A LOVING SALUTATION To all People who have any desires after the Living GOD; But especially to the Free-Will-ANABAPTISTS.  
From one that desires the Eternal good of all Souls.  I. BEEVAN. 
FRIENDS,  
AS I was meditating on the ways and works of the Lord, I can truly say my meditation of him was sweet; for now I have found him whom my Soul long thirsted after in Egypt Land: I say as I was meditating there was brought by the power of the Lord a perfect remembrance of my sore Travel in that dark Land of Bondage, now praises, praises to his great Name for ever, who hath sent Redemption to Israel, and set the oppressed free, and broken that heavy yoke, and laid on his yoke that is easy, and his burden which is light. Now in bowels of tender love to those that know me by face and name in the outward, who hath been with me in many Trials, and yet are resting there still in that which will not stand in the day of the Lords power, when no covering will serve but the Spirit of the Lord; Now if you will but sink down to that which is pure of God, and see and feel yourselves and me also, and let that of God judge of my Travels in Egypt, and the way from thence, as the Lord God by his mighty power shall give me to relate.  
That the Truth of God may flourish, is the earnest desire of my Soul, & that he may be exalted above all; Therefore I shall relate a little of the long suffering of the Lord, and how unwilling he is that sinners should perish, and also to make known to you that it is the same God I now own that brought me out of my mother's womb, and gave me life and all things.  
Near about the time that I was seven years of age, being bred up by my Parents very exactly for refraining of gross evils, as Swearing and Cursing and the like; I can truly say that there was a greater Power restrained me then their words, and many desires were raised up in me to know that God they talked of so much, and so often prayed to, and when I often asked where he was, and how he must be served, they said he was in Heaven above the Skies, but I felt him near me, reproving me for my playing and wantonness, as Children do practice in that nature; and many a vow I made not to do so again, but my vows I did not keep until I came near to fourteen years of age, than was the Lord pleased to show his power yet more in reproving me for sports and pleasure, to which I harkened a little & did refrain it; yet there was something in me lusted to see those things acted which I could not do myself; then I was judged for that also; then did I quite separate myself from my Companions which reproached me, but I mattered them not, and I went along with a little flock in Leominster, called Puretans, and many a fast day I kept very exactly, and with the sufferer I took part; then began my Parents to hate me when I was got above them, & I denied their formal prayers, and then they grew worse, and many a blow I received upon that account which I bore patiently, and I can truly say I never repent my going, nor refrained, until Wars came in England; Then was the Flock of God scattered abroad as sheep without a Shepherd, and hunted about like a Partridge on the Mountains, and many were killed with the Sword, and often put to the flight, which made me and others question whether God had not forsaken his own People, because he did not deliver them out of their enemy's hands; then the enemies of the Lord did rejoice both within and without, as if all had been their own, than the Seed of God suffered in Sodom and Egypt, and the two Witnesses were slain and were made merry over, and then the Seed suffered, and the seed of the Serpent got on the top, and led me captive at his will; Now take notice the same Light I now own, not another, did let me see my state that I was run into darkness and departed from the Lord, and was in the broad way which leadeth to destruction; but sometimes did many strong cries run through me, saying, O that I could but see the day I once saw; yea, when I have been setting up myself in pride, or otherwise, I have wished, O that I were in such a condition I was once in, if I had not rags to cover my nakedness; thus I passed on wild and wanton until the wars were something abated, and Lectors were set up, and I heard many men, and they held many Opinions, I thought I was the worst amongst all, for I was ashamed of my present estate, however I left my Companions, and then I posted up and down after the most eminent men in those parts, for I soon saw the deceit of the Tithe Priests and denied them all, yet still I saw in myself I was condemned because I did not walk up to what I knew, though many branches were broken off, yet the root still remained, thus was I tossed from Mountain to Hill and hurried here and there, but none spoke to my present estate until I met with one whose Name was known unto us by the Name of James Brown, who as I understand died an open enemy to the same Truth that he once declared, and to the same Light which he once bore Testimony, though this is a hard saying; but harken a little and consider you that were with me at the first in that discory of Waterbaptism, and feel what I say, this man was very low and tender, and had denied himself of all his honour and profit in the world, insomuch that he came to a low estate, yet I could not see but that he was contented while he was in that condition, could I see such an image born up amongst you as was once in him, I should own it as dear as my life; but feigned humility I deny, mark that, and for his Doctrine, it was the very same words which the Messengers of the Lord are gone forth with, and I in my measure do set my seal to, though at the first I did much oppose him, but my foundation could not stand, though got very high; as concerning the Light he spoke often of it, that it was the Light and Life of men, and that it shined in darkness, and that it was the true Light that lighteth every one that cometh into the World, and that the Word was within the Mouth and in the Heart, and that Christ was within, and he often pressed it to me, that if Christ was not within me I was a Reprobate, the which I did believe it was the truth, and that my greatest enemies were within, I knew it was so; then the Serpent raged, and then were Wars and rumours of Wars such as never was before, the Sword of the Lord was drawn to cut down all his enemies, & the book was opened, & all that ever I had done was laid before me, and my Good and evil was all judged, I would have run any way to have hid myself, or to any one, but I thought none was like me, thus was my condition several weeks together, I sought death in that day but I could not find it, I would fain have died but death fled from me, when day appeared I was afraid, and also of the night, many were the temptations to end my life, but there was a secret power kept me from it, and as I kept low I heard a voice cry, Just and Righteous are the Judgements of the Lord, and as I kept in, a hope of deliverance was raised contrary to that Serpent's voice, for he said, it would never be otherwise, so yet I waited till some prophecies arose, that Sorrow should endure for a Night, but Joy should come in the Morning, and so it was, that as mine Enemies fell, my Soul rejoiced & my hard Heart was broken, and the Lamb got the Victory, and a precious condition I did enjoy, and then were the Scriptures precious to me as I came to witness to them, and Zion was redeemed through judgement as it is at this day; Now this is to inform your minds that no other Way do I own, no other Truth, no other Life, no other Rock, no other Refuge, no other hiding place in time of need than I owned at that day, my Judgement is the same, and my Guide my Teacher, and my Life is the same now; Why is this wonder both with Professor and Profane at my great change? It is nothing else but a woman that hath run after many Lovers, returned to her former Husband again: Now praises, praises to his great Name for ever, who did not shut up his Tender Compassion, nor Seal me up for the day of Destruction.  
Come let us Reason together of former Experiences, though it will not be mentioned but to your sorrow, and call to mind the Lords Do; my Soul was never so poured forth with pity towards you, nor laid so naked and bare before you, you that were with me in that discovery aforementioned, and many Revile, Mocks, Scoffs & Reproaches did we bear together, and esteemed them as great Riches; And did you not know a day of Suffering within you, and drank deep of the Cup of the Lords fury and indignation which you called trouble? And did you not know in some measure the Warfare, and a daily Cross in the self-denial of your own Words, Ways and Wills, to yea, and nay in your communication, and to few words, and did you not know a more purer Separation from the World then in Words, and Houses? Sink down and dig deep in your earthly hearts and read me there; Did you not feed on daily bread in your Father's house, and on the Tree of Life, whose Leaves healed the Nations? And did you not lose that precious estate by reaching out after the Tree of Knowledge, and labouring to know more in the Scriptures then your lives could witness? Both Teachers and others, to that of God do I direct you, who shall Witness for me in the day of the Lords Power, and he that could speak most and discourse best was most esteemed, and had forgotten the Ancient Paths, and much proving ourselves to be Saints, when our lives showed before whose Servants we were, as Saul when the Spirit of the Lord was departed from him, then honour me before the people, when he had lost the Honour that cometh from God, than the image of the Beast was set up whose head was of gold, and the false prophet, and he that would not bow unto them, must have no communion with us, and they got a cover to cover deceit, as Pride they called Decency, covetousness, Carefulness and Saving, and Laughter they called rejoicing in the Lord, Foolish-jesting and lying, and anger and Malice, they called Weakness and Failings, Jangling about the meanings of Scriptures, they called Contending for the Faith; But really I could not own these things until I was Married, than the Branches that were broken off for many years began to sprout again, and then was I shut out of that Scripture, there be Gods many and Lords many, but to us there is but one God, I durst not read it, for the witness of God in my Conscience told me, that I did set up in my heart other things beside the Lord, as Husband and other Riches which soon did fall, and now I set my Seal to the Apostles Words, that Covetousness is the Root of all evil, the same Light I now own did then show me that I was in the World's Nature, and did Condemn me when none else did, for when things prospered I could be merry, but when my Will was crossed, anger and peevishness grew up; I thought to cover myself, saying, all others were in that estate, but that Covering was too narrow, though the Administration of Condemnation is Glorious in its time, yet another estate must be witnessed before peace be witnessed; When I was by myself sober I saw my estate, and that there was a great Gulf or a Cloud drawn between the Lord and I, but all this while who could accuse me without; and often there was brought to a perfect remembrance my former precious condition, I sat by the Waters of Babylon when I remembered Zion, than I broke mine heart pouring out my Soul, saying, Cursed be the day that ever I tasted of that Fruit that was forbidden, yea I wish that my tongue had cloven to the Roof of my Mouth, rather than I should have spoke of one Scripture that I could not witness, yea it is a repentance never to be repent of; in this condemned estate I remained; Then I questioned my Faith, my hope and my Love, my Repentance, my Meat, Drink and Apparel, though it was like to others who were called precious Saints; I knew not what to do nor which way to take, sometimes I saw the Gate of Mercy opened, but no way to enter but through Judgement, I was willing to wait therein, but when I felt it terrible with a mighty cross to the will of the flesh, than I would mind another thing; I heard a cry run through me, saying, their Servants you are to whom you obey, whether in obedience to Righteousness or unrighteousness; I had no rest, at last I replied, Ah Lord, do I not keep all thy Commandments, he said nay? I said do I not serve thee with Truth of heart? The answer was, whom dost thou serve when thou dost evil; a man cannot serve two Masters, and then my mouth was stopped, than I would shun those thoughts; then was brought to remembrance how I had read many years before a of man that when sad thoughts was in his heart, he would get some merry thing to drive them away, I had no rest, I heard of a people called Quakers, I enquired, as the manner of professors did, what was their Judgement, let never so much humility appear, the answer was, that the greatest professors in the Nation, were the greatest enemies to the Cross of Christ; I do not justify myself, for condemnation hath passed on all my good and evil actions, but I find very few professors walk so exactly as I did in those days concerning things without, though all this did not reach so far as the Scribes and Pharisees who were clean on the out side, I saw it to be so, though we called ourselves the Saints of the Most High, yet I said in myself, if the Saint's condition was thus, it was a miserable estate, I was weary and heavy laden, I went from meeting to meeting to find out one that was in my condition, all were full, and smoothed up one another with words and no Reformation; I durst not partake of their Bread and Wine, for I saw we were ignorant of the Lords Body, I was brought very low and to a waiting condition, what truth I heard declared I owned, and the rest I let alone and said little, waiting for the promise of the Lord to be fulfilled which I read of in the Scriptures, that the Lord would Teach his People himself; in this estate I remained almost a year, I loved to be by myself, for than I could pour out my Soul before the Lord, saying, Ah teach me the way that I should go, and lead me in the Paths of Righteousness; Oh when shall I see the day of thy appearance in fulfilling thy promise which thou hast made of old? O why are thy Chariot Wheels so long a coming; O shall I never see the day of deliverance? Thus my Soul groaned under a heavy burden until I met with one of the Lords Messengers, and sore sufferers for the Testimony of Jesus, whose words struck deep through the Earth, and reached to the witness of God, insomuch that I durst not speak a word against that thing that I once enjoyed; I owned his words, and spoke against Professors, Priests and People, I denied the World's words, Ways, Fashions and Customs in a great measure, I became a reproach, a Proverb and a byword unto the Country round about, and yet the Life of Truth I knew not, my Lovers and Acquaintance stood afar off me, my familiar friends were ashamed to own me, Professors they denied me, as Philip Farmer a Teacher of others did judge me much for denying the Rule, and stumbling at Straws, and leaping over Blocks; and he affirmed that Jesus Christ did bid a woman God speed that was committing Adultery, and that he did bid a man God speed at Blow, and said, he would prove it by Scripture, and several lies more; Another Teacher judged me for denying the Ordinance, and he affirmed, though Bread was Bread at the Bakers, and Wine was Wine at the Vintners, yet when it came to them it was the Body and Blood of Christ. Friends, I do not write this out of any evil will that I bear to any man's person, the Lord is my witness, but that Truth may appear, and that you may see who denied the Rule them or I, or who denied the coming of God, them or I, I did then deny the Rule that they walked by, for all such actors are shut out of the Scriptures, though at that time I knew not the right hand from the left, though brought through that before mentioned; I would have taken up a rest there, but the flaming Sword which turned every way cut me down, great were the sights that I saw with mine Eyes, and that which I heard with mine Ears, one woe poured out after another, earthquakes in divers places, this was but the beginning of sorrows, the great and Red Sea before me, Pharaoh and his Host behind me, and in that day I knew not God, I durst not name his Name because I was not departed from iniquity, I knew not what the first principle of Religion was, I feared lest any should ask a reason of my Faith; I cried for the disquietness of my heart, I cursed the day and the hour my Mother brought me forth, and in that year I did witness Pharaoh plagued with many plagues before he would let Israel go, I would have done any thing that was pleasing in his sight, but all was accursed, nothing but Wars and rumours of Wars, many despairing thoughts entered into me, I was like one that went from a Lion and a Bear met him, and leaned upon a wall, and a Serpent bitten him, I was pleaded with by Sword and by Fire, yea the Fire burned all the day till I was almost consumed, I went about like a Fool or like one distracted, yea if I had been to write but a Note of an outward thing, I could not compose it no more than a natural Fool, all my building was decayed, not one stone upon another that was not thrown down; I went mourning all the day like a woman that mourneth for her only Son, there was no eye pitied me, but then was the time of love, I heard a voice cry, agree with thy adversary quickly whilst thou art in the way with him, for Judgement am I come into this World, that they which see not might see, and they which see might be made blind; Now praises, praises to his great Name for ever, who hath made a way in the deep Waters and path in the Sea, for his own Seed to pass over, and hath drowned Pharaoh and his great Host, and overwhelmed them all, and delivered Israel out of many troubles, and hath turned and overturned till pure peace and joy is witnessed in the Land, and I witness his words, who said a woman that is in Travel hath sorrow because her hour is come, but assoon as she is delivered of her Child she remembreth no more the anguish for joy; but only for your sakes is the Father pleased to bring to remembrance, and I dare not be silent but declare what the Lord hath done for my soul, it may be those that are in the Serpent's Wisdom will judge these things to be frothy empty things, but really it is that which you must all pass through if ever you come to witness a Restauration again, although you may create to yourselves many rests, yet it is that which will not endure the fire seven times to be tried; My Friends, I know the thing, I call you Friends out of tender love and pity that I bore to you, though I have not found you so, yet my love is dear to the Seed of God which is kept under in you. Whether you will hear or forbear I have cleared my Conscience, for I see Satan's policy, if he can keep men and women from believing in the Light, than his kingdom stands sure, for the Light discovers his dark ways and works, and leads the Creature out of them by degrees to an innocent estate and to a Holy Life.  
Therefore retire your minds into that which shows you that you come too short of what you ought to be; You have been long sweeping without and hath not made it clean, now learn the Parable of the woman, and sweep the house, for verily there is no other place to find that which you have lost; Dig deep to find that Pearl of great price, and buy it though it cost you all you have, do not esteem the Light a low thing, calling it natural; for verily if you will but wait in it, it will discover spiritual wickedness in high places, and show you the secret intents of your hearts, this is that light which the Prophet prophesied of, which should lighten the Gentiles, and old Simeon and Anna rejoiced to see him that the Prophets prophesied of, this is the True Light which John bare witness of, and whosoever followed him should not abide in darkness, as he himself said, this is he which Zacharias prophesied of which should give Light to them that sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death, this is that Light which the Apostle Peter said Shone in a dark place until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts; Therefore take heed to it, this is he that searcheth the heart and trieth the Reins, and showeth to man what is his thoughts, Amos 4.13.  Thus have I in love to all your Souls written of the tender deal of the Lord to my Soul, as a warning to you that you should no longer resist the loving kindness of the Lord. 
THE END.   

London, Printed for Thomas Simmons, at the Sign of the Bull and Mouth near Aldersgate, 1660.