AN Epistle of Love TO All the SAINTS scattered in these Nations, of England, Scotland, and Ireland, and the Dominions thereunto appertaining.  
EXHORTING Them All to stand fast in the Day of Trial, that now is come to try All the Inhabitants of the Earth, and them [chiefly] and in Particular.  
Written from the Spirit of the Lord in GEO. BISHOPE;  
That all may be Warned, and all may be left without Excuse.  
For yourselves know Perfectly that the Day of the Lord so cometh as a Thief in the Night. For, when they shall say Peace, and Safety, then sudden Destruction cometh upon them as Travel upon a Woman with Child, and they shall not Escape.  
But ye Brethren; be not weary in Welldoing. Little Children, It is the last Time; and as ye have heard that Antichrist shall come, Even now, there are many Antichrists; Whereby we know that it is the last Time.  
LONDON, Printed for Robert Wilson. 1661.   

To the Friends of Truth wheresoever Distributed in these Nations of England, Scotland, and Ireland, and the Dominions thereof; The SALUTATION of my Love to you All. Grace, and Peace be multiplied upon you from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.  
DEar Friends, and Brethren; Partakers of the High and Heavenly Calling, To you it is that I am moved of the Lord to write concerning the Times & Seasons which now are come, and coming upon you, to wit, The Day of the Lord, wherein he will try you to the Uttermost; that ye may be found to Praise, and Honour, and to Immortality and Eternal Life; and that his Name may be glorified which hath long suffered in the World by reason of the heaps of Professions, which have Professed him with their Lips, and with their Mouths have drawn near him, but their hearts have been far from him; and their fear towards God hath been taught by the Precepts of Men; and the Lord hath been Dishonoured; and his Truth Blasphemed by reason of them; and Many have stumbled, and have been driven into the World again to seek for Pleasure, and to their Lusts to have Satisfaction; seeing that the best of Profossions without the Power of Godliness have proved but as a Briar, and the most Upright as a Thorn hedge in the Day of their Trial, Doing, yea surpassing the Deeds of the Wicked, as hath been seen in this Day, and in the Years that have lately passed; and Religion hath been as an Abominable thing in the Eyes of many by Reason of them; and their turning to the Times, and Seasons; and Doing themselves when they have been in Power the things they have condemned in Others; So that many in whom something hath been awakened to look after God when Each Profession came at first forth in some sincerity, have been turned back again seeing their Apostasy; and have thought whether there were any such thing in the World as Truth; and have been ready to Question Every thing that hath been called so in the World, and nothing hath been more hateful to them then the Name of Profession; made Abominable to them by those, who in Words have Professed, and in their Deeds Denied the Power of Godliness. And this you know, and of this you have been sensible.  
Now, the Spirit of the Lord hath been grieved with these things, and this Abominable Profession, and his Soul hath be● long pressed therewith as a Cart is laden with Sheaves; and hath said, Ah! I will Ease me of mine Adversaries, and be Avenged on mine Enemies: and hath brought this Day, and hour (as ye know) to Judge and try them; and to show how Odious all this Abominable Profession is in his sight; which hath made his Name to suffer, and his Truth to be abhorred in the World. And now, how they have turned (many of them) and Do turn you see, and have seen, and many of you have born Testimony; and how they have fallen at the Threshold of the Door before their Day is (in a manner) entered, and have Veiled their Glory, and laid their honour themselves in the Dust: Even before you whom they have Persecuted, and abused, and set at Nought and Despised, whilst ye have stood (as many as have been faithful unto him) through the Arm of the Lord; the Mighty God of Jacob, Ye have Understood.  
And now Friends, the Lord is come to Vindicate his great Name, and his Glory which he will not give unto another, and to Redeem his Truth, and clear his People in the sight of the World; and to Let them Know, That there is such a thing as Truth in the World; and the Power of Godliness; That is able to Endure and suffer all things; That will not deny the Lor● nor Limit the Holy One of Israel; That is not of this World, and therefore can part with this World for the Lord; That can Endure as seeing him that is Invisible. And this is that of him which is in you; which is heir of all things, which he hath Visited, and in Measure, Raised up in you; that his Name may be Glorified, and that he may be known in the World; and that the stumbling blocks may be Removed, and his Seed raised up, by which [only] he is known; and in which he will be Glorified. And of You it is of whom the Lord hath said, This People I have form for myself, they shall show forth my Praise: and ye are they by whom his Truth must and shall be Redeemed from all that is cast upon it, and his Glory cleared; which he hath said He will not give unto Another; (as hath been said) and his Name Vindicated; Whom he hath raised up, and is raising up for that purpose; and Visited, and Refreshed, and chosen as first-Fruits unto himself, by whom he will be glorified; by whom he will be honoured; by whom he will be known in the World; by whom he will Do his Mighty Works of Wonder in which he will be glorified; by which he will be known and Exalted in the World; And from the Foundation of the World hath he not chosen Another People to bear this his Name which he will now get, which will be Wondrous Great, his Seed in you; Nor shall there a People come up after you that shall bear the like; the Lord hath spoken it; By whom he will Do that which from the beginning of the World hath not been told; Nor shall be (as to any that shall rise up after You, by whom the same shall be done) Even that he will do which if a man should speak, it would not be believed. For, the Lord shall Roar out of Zion, and utter his Voice from Jerusalem; and the Heavens, and the Earth shall shake. But the Lord will be the Hope of his People, and the strength of the Children of Israel.  
So, my Dear Friends, You must bear his Name, and You are they, by, and in whom he will be glorified, and get himself a Name such as never hath been, nor shall be. Therefore Your Trial will be such as never hath been or shall be; For, as is the Trial so will be the Name; and as the Name must be so will be the Trial; and because the Name must be Great; therefore the Trial will be great; and because the Trial will be great, that the Name may be great, therefore hath the Lord moved me to let you know it, That as Men ready and Expecting the Uttermost as to whatsoever may come upon You for your Trial, ye may be so as that the Lord may be glorified.  
For, this We know as among Men; the greater the shock of the Battle is like to be, and the more Signification there is of it; the more is usually the Preparation thereunto, especially if the Issue will turn the Balance Absolute to the Destruction, or Dominion of the One or Other, and that for ever. Men at such times use to prepare for, use to Engage according to the concernment of the thing, especially when it's for their All, and that for Ever, though but as to a Temporal Crown for which they strive; and a Life which is but for a Moment in respect of the Eternal Day that attends it afterwards. Therefore saith Christ; What King going to make War against Another King, sitteth not Down first and Consulteth, Whether he be able with Ten Thousand to meet him that cometh against him with Twenty Thousand. Or, else, whilst the Other is yet a Great way off, he sendeth an Ambassage, and Desireth Conditions of Peace.  
Now, Conditions of Peace, You know you cannot have, (and your life remain) nor can ye ask it (your Life in you) nor are you unable (in your Life) with Ten Thousand to meet him who cometh against you with Twenty Thousand; Provided it be All you have. For, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not [all] that he hath, cannot be my Disciple. Saith Christ upon those his Words of a Kings going to War as aforesaid. So likewise (saith he) Whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not [All] that he hath, cannot be my Disciple.  
And this I Declare unto you in the Name of the Lord, you will be Tried for [All] you have within, and without, and to the Uttermost too, before this hour be Over, which is already Entered, and the time is near. For, the Devil must be cast out who hath [long] Usurped it in the Creation of God Over his Seed which hath lain in Death; So that the Lord hath not been known by Men who hath filled them with food, and gladness; Nor can he be known but by his Seed, and the Seed is come that the Lord may be known, which is the Heir of all things; which moves to cast out him that hath Usurped, that the Lord may be known, and he that hath Usurped moves, and will move against the Seed, that he may not be cast out, and into the Pit out of which he came, and into which he must Return, that the Seed of the Lord may Inherit the Earth, and Possess his Holy Mountain.  
Therefore will he Rage, because his time is short, and withal the Artifices, and Deceit Imaginable will seek to preserve his Station, and to draw whom he can into it; That his Torment may not come; For, he knoweth that when that is Risen which is Lord of All; and ascends into ●is Throne, out of which It hath long been by him Kept; he must be Tormented, and that his Torment will be for Ever and Ever; and that he will have No Place then but his Own in the Lake that burneth with Fire and Brimstone, which is the second Death.  
And this he knows (as I have said) and who it is that is come the second Time without Sin unto Salvation; To whom he said in that Day of his Flesh; W● know thee who thou art, Jesus the Son of God. Art thou come to Torment Us before Our time? And wrought against him till they brought him to the Cross. Where by Death he Overcame him who had the Power of Death, which is the Devil, and spoiled Principalities, and Powers, and made show of them Openly on his Cross: Yet that time passed away (as ye know) and an Apostasy there was from that state which his Disciples were in after his Resurrection, of which he foretold, as Did his Apostles, and which So came to Pass; and which hath been Even until now that Life is rose again in the Witnesses, which lay slain in the great City which Spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where Our Lord was Crucified; and they stand upon their feet, and the Kingdom, and the Dominion, and the Greatness of the Kingdom under the whole Heaven, is Returning unto the People of the Saints of the Most High, whose Kingdom is an Everlasting Kingdom, and all Dominions shall serve, and obey him, to whom It is given. As Daniel saw and spoke of, and John in the Revelations, that so it should be.  
And, now, It beginning to be so; and the time drawing nigh wherein it shall be finished; He works, and will work what he can that he may not be taken out of the Way; and moves as, and where he hath Place, and as that which Letteth is taken out of the Way to Preserve his Kingdom; stirring with the Kings of the Earth, and the Great Men; and the Mighty Men, and the Captains; and the Chief Counsellors, and in all Men both High and Low, and Rich and Poor in whom he is to draw them to Battle against the Great Day of the Lord God, and against his Army, which are chosen, Faithful and true, that follow him which sits on the White Horse, upon White Horses in fine Linen, White and clean; And against him that sits on the White Horse that goes forth Conquering and to Conquer; who hath on his Vesture, and on his Thigh a Name written, King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.  
And as he works in the World, so he doth and will among Friends what he can where he is yet uncast out, and hath yet a Place, as he can work; that he may keep a Place and station in them, and out of his secret Places may appear to slay the Innocent; and to Keep that from Rising which is Lord and King.  
For, whilst Men have slept, the Envious One hath sowed Tares even where the good Seed was sown, which have sprung up with the Seed, and have hurt and choked it in some, and there he works, where yet there remains that undone away which was before convincement; or that he can Deceive, or that he hath got advantage upon by the negligence of any, or the falling of such into Transgression, and there remaining; and there he is making his Forts Night and Day; and strengthening them that he may be able to withstand his Appearance, who shall Destroy him with the Brightness of his coming; and keep him under at least as to the Particular of this and that Friend, who is Lord of all; and that such may be made serviceable to him; and unserviceable to the Lord in that Day, and that he may be kept from Arising in them; and they may be swept away in Perdition and Destruction, which shall come from the Presence of the Lord.  
And, this work he hath been at long, and with great Industry (though as Covert as he may) Night and Day, to keep his hold that so be may not be cast out; as Friends will see as they come to it; and what an Enemy they have; and how Subtle, and Vigilant; and what holds he hath, and how he hath strengthened them; and how strong they are; and how he Lurks in them; and what ado it is Ere he be cast out; and what it will Cost, and what they have been Doing in Neglecting their Precious time (I speak to such as have done so) and how Precious that time so Neglected was; and what it is to have suffered the Enemy to Lodge within them, and to Eat Bread with them, and to go to Meetings with them; and to be with them in their Shops, and upon their occasions as their familiars. And then they will cry out and say (that in them which hath suffered; whicwhath been checked by this, and Oppressed and bowed down all the Day long, which the other hath made Merry over; will so cry out) had it been an Enemy (an Enemy without) that had done me this harm, I could have born it; but it was not an Enemy that Reproached me; neither was it he that hated me that did Magnify himself against me (will the Seed say) but it is thou, A Man, Mine Equal, my Guide, and mine acquaintance; We took sweet Council together, and walked to the House of God in Company; said David of Achitophel when he Joined to Absalon the Son of David's Bowels, which rose up against him, and Expelled him Jerusalem. Let Death seize upon them (said he) and let them go down quick into Hell, for Wickedness is in their Dwellings, and Amongst them; Yea, mine Own familiar Friend (saith he Again) in whom I trusted which hath Eat of my Bread, hath lift up his heel against me.  
Then will you see (I speak still to such as have neglected the hour of their Visitation) what ye have lodged in your Bosoms; and what ye have Cockered with your hands, and Dandled on your knees, when the Son of your Bowels shall put ye to Distress, and seek the Kingdom; and ye would be saved from it, if ye knew how; In Bowels of Tender Compassion, and in Tears do I write for the Seeds sake, that you mind in time your state (all you that are here) whilst there is yet a little time, and the Light is with you; that the Oppressor may be cut off, and the Extortioner may cease out of the Land, Ere God come to plead the Quarrel of his Covenant; and he make you to know what ye have been Doing, and Avenge the Blood of his Elect which cryeth Night and Day unto him.  
For, though you hear it not; and shut your Ears at its Cry; (I speak still to you in whom the Seed suffers) and as joseph's Brethren did of Old, sit down to Eat, and to Drink when they had put Joseph in the Pit. And as Haman and Ahasuerus sat down to Drink, when the Posts were gone out being hastened by the King's Commandment, and the Decree was given in Shusan the Palace, to cut off all the Jews, and the City Shusan was Perplexed; And as they did (whom John in the Revelations saw; that so they should, Rejoice over the Dead bodies of the Witnesses which were slain in the streets of the Great City, which Spiritually is called Sodom, and Egypt as aforesaid; even they of the People, and Kindred's and Tongue's and Nations, who dwelled upon the Earth, and suffered not their Dead bodies to be put into Graves, and made Merry, and sent Gifts One to Another; because those two Prophets Tormented them which dwelled upon the Earth; I say, though ye may shut your Ears, and refuse to hear its Cry, and make Merry Over it, yet the Lord will not; but will arise, and Deliver it, and then Woe will be to that which hath caused it to suffer. A sad Day it will be for that when the Seed cries to the Lord against you; I tell you, he will Avenge its quarrel, and come and Deliver it; but that must Know Sorrow that hath made it to suffer, and what that is you will know in that Day when the Lord ariseth to Deliver it. He that hath an Ear, Let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the Churches, and so I am Clear.  
Now, This I say Friends, as I said before, as the Deceiver works in the World, so he doth, and will among Friends: I say in them (each One in his Own Particular where he hath Place) and among them (Each One as to the Other) if so be by any means, he may Prevail there. For he must be cast out of Friends, Ere he can be out of the World; For, that in Friends which is Lord and King, must first arise, and Reign Over all in their Particulars; Ere it can in the World; And here will be the Great Engagement. For he knows who it is that is Come, that will cast him into the Pit, and rule for Ever; Therefore against him will he work, and against his Arising that he may not be cast into the Pit; and against this hath he been preparing long in the Night; when Men have slept (as I have said) for he hath been long wary of this Day, and knew that it would come, and hinder it he Did what he could that it might not come; and now that it is come, he works, and will work, Even as well in them in whom it is Come where he hath Place, as in the World, that Night may come Over again; and because he hath seen all this, and knew it coming therefore hath he bestirred himself the more that he Might sit sure, and withstand his Enemy. And whether any of you think So, or No, this is So.  
And into Heaven hath he got (as well as into other Places) to secure his Station (high enough as One may say) Principalities, and Powers; Spiritual Wickednesses in high Places; He hath built his Nest among the Stars; and into the Temple of God is he got, and hath Exalted himself in many, Over all that is called God; and sitteth as God, and showeth himself that he is God. And here he Doth, and will Oppose, and Exalt himself above all that is called God (where he is so got) or that is Worshipped. And he hath begotten a Son of Perdition fit for his turn, which will serve his Father, and work for his Father; and this is him; the Man of Sin. Who So Opposeth, and will Exalt himself; the Mystery of Iniquity which doth already work; only He who now Lets; will Let till he be taken out of the Way; and then shall that [Wicked] be Revealed whom the Lord shall consume with the Spirit of his Mouth, and Destroy with the Brightness of his Coming; Even him whose Coming is after the Working of Satan; with [all] Power and Signs and Lying Wonders, and with all Deceiveableness of Unrighteousness in them that Perish.  
Now; of these things Paul testified to the Thessalonians in in that Day; Even to the Church of Thessalonica which was in God; when, in that Day, these things were beginning to Enter; and John saw a Great War in Heaven; Michael and his Angels fought against the Dragon; and the Dragon fought and his Angels, and Prevailed not; Neither was their Place found [any more] in Heaven. And the Great Dragon was cast out, the Old Serpent; called the Devil, and Satan, which Deceived the whole World; he was cast into the Earth, and his Angels were cast out with him; and his Tail drew the Third part of the Stars from Heaven; and did cast them to the Earth. And he Persecuted the Woman which brought forth the Man Child, when he saw that he was cast into the Earth, and he was wroth with the Woman, and went to make War with the Remnant of her Seed, which keep the Commandments of God, and have the Testimony of Jesus Christ. And the Serpent cast out of his Mouth Waters as a Flood after the Woman that he might cause her to be carried away of the Flood. And the Earth helped the Woman; and the Earth Opened her Mouth, and swallowed up the Flood which the Dragon cast out of his Mouth. And this was a Wonder which John saw in Heaven.  
And he that is come said to his Disciples in that Day, who also saith it now; There shall arise false Christ's, and false Prophets, and shall show great Signs and Wonders; insomuch that (if it were Possible) they shall Deceive the [very] Elect. Behold I have told ye before.  
And he saith Immediately after the Tribulation of those Days, shall the Sun be Darkened, and the Moon shall not give her Light, and the Stars shall fall from Heaven, and the Powers of Heaven shall be shaken. And then shall appear the Sign of the Son of Man in Heaven; And then shall all the Tribes of the Earth Mourn; and they shall see the Son of Man coming in the Clouds of Heaven with Power and Great Glory. And he shall send his Angels with the Great Sound of a Trumpet; and they shall gather his Elect from the four Winds, from One End of Heaven unto the Other. Now Learn a Parable of the Fig Tree; when his Branch is yet tender; and putteth forth Leaves, ye know that Summer is Nigh; So likewise ye when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near even at the Doors. Verily I say unto you, this Generation shall not pass till all these things be fulfilled. Heaven and Earth shall pass away, but my Words shall not pass away.  
And the Prophet Zachery saith; Awake, O Sword! against my Shepherd; and against the Man that is my Fellow. Saith the Lord of Hosts. Smite the Shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered, and I will turn my hand upon that Little Ones; And it shall come to pass that in all the Land saith the Lord, Two Parts therein shall be cut off and Die; but the Third shall be left therein; and I will bring the Third Part through the Fire, and will Refine them as Silver is Refined; and will try them as Gold is tried; they shall call on my Name, and I will hear them. I will say it is my People; and they shall say the Lord is my God.  
And he that is come, saith again. All ye shall be offended because of Me this Night. For, it is Written; I will smite the Shepherd, and the sheep of the Flock shall be scattered abroad. But after I am risen I will go before you into Galilee.  
And the Prophet Isaiah saith; Whose Fire is in Zion, and his Furnace in Jerusalem. And the Light of Israel shall be for a Fire, and his holy One for a Flame, and it shall burn, and Devour his Thorns, and his Briars in One Day; and shall consume the Glory of his Forests, and of his Fruitful Field both Soul and Body; and they shall be as when a Standard-Bearer fainteth: and the rest of the Trees of the Forest shall be few, so that a Child may Write them. And it shall come to pass in that Day that the Remnant of Israel, and such as are Escaped of the house of Jacob, shall no more stay upon him that smote them, but shall stay upon the Lord the Holy One of Israel in Truth; The Remnant shall Return, Even the Remnant of Jacob unto the Mighty God; For, though thy People Israel be as the Sand of the Sea; Yet a Remnant of them shall Return. The Consumption Decreed shall overflow with Righteousness. For, the Lord God of Hosts shall make a Consumption. Even Determined in the midst of all the Land. Therefore thus saith the Lord God of Hosts, O my People that Dwellest in Zion, Be not afraid of the Assyrian; He shall smite thee with a Rod, and shall lift up his staff against thee after the manner of Egypt, but yet a very little while, and the Indignation shall cease, and mine Anger in their Destruction. And it shall come to pass in that Day; that his Burden shall be taken from off thy shoulder; and his Yoke from off thy Neck; because of the Anointing. Behold, the Lord, the Lord of Hosts, shall Lop the Bough with Terror, and the High Ones of Stature shall be hewn Down; and the Haughty shall be humbled. And he shall cut the Thickets of the Forest with Iron; and Lebanon shall fall by a Mighty One.  
And the Apostle Peter saith (who said it to the Saints in that Day; who (some of them) came in that Day to the End of their Faith, the Salvation of their Souls; and Witnessed the things he spoke of, whilst they were in this Tabernacle; and he speaks it now, as to the things that are at the Door, and must be Witnessed E'er this hour is Over; for their Prophecies reach unto Us, and of Us, it is that they Prophesied, chiefly, and to Us it was to whom they spoke, who spoke of the Day of the Lord; the Apostles of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, in whom what they so spoke is to be fulfilled; for the Lord had a Regard to Us in that Day, and spoke as to Us upon whom the Ends of the Earth are Come, and in whom he is now come to finish his work; which he hath been about since the World began; that We might be found unto Praise, & Honour, and to Immortality and Eternal Life; and be the First Fruits of his Seed, whom he hath Chosen and Brought forth in this Day to Do his Mighty Works of Wonder by, in which he will be Glorified. For, they have all Prophesied unto Us, and in Us their Prophecies shall be fulfilled. But (saith he.) The End of all things is at hand (and the Lord hath said it Now) Be ye therefore Sober, and Watch unto Prayer; And think it not strange concerning the Fiery Trial, which is to try you as if some strange thing happened unto you; but rejoice in as much as ye are made Partakers of Christ's Sufferings, that when his Glory shall be revealed ye may be glad also with Exceeding Joy. Be Sober, be Vigilant because your Adversary the Devil as a Roaring Lion walketh about seeking whom he may Devour, whom resist steadfast in the Faith. For, the time is Come that Judgement must begin at the House of God; and if it first begin at Us; What shall the End be of them that Obey not the Gospel of God. And if the Righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and Sinner appear? And; The Day of the Lord will Come as a Thief in the Night, in the which the Heavens shall pass away with a great Noise, and the Elements shall Melt with fervent heat, and the Earth also and the Works that are therein shall be burnt up (here's a Fiery Trial indeed, think it not strange, Friends, when this thing comes on you; who have not known it yet, for this ye must witness E'er ye be Perfect; and the Time is near. For, things must not be, as they have been, the Seed suffering still, the Seed under, the Seed Languishing; the Seed growing Lean; the Seed Oppressed; the Seed still compassed about with Enemies, and beset round, and Lying down in Bitterness, and in Sorrow, and in Tears, and in Death, but it must Reign Over All, It must lead Captivity Captive; It must feed that which Oppressed it with its Own Flesh, and make it Drunken with Its Blood as with sweet Wine; And in the Day that it ariseth this will be witnessed) Seeing then that [all] these things shall be Dissolved (saith he) What manner of Persons Ought ye to be in all holy Conversation and Godliness; looking for, and hastening unto the coming of the Great Day of God; wherein the Heavens being on Fire shall be Dissolved; and the Elements shall Melt with fervent heat. Novertheless. We, according to his Promise, Look for New Heavens, and a New Earth. Wherein Dwelleth Righteousness. Wherefore, Beloved, seeing that ye look for such things; Be Diligent that ye may be found of him in Peace, without spot and Blameless. And, account that the long Suffering of God is Salvation. Even as Our Beloved Brother Paul also according to the Wisdom Given unto him hath written unto you. As also in all his Epistles; speaking in them of these things in which are some things hard to be Understood; which they that are Unlearned, and Unstable Wrest, as they Do also the other Scriptures to their own Destruction. Ye therefore Beloved seeing that ye know these things before, beware lest ye also being led away with the Error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness. But grow in Grace, and in the Knowledge of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ; to him be Glory, both Now, and for Ever. Amen.  
And, Paul said to the Thessalonians. But of the Times and Seasons; Brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For, yourselves know Perfectly that the Day of the Lord so cometh as a Thief in the Night. For, when they shall say Peace and Safety, then sudden Destruction cometh upon them as Travel upon a Woman with Child, and they shall not Escape. But ye Brethren are not in Darkness, that that Day should overtake you as a Thief. Ye are all the Children of Light, and the Children of the Day, we are not of the Night; Nor of Darkness: Therefore let us not sleep as do others, but let Us Watch, and be Sober. For, they that sleep sleep in the Night, and they that be Drunken, are Drunken in the Night; but let us who are of the Day, be Sober, putting on the Breastplate of Faith and Love, and for an Helmet the Hope of Salvation: for God hath not appointed Us to wrath, but to obtain Salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ. Who died for Us that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. And, that knowing the time, that now it is high time to Awake out of sleep; for now is Our Salvation nearer than when we Believed; The Night is far spent, the day is at hand, let Us therefore cast off the works of Darkness; and let Us put on the Armour of Light: Let Us walk honestly as in the day, Not in Rioting and Drunkenness, Not in Chambering and Wantonness, Not in Strife and Envying; but put ye On the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no Provision for the Flesh, to fulfil the Lusts thereof. And, Put on the whole Armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the Wiles of the Devil. For, we wrestle not against Flesh and Blood, but against Principalities, against Powers; against the Rulers of the Darkness of this World. Against Spiritual Wickednesses in high Places. Wherefore take unto ye the whole Armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the Evil Day; and having done [all] to stand. Stand therefore, having your Loins girt about with Truth; and having on the Breastplate of Righteousness; and your feet shod with the Preparation of the Gospel of Peace. Above all taking the shield of Faith; Wherewith ye shall be able to Quench all the Fiery Darts of the wicked; and take the Helmet of Salvation, and the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God: Praying always with all Prayer and Supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all Perseverance; and Supplication for all Saints, and for Us, etc. And take heed lest any fall short of the Grace of God; and by an heart of Unbelief depart from the Living God. Let Us therefore labour to enter into that Rest, lest any Man fall after the same Example of Unbelief. Take heed, Brethren, lest there be in any of you an Evil heart of Unbelief in departing from the Living God; but Exhort one another daily whilst it is called to Day, lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of Sin. For, we are made Partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our Confidence steadfast unto the End: while it is said, to Day if ye will hear his Voice harden not your hearts, as in the Provocation; For, Some when they had heard did Provoke; howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses; But with whom was he grieved Forty years? Was it not with them that had sinned whose Carcases fell in the Wilderness? And to whom swore he that they should not enter into his Rest; but to them that believed not? So we see that they could not enter in because of Unbelief.  
And John in the Revelations saith of him. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a Thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon Thee. And, Behold I come as a Thief; Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his Garments; lest be walk naked, and they see his shame. And, without are Dogs, and Sorcerers, and Whore-mongers, and Murderers, and Idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a Lie. And, the Fearful, and Unbelieving, and the abominable, and Whore-mongers, Murderers, Sorcerers, Idolaters; and all Liars, shall have their Part in the Lake that burneth with Fire and Brimstone, which is the second Death: I Jesus have sent mine Angel to testify of these things in the Churches. And, He that is Unjust let him be Unjust still, and he that is filthy let him be filthy still; and he that is Righteous let him be Righteous still; and he that is holy let him be holy still; and behold I come quickly, and my reward is with me to give Every Man according as his work shall be.  
Now, these things will come to Pass in this Day of the Lord which is already entered, Ere it be finished. And what these things are, and what they will amount unto; and what your sufferings, and what your Trial thereby; and what need ye have to look about you, and to see on what Ground ye stand; and where ye are; and how it is with you; and how ye may Encounter with all this; and how ye may overcome, and be counted worthy to Escape all these things, and to stand before the Son of Man; You will be able to Judge in the Spirit of Truth: as it opens unto you; and as these things come to Pass; and It behoves you to consider. For, Nation shall rise up against Nation, (saith he) and Kingdom against Kingdom; and there shall be Famines, and Pestilences, and Earthquakes in divers places. All these are but the beginning of Sorrows. Then shall they Deliver ye up to be Afflicted; and shall kill you; and ye shall be hated of all Men for my Names sake, And, then shall many be offended, and betray One another, and shall hate One another: And many false Prophets shall arise, and shall Deceive many; and because Iniquity shall abound the Love of many shall Wax Cold; But he that shall Endure unto the End, the same shall be saved. And this Gospel of the Kingdom shall be Preached in all the World, for a Witness unto all Nations, and then shall the End Come. When ye therefore, shall see the Abomination of Desolation spoken of by Daniel the Prophet, stand in the holy Place (who so readeth let him Understand) then let them which be in Judea flee unto the Mountains. Let him that is on the house Top, not come down to take any thing out of his house. Neither let him which is in the Field Return back to take his clothes: And woe to them which are with Child, and to them that give suck in those Days. But pray ye that your Flight be not in the Winter; Nor on the Sabbath Day; for than shall be Great Tribulation, such as was not from the beginning of the World to this time, no nor Ever shall be. And Except those Days should be shortened, there should no Flesh be saved: but for the Elects sake those Days shall be shortened. Then if any Man shall say unto you, Lo here is Christ, or there, believe it not; For there shall arise false Christ's, and false Prophets, and shall show Great Signs and Wonders, insomuch that if it were Possible they shall Deceive the very Elect, Behold, I have told ye before: Therefore if they shall say unto you, behold he is in the Desert; go not forth; Behold he is in the secret Chambers, believe it not. For as the Lightning cometh out of the East; and shineth even unto the West. So shall also the coming of the Son of Man be: For, wheresoever the Carcase is, there will the Eagles be gathered together.  
Brethren, and Friends, These things are Deep and full of Mystery, Read them in the Spirit, and Ponder them well; and see what ye have to go through, Ere ye come to your Crown; and what it will Cost; that ye may not be as Foolish, but as Wise, that ye may not only begin, but Finish.  
Not to lay a stumbling block or a Snare before you, or to Discourage the least of you, do I thus Write; but that you may be aware of what ye will meet with; and so counting your Cost before hand, ye may come to your Crown.  
For, this hath been often seen among Men; Many a Glorious thing set as the Mark, and pursued for a Time; but what hath been in the Way to it, having not been considered so well, or known, They have been swallowed up; and so never came to that, at which they Aimed; and that was in their Eye, and before them: So Run that ye may obtain (said Paul) Know ye not that they that run in a Race, run all; but One obtains the Prize. So run that ye may obtain.  
And of this I am sensible, and it lies (and hath done long when I consider these things) as a heavy Load upon me, and a grievious Burden for the Seeds sake (knowing what must be passed through) to see how few sit down in the Reckoning of these things; Or set these things before them; But, many are looking to a Glorious Day beyond; and the falling of the Nations, and the Reign of Truth, Over all for Ever, and Ever; (And so it will be in the End of this hour to as many as abide) but what will be before that; and what must be Engaged with; and with what an Enemy; and how Subtle and Politic; and what will be E'er this is attained; and what must be lost, and parted with and suffered; and what a Cross there is to the Crown, that is not so much considered, nor the consideration thereof so entered into, and the weight, as it Ought, in Many.  
Hence it hath come to Pass already, that some have made (upon these little Trials, (in Comparison) which have Ushered in this hour) and are making Shipwreck of Faith and a Good Conscience; because they had not Parted with all; and yet it was but things of this World; and but a Trial neither as to that; for those that stood Faithful to the Lord at that time he soon Delivered in many Places, whilst some stood lookers on; and shrunk away because of the Cross.  
Hence it hath come to Pass also, that some not minding as they should have done, their Enemy within, but suffering Him to have a Lodge in them, and strong holds which he hath fortified; have been gone Ere they have been aware; or in the twinkling of an eye have been overtaken, or, the Day of the Lord hath overtaken them, when the Enemy hath risen up like a Flood; and hath come upon them unawares; & as a Thief in the night. For, here is the Danger, when something remains yet uncast out, in which the Enemy hath a place, and he can bring something from without that is suitable unto this, thereby to enter and can enter thereby, he than runs such away as with a Flood; and when the Lord suffers this to be, then Look to it; For, When the Lord hath long born and suffered, and kept off that which should have entered to have Joined with that which is not cast out and So to have carried such away; and when yet the Lord is not heeded, and his Seed suffers, and when that is still nourished and kept which is the Degenerate Plant of a strange Vine; and when there is still a bringing forth Fruit according unto it; And, He withdraws, and suffers that to enter which he hath kept off long, and fenced off, and so It Joyns with that which is suitable unto it in such a One; then such a One comes to be Eaten up, and trodden down, and carried away; for the Wild Beast is entered, and they are neither Pruned nor Digged; but Briars and Thorns they come to bring forth, and the Clouds rain no rain on them; and they are near unto Cursing, whose End is to be burnt. Now (saith he) I will sing to my well-beloved a Song of my Beloved touching his Vineyard. My well-beloved hath a Vineyard in a very Fruitful Hill; And he [fenced] it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and Planted it with the choicest Vine, and Built a Tower in the midst of it, and also made a Wine Press therein, and he looked that it should bring forth Grapes, and it brought forth [Wild] Grapes. And, now O Inhabitants of Jerusalem, and Men of Judah. Judge I Pray you betwixt me, and my Vineyard. What could have been done more to my Vineyard that I have not done in it? Wherefore when I looked that it should bring forth Grapes, it brought forth [Wild] Grapes. And now go to, I will tell you what I will do to my Vineyard. I will take away the hedge thereof; and it shall be Eaten up; and break down the Wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down; and I will lay it Waste, it shall not be Pruned, nor Digged, but there shall come up Briars, and Thorns; I will also command the Clouds that they Rain no Rain upon it. For, the Vineyard of the Lord of Hosts is the house of Israel; and the Men of Judah his Pleasant Plant; and he looked for Judgement and behold Oppression; For Righteousness and behold a Cry. And, Ephraim is given to Idols, let him alone. And, I will not Punish your Daughters when they commit Whoredom; Nor your Spouses when they commit Adultery; And, Pray not thou for this People; Neither lift up Cry, or Prayer for them; Neither make Intercession to me, for I will not hear thee. And, I will even forsake you saith the Lord; And, yea, also, Woe unto them when I Depart from them.  
Therefore He said, Take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with Suffeiting, and Drunkennsss, and the Cares of this Life, and that Day come upon you Unawares; For, as a Snare shall it come on all them that Dwell on the Face of the Earth: Watch therefore, and Pray always, that ye may be Counted Worthy to Escape all these things, and stand before the Son of Man.  
Watch therefore, for you know not what hour your Lord doth come. But know this, that if the Good Man of the house had known in what Watch the Thief would come, he would have Watched, and would not have suffered his house to have been broken up: Therefore be also ready, for in such an hour as ye think not of the Son of Man cometh.  
Take ye heed, Watch and Pray; for ye know not when the time is, For, the Son of Man is as a man taking a far Journey; who left his house, and gave Authority to his Servants and to every Man his Work, and commanded the Porter to watch; watch ye therefore, for ye know not when the Master of the House cometh, at Even, or at Midnight, or at the Cock-crowing, or in the Morning; Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping; And what I say unto you, I say unto all, watch.  
Let your Loins be girded about, and your Lights burning, and ye yourselves like unto Men that wait for their Lord when he will return from the Wedding, that when he knocketh they may open to him Immediately: Blessed are those Servants whom the Lord when he cometh shall find Watching. Verily I say unto you, that he shall Gird himself; and make them sit down to meat; and will come forth, and serve them. And if he shall come in the second Watch; Or come in the third Watch; and find them so, Blessed are those servants. And this know, that if the Good Man of the house had known what hour the Thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through. Be ye therefore ready also, for the Son of Man cometh at an hour ye think not. Who then is that Faithful, and Wise Steward, whom his Lord shall make Ruler over his household, to give them their Portion of meat in due Season; Blessed is that servant whom his Lord when he cometh shall find so doing; of a Truth I say unto you, he will make him Ruler over all that he hath. But, and if that servant say in his heart, my Lord delayeth his coming, and shall begin to beat the men servants, and the Maidens, and to Eat, and Drink, and to be Drunken. The Lord of that servant will come in a Day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour that he is not a ware; and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his Portion with the Unbelievers. And that servant which knew his Lords will, and prepared not himself; Neither did according to his Will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes; shall be beaten with few stripes. For, to whom soever much is given, of him shall much be required; and to whom Men have committed much; of him they will ask the more.  
Thus said he, who is Come, in that Day of his Flesh to his Disciples of the Day and hour that now is come; and this he now saith, who is Come; and Blessed are they who hear, and make ready for his coming; Who is Come the second time without Sin unto Salvation.  
Dear Brethren, and Friends; I am Even melted in the Bowels of Compassion, and Love unto you; and am Weighed Even down with Tears, and closed about with Tenderness; That Every One may be found ready when he cometh from the Wedding, and may Enter with the Bridegroom into the Bride Chamber.  
For, he said also, to them in that Day; and he saith it now; Then shall the Kingdom of Heaven be likened unto Ten Virgins; which took their Lamps, and went forth to meet the Bridegroom; and five of them were Wise, and five were Foolish. They that were Foolish took their Lamps, and took no Oil with them; but the Wise took Oil in their Vessels with their Lamps. While the Bridegroom tarried they all slumbered, and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made. Behold the Bridegroom cometh, go ye out to meet him. Then all those Virgins arose, and Trimmed their Lamps; and the Foolish said unto the Wise, Give Us of your Oil for our Lamps are gone out: But the Wise answered, saying, Not so, lest there be not enough for Us and you; but go ye rather to them that Sell, and Buy for yourselves. And while they went to Buy the Bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him into the Marriage; and the Door was shut. Afterwards came also the other Virgins, Saying, Lord, Lord open to Us; and he answered and said, Verily, I know you not. Watch ye therefore for ye know not the Day nor the hour, wherein the Son of Man cometh.  
For, Friends, the time is not as heretofore when the Lord was Visiting you, and Watering you, and refreshing you, that ye might grow up, and bring forth Fruit unto God that he might be Glorified; but now he is come Expecting the Fruit that he may be glorified, And now, Woe be unto that which shall not bring forth Fruit unto God; that shall not Glorify God; that shall not show forth the Virtue of him that hath called it from Darkness to his marvellous Light that he may be Glorified. For, he hath called you, Friends, unto Grace and Virtue; and what Grace and Virtue Ye have, he will call ye to show forth; and he will suffer Men to try you that ye may show forth his Grace and Virtue, That he may be Glorified. Now that which starts aside in this Day; that Soul that Draws back; that which proves the Degenerate Plant of a strange Vine, after all this Digging, and Pruning, and gathering out of the Stones, and fencing, and Watering and Refreshing, and brings forth [Wild] Grapes; Grapes of Sodom, and Clusters of Gomorrah; woe Woe, will be to that in this Day of the Lord: For, the Lord is Come to make himself known in the Earth; and the Lord will be known by the Judgement that he Executes. The World hath long been without the Knowledge of him; He hath brought forth a People by whom he hath made known himself; he hath not dealt so by Another Nation; Neither hath the Heathen the Knowledge of his Law. Friends you are they that must make him known, and by whom he will be known in the Earth; by what of him shall appear in you before Men, when you are tried, which is not in themselves; which is his Virtue; which shall get to him a Name and a Praise, such as Never was nor shall be: If any of you shall not answer to this; but cause his Name to be Blasphemed through the contrary; Now he is Come to show what a People he hath; and how he is in them; and how they are as they say; and do as they speak; Who are not of this World; though they are in the World; and who do make it So to appear in sticking to the Lord in the loss of this World; and in not being overcome by the World, nor of Evil, but overcoming the World, and Evil with Good, and Praying for their Enemies; and Blessing them that Persecute them, and doing good to them that despitefully use them, and unmoved in the loss of All, and unshaken, notwithstanding the shaking of all things; and obeying God before Men, notwithstanding what Man may be suffered to do unto them; and Man will be suffered to do very much; and the Devil what he can within, and without to try them to the Uttermost; I say, if any of you now shall be offended, and fall off, and Dishonour the Lord, and cause his Name to be Blasphemed; the Lord God will be Avenged of such, and his Fury, and his Indignation will break forth, and burn against such; and better it were for such that they had not been born. The Lord hath spoken it. And he will make such Examples of his Vengeance, that Men may Fear the Lord, and Tremble before him, because his Judgements are made Manifest; Who is a God that will be Feared, and had in Reverence by those that draw nigh unto him.  
Therefore All my Dear Friends, All stand fast, Unshaken, Unmoveable; forasmuch as your Labour shall not be in Vain in the Lord; nor your sufferings; but the Lord will Reward ye, who is near, and will be with you; and will not suffer ye to fall, as ye abide with him, whatsoever may be your Trial; For, it is his Name, and his Glory, and his Truth, and his Seed that is at Stake; and you it is (as I have said) that he hath form for himself, to show forth his Praise, and ye shall show forth his Praise. And he will stand near you; he will hold the Balance; that your sufferings overturn you not. Underneath will be his Everlasting Arms; he will never suffer you to be moved who keep in him. For it is his Great Day, and his Great Battle that is to be sought; and his Great Work in the World; The Greatest that Ever was or shall be (as hath been Declared) after which there is No more; but the Seed of God shall Reign over all for Ever and Ever. He will assuredly now mind for his Name, and his Glory, and his Seed, and his Truth, and his People, and his Kingdom's sake, which is an Everlasting Kingdom; and his Dominion that which never shall have End; which he is come now to set up, and you must fight it, and in and by you he will overcome by the Power of the Sword, which proceedeth out of his Mouth, that sits on the white Horse, whom the Armies of Heaven follow Riding on white Horses; Therefore he will uphold you, he will support you (who abide Faithful unto him) with the Right hand of his Righteousness; and he will Crown you with Glory and Honour. A Crown, such as never was nor shall be; because the Day will be such as never was nor will be; and by you he will make way for the opening of the Graves of his Seed throughout the whole Earth. By you he will make Nations tremble (his Power in you) and the Isles shall be afraid, and stand afar off; and will cast by you the Deceiver into the Pit; Out of which he shall arise no more. And as the things aforesaid are Dear unto him, and as his Seed in you is Dear to him as the Apple of his Eye; and as ye are willing to Glorify his Name, and Engage all unto that; will he Regard you. For, Who is this that Engageth himself to draw near me, saith the Lord.  
And this let me say unto you, and you know it who are in the feeling of the Life Immortal, which the Lord hath Delivered, your very Life makes to this. It Presses on unto the Battle; It is as ready to Glorify the Lord as he hath been to Deliver it, and to Redeem it out of the Pit. It came into the World to Do his Will; It's ready to Do his Will, and that his Will may be done in Earth as it is in Heaven. It longs to be at his Work; It Presses you On. O Death! I will be thy Death. O Grave! I will be thy Destruction. Repentance shall be hid from mine Eyes; And so you feel that which shaketh all things, that that which can be shaken may be removed, that that which cannot be shaken may Remain. Your Life it is that shakes all things; how then can ye be shaken, as ye abide in your Life? It swallows up Death in Victory; how can ye then be swallowed up of Death? It overcomes, through the Blood of the Lamb; how then can ye be overcome? And to him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my Throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his Throne saith the Lamb of God that taketh away the Sins of the World; Who was Dead, and is alive, and behold he lives for Evermore, and hath the Keys of Hell, and of Death; Who by Death overcomes him that had the Power of Death which is the Devil; and will Cast Death, and Hell into the Lake that burneth with Fire and Brimston which is the second Death; and the last Enemy that shall be Destroyed is Death.  
Friends, and Brethren, stand still and see the Salvation of God. It's but One brunt more, though it be a Great One, that you are to go through, the Greatest that Ever was, or shall be in the Dominion of the Lord God Eternal, and in his strength stand to it Now; Buckle on to the Day in that which is Immortal, set your faces thitherwards; As Men that have Counted your Cost; and come with all you have, who have parted with all, for an Incorruptable Crown; March on. It's but this One Engagement more, and it is yours. It's but passing through this Storm and you are in your Haven; where you shall never be disturbed more. This is that for which you came into the World; This is that which must stand by you in the World; This is that for which the World was made, unto this are you called; This is your Privilege above all that have gone before you, or shall come after you. It's a Work worth your while, the weightiest that Ever was; It's that unto which all things have wrought since the World began in the Counsel of God; That which the Holy Men of God have spoken of, and the Prophets prophesied since the beginning of the World; That such a Day there should be, and Its coming now to be fulfilled, now to be finished in, and by you; whom he hath chosen above all, and brought ye forth at such a time as this to Glorify his Name, and to get unto him his Great Praise; His heart is on you; His Love is to you; and he will write upon you (who overcome) his New Name, even the Name of the City of God. the New Jerusalem that comes out of Heaven from God. And ye shall have right to Eat of the Tree of Life that 〈◊〉 the midst of the Paradise of God; And ye shall have 〈◊〉 over the Nations; and Rule them with a Rod of Iron, as the Vessels of a Potter shall they be broken to shivers; and he shall go no more out, but shall be a Pillar in the Temple of God for Ever, and for Ever.  
Friends, Ye cannot be overcome because ye are in God, (as ye abide in him,) ye cannot be shaken because ye are upon the Rock of Ages; ye shall Prevail and Prosper; ye shall be stronger than your Enemies; your Right hand shall teach you Terrible things. The Lord your God that stands at your Right hand, shall strike through for you the hearts of Kings in the Day of his Wrath. Your Enemies shall be confounded. The Lord shall Reign over all for Ever and Ever.  
And this, Dear Friends; I was moved of the Lord to write to you while this little Breathing is, and E'er the Door be closed up, for time is short; That the Breathe of my Life may come at you, and to you; and that I may be a help to you (such as have need) as I stand in the Body in the Will of God, whose Will this is that I should So write unto you; That all may be warned, and all may be left without Excuse. And so the Blessing of God be on his Seed in you all for Fver and Ever. The Salutation of my Love to you all is Ended. Fare ye well in the Lord.  
Bristol 24th. 8th. Month. 1661. Your Brother and Companion in Tribulation, and the Patience, and the Kingdom of God, for the Seeds sake, for which We suffer; and shall Reign with him, We who suffer with him. GEO. BISHOPE.  
THE END.