our Yearly Meeting, the presence of the eternal
God was amongst us, and his glory, which shines over

GliORGE FOX. 289
all ; and all was quiet and peaceable ; and it was the
Lord's doing, blessed be his name for ever.
And your epistle was read in the Yearly Meeting, and
Friends in the Lord's power read it, and had unity with
your spirits, and are sensible of your spiritual care in the
Lord's eternal power, concerning Truth's affairs in those
parts : in which God Almighty preserve you, and in
crease you, both in his wisdom, knowledge, and under
standing ; that you may spread his blessed Truth abroad,
and answer it in all people.
G. F.
 ? 
NO. CCCCIV.
To Friends in Pennsylvania.
Bednal-Qreen, 10th of Ninth Month, 1685.
Dear Friends,
I am glad to hear of the good Yearly Meeting at
Rhode-Island, and that the Lord's power and presence was
there among you : and it would be very well to visit the
generation of the righteous, and to see how their seed and
vines do grow in their heavenly vineyards and plantations,
and what heavenly riches they have laid up in store in
God's kingdom ; and to see how the wheat is gathered
into God's garner ; and that all keep in the worship that
Christ set up in his Spirit and Truth ; and that all walk
in the new and living way, over all the dead ways in the
world ; and that all walk in the pure, undefiled religion,
that keeps from the spots of the world ; and to see that all
are guided in the pure and gentle wisdom that is easy to
be entreated, and in the love of God that can bear all
things ; by which all peevish, short, and brittle spirits
may be kept down ; so that all may have their good con-

290 epistles, &c. of
versation in Christ Jesus, all striving for unity in the
Spirit, and the holy faith, that giveth and keepeth victory
over the enemy ; and so that all may have a care of their
minds running into the earth and carnal things ; " for to-
be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded
is life and peace ;'' and let all take heed of neglecting the
gift of God, but stir up the pure mind one in another ;
and the Lord, with his eternal arm and power, preserve
you diligent in his heavenly work and service in his vine
yard, that it may not grow over with briars, thorns, and
thistles, to choke the tender plants.
And so my desires are, that you may live and walk in
Christ Jesus, and that you may answer the Truth in all
the professors, and the heathen ; and prize your liberty,
both natural and spiritual, while you have it ; and labour
in the Truth, while it is day. Remember me to all
Friends, as though I named them ; and as for the state of
Friends here, we are under great sufferings, and spoiling
of goods, and imprisonments ; and they have of late in
creased in spoiling of our goods ; but God is all-sufficient,
who doth support us ; glory to his Name for ever. So,
with my love in Christ Jesus, to you all, in whom you
have all eternal rest and peace with God. Amen.
G. F.
 ? 
NO. ccccv.
To Friends of the Ministry in Pennsylvania and New-
Jersey.
Dear Friends, Enfield, 30th of Fifth Month, 1685.
With my love to you all, and all other Friends. I was
glad to hear from you ; but you gave me no account of
the increase of Truth amongst you, nor what meetings

GEORGE FOX. 291
you have had amongst the Indian kings and their people
abroad in the countries, and of your visiting Friends in
New-England, Virginia, and Carolina, nor of your
travels and labours in the Gospel ; though you have, in
all those countries, liberty to serve and worship God, and
preach the Truth. And I understand many have a de
sire to live in it, especially in Carolina ; and you who
travel now to visit Friends in those provinces, it is thought
strange that you do not visit them ; [those people who
were seeking the Truth.] Therefore I desire that you
may all improve your gifts and talents, and not hide
them in a napkin, lest they be taken from you ; and not
put your candle under a bushel, lest it go out ; and not
be like the foolish virgins, which kept their name of
virgins, but neglected having oil in their lamps : such
were not diligent in the work of God, nor in the concerns
of the Lord, nor in their own particulars. And there
fore my desires are, that you may all be diligent, serving
the Lord and minding his glory, and the prosperity of his
Truth, this little time you have to live ; and be not,
like Adam, in the earth, but use this world as though you
did not use it ; for they that covet after this world, fall
into divers snares and hurtful lusts : and therefore con
sider, that you are but sojourners here, that you may pass
your time in the fear of God ; and you being many, and
having many of the Friends of the ministry going over
into those parts, you may be a hindrance one unto another,
if you [confine your visits to Friends, and] do not travel
in the life of the universal Truth, that would have all
men to be saved, and come to the knowledge of the Truth :
and if you would have them come to the knowledge of
the Truth, let them know it, and where it is to be found.
So I desire that you be valiant for it upon the earth, that
you may give a good account unto God at the last with

292 EPISTLES, &C OF
joy. I desire that all Friends in the ministry may see
this in Pennsylvania and New- Jersey.
My love to you all in the holy Seed of life that reigns
over all. Amen. G. F.
 ? 
CCCCVI.
To Friends in Wales.
London, the 10th of the Seventh Month, 1685.
Dear Friends and Brethren,
In the Lord Jesus Christ, whom he hath gathered by
his glorious hand and power to himself, who is the rock
of ages, and the foundation of many generations, that
cannot be shaken, in which you have all life, peace, rest,
salvation, and eternal happiness.
Your epistle, dated the 2nd of the Second Month,
1685, by order of your Yearly Meeting, signed on behalf
of that meeting, was received and publicly read in our
Yearly Meeting, and well-accepted of in love and unity
with the spirit that gave it forth : and Friends are very
glad to hear, feel, and see your fellowship and unity in
the Lord's blessed truth, and your communion in the
Holy Ghost, and your care in the concerns of the holy,
pure, and peaceable Truth. And now that you are and
have been preserved over those unruly spirits, that have
been as trees without fruit, and wells without water, in
wardly ravening wolves, that have got the form of godli
ness and the sheep's clothing, but are out of the spirit,
and power, and life of the sheep of Christ. And over
such spirits we praise God that he hath given you do
minion. And our desire is that you may all live and walk in
Christ, and sit down in him, in his grace and truth ; and

GEORGE FOX. 293
that you may answer the truth of God in all people with
the word of life ; and also answer the good in all with a
godly and a holy life and conversation.
And likewise all the magistrates and officers that are in
power, that you may answer the just principle in them
all, and live in the spirit of supplication and pray for all,
that you may lead a righteous and a godly life under
them all. So that God, over all, and through you
all, and by you all, may have the glory, the thanks, and
the praise ; to whom all is due, God blessed for ever.
Our Yearly Meeting was peaceable, and the Lord's
glorious presence was among us, whose glory shines over
all, God blessed and praised for ever. A men.
Now, all dear friends, you know your teacher and
leader, Christ Jesus, and you know him your high-priest,
that is made higher than the heavens — by the power of an
endless life ; by whom you are made a royal priesthood to
offer up spiritual sacrifices to God by Jesus Christ. And
you know there is no other way to God but by Jesus
Christ ; and you know that God hath raised him up a
prophet in the New Testament, who is to be heard in all
things, who opens, and no man can shut ; and shuts and
no man can open. And ye know that Christ is the
bishop of your souls, to oversee you that you do not go
astray from God. And you know that Christ is the true
shepherd, and has laid down his life for his sheep, and is
to be heard and followed ; and gives unto his sheep life
eternal. And so abide in him who is your life eternal
and everlasting, in whom you have peace with the ever
lasting God. Amen.

294 EPISTLES, &C. OF
NO. CCCCVII.
To Friends in Dantzic.
Bednal-Green, Xlth of Ninth Month, 1685.
Dear Friends,
I am glad to hear of your welfare in the Lord : and my
desires are, that in the eternal power of God you may be
valiant for his holy, pure Truth upon the earth, and his
holy religion, that keeps from the spots of the world ;
and the new and living way, Christ Jesus, will keep
you out and over all dead ways that are in the world ;
and in the worship of God in his Holy Spirit and pure
Truth, which Christ Jesus set up above all the worships
in the world. And all men and women must come to the
Spirit of God in their hearts, if they serve and worship
God that made them.
And my desires are, that you may live in peace and
love one with another, and in the pure, gentle wisdom of
God, that is easy to be entreated. And let your faith
stand in the power of God, and feel that in your hearts,
which will keep you until the day of salvation. And let
all your conversations be according to the glorious gospel
of life and salvation ; so that you may come to answer
the Truth in all people ; and in your words and actions
you may preach truth, righteousness, virtue, pureness,
godliness, and holiness ; without which none shall see the
Lord. And now, friends, consider the Lord's great mercy and
kindness towards you, who hath brought you through
great sufferings, tribulations, and persecutions, and that
you have your meetings peaceable ; it is a great mercy of
the Lord to you, for you to prize, and be faithful.
So with my love to you all in the Lord Jesus Christ,

GEORGE FOX. 295
that reigns over all ; in whom you have eternal rest and
peace. Amen.
And as for the affairs of Truth here, we are under great
persecutions, imprisonments, and spoiling of goods ; but
the Lord does support his people above them all. And
of late the chief magistrates have showed some favour
towards us. G. F.
 ¦? 
NO. CCCCX.
An Epistle to them that are learned in Christ. 1686.
The Lord saith, " In this mountain shall the Lord of
Hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things," &c.
And he will destroy in this mountain the face of the
covering cast over all people, and the vail that is spread
over ah nations. And he will swallow up death in vic
tory, and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all
faces." — Isaiah xxv. 6, 7 ; 1 Cor. xv. 24 ; Rev. xxi. 4.
Is not this mountain, Christ, who filleth the whole
earth (Daniel ii. 35 — 45), where the feast of fat things is ?
And doth not Christ, through death, destroy death and
the devil, the power of death, and so take away the vail
and covering that is spread over all nations, that they
may be covered with the Spirit which he pours upon all
flesh ? And the apostle says, Moses put a vail over his
face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look
to the end of that which is abolished for their minds were
blinded : for until this day remaineth the same vail un-
taken away in the reading of the Old Testament ; which
vail is done away in Christ ; and when they shall turn to
the Lord, the vail shall be done way. — 2 Cor. iii. 7, 13, 16.
So here you may see the vail that was spread over all
the hearts of people, is done away by Christ ; and all

296 epistles, Sua. of
they that are turned to the Lord, with open face, behold
as in a glass the glory of the Lord, and are changed into
the same image as from glory to glory, even by the
Spirit of the Lord. And the Lamb which is in the midst
of the Throne, shall feed his people and dwell amongst
them, who hath made their clothes white in the blood of
the Lamb : and this is the day of Christ, whom God
gives for a covenant of the people to establish the earth.
Sing 0 heavens, and rejoice 0 earth, and break forth into
singing 0 mountains ; for God hath comforted his people,
and hath had mercy upon his afflicted. And Christ saith
to the prisoners, go forth ; unto them that are in dark
ness, show yourselves ; and they shall feed in pastures ;
for he that hath mercy on them shall lead them, and by
the springs of water shall he guide them. — Isaiah xlix.
For God gave Christ for a covenant to the people, for a
light to the Gentiles, to open the blind eyes, to bring out
the prisoners out of prison, and them that sit in darkness
out of the prison houses. — Isaiah xlii. 2, 6, 7; Rev. vii.
15—17. So we that do witness this, do praise the Lord God
through Jesus Christ. Behold, the tabernacle of God is
with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall
be his people. — Rev. xxi. 3. This is the day of the new
covenant, which people enjoy in Christ Jesus.
The Lord saith, I will ransom them from the power of
the grave, I will redeem them from death : 0 death I
will be thy plagues ; O grave I will be thy destruction. —
Hosea xiii. 14.
And the apostle saith, 0 death, where is thy sting ?
O grave, where is thy victory ? The sting of death is sin,
and the strength of sin is the law ; but thanks be to
God, which giveth us the victory through Jesus Christ our
Lord. — 1 Cor. xv. 55 — 57. So, here you may see the

GEORGE FOX. 297
grave had its victory, and death hath its sting, which is
sin. And the strength of sin is the law : but Christ gives
us the victory, who makes an end of sin — the sting of
death, as in Daniel ix. 44. And He through death de
stroys death and the power of death, and is the end of the
law for righteousness' sake, to every one that believes ;
and so they are dead to the law by the body of Christ. —
Romans vii. 5.
And Christ saith unto the Jews, Verily, verily, he
that hears my words, and believeth on him that sent me,
hath everlasting life, (mark, everlasting life) ; and shall
not come into condemnation, but is passed from death
unto life. Then they have passed from the sting of death,
which is sin ; and as John saith, we know that we
are passed from death unto life, because we love the
brethren ; for he that loveth not his brother, abideth in
death. — John v. 24; 1 John iii. 14. So, if they were
passed from death to life, then they were passed from
death, and his sting, which is sin, through Jesus Christ
who destroys death, and makes an end of sin.
And again Christ saith to the Jews, Verily, verily, I
say unto you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the
dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God, and they
that hear shall live. — John v. 25. So that they passed
from the death that came by Adam unto everlasting life
in Christ Jesus. And so they thanked God, through
Jesus Christ, who gave them the victory over death and
sin, death's sting : so as it is written, " Death is swal
lowed up in victory." For Christ, as I said before, makes
an end of sin, that is the sting of death, and through
death destroys death, and the devil, the power of death.
So thanks be to God, through and by Christ Jesus, we
have the victory unto everlasting life, over the grave,
death, and its sting.

298 epistles, &c. of
And the apostle saith, " Flesh and blood cannot in
herit the kingdom of God, neither doth corruption inherit
incorruption." And Christ saith, " Except a man be
born of the Spirit, he cannot see the kingdom of God,"
neither can he " enter the kingdom of God." — 1 Cor. xv.
50, and John iii. 3, 5.
And Christ saith, " He that heareth my word and be-
lieveth on Him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and
shall not come into condemnation, but is passed from
death to life." — John v. 21. And he that believeth not,
is condemned already. And he that believeth on the Son
of God shall not perish, but have eternal life. And again,
God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten
Son, that whosoever believeth in Hiin, should not perish,
but have everlasting life. — John iii. 15, 16, 18.
Now this death which Adam fell into, was a spiritual
death ; for by one man's disobedience or offence, namely,
Adam's, judgment came upon all men to condemnation.
So all men are under this judgment and condemnation
on Adam in the Fall. Even so, by the righteousness of
one, namely, Christ, the free gift came upon all men unto
justification of life. — Romans v. 18, 19.
So they that do not believe in Christ, the light, as he
commands: John xii. 36; they abide in spiritual death
and darkness, and under the judgment and condemna
tion of Adam in the fall, in the perishing state : but he
that believeth on the Son of God hath everlasting life,
and passeth from death unto life, and shall not perish in
darkness, and is not condemned, but comes out of con
demnation, &c. But he that believeth not the Son of
God is condemned, and shall not see life, and the wrath
of God abideth on him. Such abide in the perishing
state, in death and darkness, in Adam in the fall, under
judgment and condemnation. But they that believe in

GEORGE FOX. 299
Christ, the light, do come out of darkness, and pass from
death to life ; and come from under judgment and con
demnation, into favour with God, and into eternal and
everlasting life in Christ Jesus, and so have victory over
death, darkness, and sin, its sting, and the perishing state,
and the grave of Adam, in the fall from life eternal ; and
so are blessed, having part in the first resurrection in
Christ Jesus : on such the second death shall have no
power, for they are in Christ Jesus, the resurrection, and
eternal everlasting life, and their names are written in
the Lamb's book of life, who destroys death and hell
and the devil, the power of death. — Rev. xx. 10, 14, 15.
And casts the devil, death and hell, into the lake of fire,
that burns with brimstone ; which is the second death.
And as the apostle saith, " The last enemy that shall
be destroyed is death." " Death is swallowed up in
victory." For by man, namely Adam, came death ; and
by man, namely Christ, came the resurrection of the
dead ; for as in Adam all died, even so in Christ, shall
all be made alive.
So as by one man, Adam, sin and death came over
all ; so by the man Christ, life cometh over all. And by
nature we are born of Adam ; and in Christ we are made
the children of God by grace in Christ, and quickened
and made alive, and restored to life everlasting by him.
And Christ, who puts all things under his feet, he sub
dues death under Him ; who through death, destroys
death, the last enemy, and the devil, the power of death ;
and so makes an end of sin, the sting of death, and brings
in everlasting righteousness.

300 EPISTLES, &C. OF
NO. CCCCXII.
To Friends in West Jersey and Pennsylvania.
Edmonton, 27th of the Eleventh Month, 1687.
Dear Friends,
I am glad to hear that the concerns of Truth are so
well as they are with you, and that you have set up your
Half-year's Meetings, which may be of great service.
And all that are faithful in your country, being kept
in the Lord's eternal power, in it keep up all your men
and women's meetings, that the power of the Lord God
may spread over all, and by it all deceit and looseness
may be kept under ; and this will ease all the magistrates,
and their courts, of all evil and looseness, by having it
stopped and killed in the birth, before it comes in to
action ; and see in your meetings, that Friends give no
occasion [of offence] to the Indians.
And if sometimes you should have some meetings
with the Indian kings and their councils, to let them
know the principles of Truth ; so that they may know
the way of salvation, and the nature of true Christianity,
and how that Christ hath died for them, who " tasted
death for every man ;" (and so the gospel of salvation
must be preached to every creature under heaven) ; and
how that Christ hath enlightened them, who enlightens
all that come into the world. And God hath poured out
his Spirit upon all flesh ; and so the Indians must receive
God's Spirit ; for " the grace of God which brings salva
tion hath appeared to all men," And so let them know,
that they have a day of salvation, grace, and favour of
God offered unto them ; if they will receive it, it will be
their blessing.
And go. now, you that are settled in those parts, who

GEORGE FOX. 301
have had a testimony from the Lord, to bear to people of
the Truth, you should spread abroad God's eternal Truth ;
and have meetings, as I said before, with the Indian kings
and people ; so that all the earth may come to look unto
the Lord for salvation. For if ye should settle down in
the earth, and have plenty, and be full, and at ease for a
time, and not keep in the power, and service, and Spirit
of God, you would quickly come to lose your condition,
as some did in Rhode-Island, when settled down in the
earth, after a while, and then turned to jangling about it,
and some ran out one way, and some another.
And therefore I desire that the Lord may grant, that
you may be all kept and preserved by his holy power, on
his holy mountain, that ye may be of the holy camp of
God ; that with his power, light, Spirit, grace, and Truth,
all that is contrary may be kept out from among you ; so
that the Lord God Almighty, and his Son, may walk in
the midst of you, and may delight to do you good. So
with my love to all faithful friends.
My desire is, that you all may keep in the power and
Spirit of the Lord, in the heavenly unity, that you may
all shine forth to his glory and praise, to whom all be
longs, God over all, blessed for ever. Amen.
G, F.

NO. CCCCXIV.

Gooses, in Essex, the ISth of the Twelfth Month, 1688.
All my dear friends and brethren in the Lord Jesus
Christ, who by his eternal arm and power, hath sup
ported, upheld and preserved you stedfast to himself ; so
that neither reproaches, imprisonments, nor spoiling of
your goods, to the almost ruining you outwardly ; and

302 epistles, &c. of
besides long and tedious imprisoning of you and many to
death : and yet all these persecutors could not make you
turn from Christ, your life, priest, bishop, and shepherd,
and through him you have been made more than con
querors : and so live and walk in him, who is the same
to-day, yesterday, and for ever, who doth overcome and
will have the victory, in whom you have life and salvation
and peace with God.
So no more, but my love. G. F.

no. ccccxvn.
London, 27th of Third Month, 1689.
Dear Friends and Brethren in Christ Jesus, whom the
Lord, by his eternal arm and power hath preserved to
this day ; all walk in the power and Spirit of God, which
is over all, in love and unity : for love never fails, but
keeps the mind above all outward things, or strife about
outward things ; and it is that which overcomes evil, and
casts out all false fears, and it is of God, and unites all
the hearts of his people together, in the heavenly joy,
concord and unity. And the God of love preserve you
all, and settle and establish you in Christ Jesus, your
life and salvation, in whom you all have peace with God.
And so, walk in Him, that you may be ordered in his
peaceable heavenly wisdom to the glory of God, and the
comfort one of another. G. F.

no. ccccxvm.
To the Six Weeks' Meeting in London.
Kingston-upon-Thames, 5th of Third Month, 1690.
Let all your meetings be preserved by the wisdom of
God in the unity of the Spirit, the bond of peace, and in

GEORGE FOX. 303
the fellowship of the Holy Ghost, that, being ordered by
the pure, gentle, heavenly, peaceable wisdom, easy to be
entreated, they may be holy and virtuous examples to all
other meetings, both in city and country. Let all be
careful to speak shortly and pertinently to matters, in a
Christian spirit, and dispatch business quickly, and keep
out of long debates and heats ; and with the Spirit of
God keep that down, which is doating about questions
and strife of words, that tend to parties and contention.
In the church of God there is no such custom to be
allowed. And let not more than one speak at a time ;
nor any in a fierce way ; for that is not to be allowed
in any society, either natural or spiritual ; but, as the
apostle saith, " be swift to hear, and slow to speak ; and
let it be in the grace which seasons all words." And if
there be any differences, that cannot be quickly ended in
the meeting,let the Six weeks' Meeting order some Friends
to hear the matter out of the meeting, without respect of
persons, and bring in the report to the same meeting the
same day, if possible, and the meeting may give judgment ;
that no business be delayed from time to time. And so
my love to you all in the Seed of Life, Christ Jesus, in
whom ye have all peace and wisdom, from Him who is
the treasure of knowledge and wisdom. Amen.
G. F.
NO. CCCCXIX.

London, 4th of Fourth Month, 1690.
Dear Friends,
Something was upon me to write unto you, respecting
some among Friends, who marry, and provide great
dinners ; that instead thereof, they may be put in mind,
at such times, to give something to the poor that are
widows and fatherless, and such like, to make them a

304 epistles, &c. of
feast, or to refresh them : and this, I look upon, would
be a very good savour, to feast the poor that cannot feast
you again ; and would be a good practice and example,
and would be a means to keep the mind to the Lord, and
in remembrance of the poor ; for " they that give to the
poor, lend to the Lord, and the Lord will repay them."
And I do really believe, whatever they give, less or more,
according to their ability, cheerfully, they will not have
the less at the year's end ; for the Lord loves a cheerful
giver. I know this practice hath been used by some
twenty years ago ; not only to give the poor a little
victuals, which yon cannot eat yourselves, but to give
them a little money, that the Lord hath blessed you with ;
and give it to some of the women's meetings for to dis
tribute to the poor : so you will have the blessings of the
Lord, and the blessings of the poor ; and so be of a free
noble spirit, above all the churlish misers and niggards,
and narrow spirits.
These things I do recommend to you (though it may
look a little strange) to weigh and consider the thing ;
it will be of a good report, and manifest a self-denial and
openness of heart, and of the general love of God.
G. F.
 ?-  •
NO. CCCCXX.
To Captive Friends at Marqueness.*
London, 25th of Eighth Month, 1690.
Dear Friends,
With my love to you all in the Lord Jesus Christ, in
whom you have life and salvation, and rest and peace
with God : and the Lord God Almighty, with his eternal
arm and power, uphold and preserve you in Christ, in
* On the Coast of Barbary.

I GEORGE FOX. 305
/hom you have rest and peace, though in the world
troubles ; and though you be in captivity, from your
wives and children, and relations and friends, yet the
Lord is present with you by his Spirit of grace, light, and
truth. And so feel Him at all times, and stand in his
will ; do not murmur nor complain, but stand still in the
faith and power of God, that you may see your salvation :
for by faith the Lord delivered his people out of Egypt
by his power ; and by faith Enoch and Noah were pre
served, and Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; and by faith
the prophets were delivered out of many perils ; and
Daniel out of the lion's mouth. And you may see how
the righteous were delivered by faith, in Hebrews xi.
And it would be very well, if you that be captives and
friends, could have meetings as they had at Algiers, to
the comforting and refreshing of one another. And you
may speak to your patroons of your meeting together to
worship God, that created heaven and earth, and made
all mankind, and gives you breath, life, and spirit, to
serve and worship Him.
And my desires are to the Lord, that you in his truth
and power may answer the Truth in all, both king
and prince, and Turks and Moors, that you may be a
good savour among them all, in them all ; manifest
ing that ye are the salt of the earth, and the light of the
world, and a city set on a hill, that cannot be hid ; so
that they may see your good works, and glorify your
Father which is in heaven.
And what do you know, but that the Lord hath set
you there to preach in life, and word, and good conversa
tion ? Therefore, while you are there, mind your service
for God, who hath all things in his hand, and a sparrow
cannot fall to the ground without his providence. And
Christ is the mountain that filleth the whole earth;
and so you will feel Him there.

306 EPISTLES, &C. OF
And therefore keep in the word of power, and in the
word of patience, and the word of wisdom, that will give
you dominion over all. Amen.
G. F.
P. S. — You may petition the Emperor, or King, and
your patroons, whose captives you are, that you may have
one day in the week to meet together to worship and
serve the great God that made you, in spirit and truth.
For you worship no representation, image, or likeness,
neither in heaven nor in the earth, but the great God,
who is Lord over all, both in heaven and earth ; and
is manifest by his Spirit in his people ; from you, poor
captives, who desire their good here, and their eternal
happiness hereafter.
And you may draw up a paper to this effect, and get it
translated into their language, and send it to the Emperor
and his Council, and your patroons ; and set your hands
to it with all speed, after the receipt of this.
G. F.

Riohard Barrett, Jun., Printer, 13, Mark Lane, London.

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