A Tender Salutation OF Perfect Love UNTO THE ELECT OF GOD, The Royal Seed, the Saints of the Most High, who have believed the Testimony of our Lord Jesus Christ, and walks in the Light that hath enlightened every man that comes into the World.  
LONDON, Printed for the Author, 1661.   

FRIENDS,  
THis following Epistle being committed to me, I have found it convenient to disperse it on this wise to the Churches of Christ, for whose service chiefly it hath been written as I perceive; and this being a time, wherein each Friend in God ought to serve another, and to be a strength and encouragement one towards another in the Ways of God, and therefore according to my duty, wherein I stand bound to the lord and his Servants, I have diligently endeavoured your benefit and edification in sending this unto you, who accounts it my greatest honour to serve the Lord and his Servants.  
Ellis Hooks.   

To the Beloved Church of God that have believed and received the Testimony of our Lord jesus Christ; The true Light that Lighteth every man that cometh into the World.  
IN the Name and Power of our Lord Jesus Christ blessed for ever, that tender Salutations of my immortal Life is daily abounding towards, you, who are the true Flock of the Father's Love and Care, who hath begotten you to himself by his Word that lives for ever in us and with us, that ye should be a People Chosen and Elected of him unto eternal blessings, and to be a Praise and an Honour to him throughout the World, by and through the virtue of his Life and Power, and in the fruits of his Spirit brought forth by you all, who are the only Children of that birth which is only the Lords.  
Well dearly Beloved, my heart at this time is filled in the Father's Love, with the dear Remembrance of you whom the Lord hath gathered with his Arm of power, and in his Spirit do I desire the increase of all mercies, and peace, and blessings unto you, that you may be rich and strong, and wise and mighty through the Lord Jesus Christ, and receiving daily of his grace, may ever be preserved, constant and faithful in the heavenly calling unto the end; And forasmuch as the Lord hath begun his glorious work in the midst of you, and gathered you out of the darkness, and ignorance, and unbelief of this World, where sometime your converse hath been, while ye knew not the Lord, and raised you up into the Light, and Power and Wisdom of the Lord Jesus Christ, having largely tasted of the same in the experience of his leadings through divers Operations and Manifestations of his Spirit, so that many of you have attained to a good measure to peace and rest with the Lord in your inward man; Dear Beloved, seeing it is thus, these things the Spirit of the Father in me traveleth to bring forth unto you, for the end to comfort you, and to confirm you, and to edify you in the saving Truths of the Gospel of peace.  
1. Consider what your former estate hath been, an estate scattered like sheep without a Shepherd, some of you dispersed into one false kind of Profession of Religion, and some into another, walking in such ways as the Lord led you not in, but ye were driven from God into the paths of Death and Darkness, and were led by blind Watchmen in the Hypocrisy and false pretences towards God, honouring him with the lips while the heart was far away; this was the condition of some of you, and others of you were wallowing in the open profaneness of the sinful World, and such was your estate wherein you were all strangers to God, and were without him in the World, and served the Spirit which leads Captive to Destruction, and in that way you were strayed even in the separation from Gods, being in the state of enmity against him, till the Lord Jesus Christ the good Shepherd of Israel found you out in the estate of darkness, and brought you home from your strayed condition, even unto the sense and feeling of his power and spirit in you, which called you out of the ways of sin and death, and also changed you and regenerated you into the Inheritance of a better Kingdom and glory then that which is of this World, and ye now know Christ Jesus to be your Shepherd, his Spirit to teach you, his Wisdom and Righteousness and Sanctification to dwell in you, being partakers of the same through the eternal light which once shined in darkness, and the darkness could not comprehend it, but now it is risen in much glory and power, and death and darkness is swallowed up of life and light, and the fruits thereof subdued; these things are true and faithful unto many, let all such rejoice and be glad in the Lord who have thus seen his day, and tasted of his power, and are witnesses that the Kingdom is come which never fades away.  
2. Consider what the tender dealings of God towards you, and his gentle leadings have been since he hath called you out of your former strayed estate; hath not his light shined upon your Tabernacle with much clearness, persuading your hearts fully of his way and truth? hath not your hearts often been refreshed, and your souls truly comforted by the refreshing presence of the Lord? Hath not the way of life been made so clear unto you, and the way of your peace so perfectly discovered, that no occasion hath been left of unbelief or stumbling unto the upright in heart? Surely the Lord hath not been wanting to you in any of these things, but he hath so reached home by his Word and Spirit to your Hearts and Consciences with such full convictions and persuasions in the ways of Salvation, that no sincere heart can doubt or waver concerning the things pertaining to his Soul's peace and comfort; for so large and evident hath God's Testimony been unto you, ever since he first called you by his Grace, that no man having sense and experience thereof, but must bear witness that the Lord hath been good, long-suffering, full of Mercy and Righteousness towards all that fear him; I am persuaded ye know these things, and that the taste and virtue of the Lords Mercies and Power remains steadfast in your remembrance and enjoyment, even his Mercies and loving Kindness that have been made manifest to you since ye have known the Lord, who hath led you by the hand as a Father doth his Children, and carried you in his Arms of Preservation, and born you on his shoulders in all your afflictions, insomuch that through his Power and Wisdom only, we are yet alive, and the Adversary hath not prevailed against us, though his attempts hath often been great to destroy us.  
3. Consider what is now your present state and standing? How is it with your inward man? In what life and strength and dominion is he? Is he strong over all the corruptible, or is he weak under corruption? Is he in the growth of a perfect man, of the stature of Christ Jesus? Is he so begotten and born in you, that life hath swallowed up death? Hath he victory over the grave, and doth he reign in you, even the new man, the spiritual man, the immortal man, Christ in you, is he come in power and dominion to dwell with you? Dear Beloved, mind each Particular in what state you are, and what is your present standing to God-wards? Have ye had faith in God, and love to God, and boldness for God, and are ye firmly continued therein, or is any such weakened and decreased in these things? Is your love grown cold, and your zeal lost, and your confidence decayed? if it be thus with any, their present state is not aright before the Lord, but they must repent & return to their first love, and return again to the witness of the Spirit of Christ within them that their strength may be renewed, for they only that dwell with the Lord in faithfulness and abides in Covenant with him must see his Glory, and be fed daily with the Bread that comes down from Heaven, and refreshed with the Fountain of endless Mercies; if so be ye be perfect with the lord after your inward man, strong and lively and zealous, faithful and constant, having a clean heart and a pure conscience, guiltless and underfiled before God, this is to be perfect with the Lord, and if ye are thus, blessed are you; if ye be increased daily in the Love and Life of the Father, if your inward man grow in the Wisdom and Power and Knowledge of the Creator, if ye receive the assurance of Eternal Life in yourselves; If this be your present state, Oh happy people, who is like unto you, because ye are saved of the Lord.  
4. What is the present work of God in your own hearts? Ye must always feel the Word of God abiding in you, even the Word in the heart; hear that Word and do it always, and your souls shall live by the Word of God; that Word beats down whatsoever tempts and draws from God which would defile you, and load you Consciences, and vex the Spirit, for if any obey the Temptations, they become darkened, unbelief enters, and the fruits of it grows, and then there is a falling from the Lord, and a departing from his way of Salvation; therefore mind the Power and Spirit of Christ in you, and be constant and faithful therein, that you may be preserved unto the finishing of the Work of the Lord in you, that at last ye may sit down in the Heavenly places in Christ Jesus, in places of Peace, and Comfort, and Assurance for ever, where the Lord is enjoyed all in all, which you must wait for to be accomplished in you according to the Promise, and you must witness the Work of Christ in you, he must work in you by his Spirit Regeneration, Reconciliation; Sanctification, Justification, and all good things, for it is not sufficient to profess that Christ in his Person hath wrought the works of God, but every one in particular must witness at this day the work of the Spirit of Christ in his own heart, even the Work of Reconciliation and Salvation, that ye may in each man's particular receive the Knowledge and Experience of the Lords Work, of his Love, and Life, and Salvation, and Redemption in particular; for though never so large Testimonies in general should be given to you, or received by you concerning Christ Jesus and his Salvation, yet the particular feeling of the Love and Power of God in your own hearts must you stand by in the Day of Trial, for that alone can uphold in the day of Troubles, even the Testimony of the Spirit of Christ unto Salvation, felt in each particular heart.  
And seeing the Lord hath brought you to the knowledge of his truth, so in conversion and rageneration, that many can say 〈…〉 the Way of the Lord is so made manifest, that we look not for another, nor are doubtful of the Way of Eternal Life; therefore be established steadfast and constant in that way, not easily moved nor tossed too and fro with men, nor new Doctrines, nor changeable things, but approve your hearts in uprightness before the Lord, by being faithful to the end, faithful I say to be and do, according to the measure of Light and Grace and Knowledge that God hath already committed to you, that ye may not offend against the Grace of God, but may glorify the Lord in your Souls and Spirits, being joined in your hearts, and married to the Living God, and the Lord becomes Your Husband according to the Promise; but if any be of a changeable Spirit, such will receive Temptations, and go out of the Covenant of God, and abuse the gift of God, if their heart be not meek, and lowly, and humble, and perfect in the sight of God, though there may be a taste of the Love of God, yet there can be no assurance of it if the heart be not aright before the Lord, and faithful and constant in his Truth; and therefore all must wait to receive the assurance of Eternal Life in themselves, even such an assurance of Life, and Peace, and Joy, and Comfort, that there can be no departing away, being established in the Heir-ship never to lose the Crown, Heirs of the power of God, of his Wisdom, of his Righteousness, Inheriters and Possessors of the Eternal Life, that ye may dwell in the house for ever, not only as Servants, but as Sons; not only as such that have tasted of the Love of God, but as such as are born Heirs thereof, and must inherit the same for ever.  
now dear Friends, if this were my last unto You, more than this the Lord hath not to say by me; and last of all in the Spirit of the Lord Jesus, I charge all the Saints to he faithful to the Principles and Doctrines which Ye have heard and received, and been taught of Christ through his Gospel. Oh be not inconstant of unfaithful in those Principles and Doctrines which the Spirit of God hath persuaded your Consciences of the truth of; for if any are unfaithful, they deny the Lord of Life before men, and must be denied of him before the Father; therefore let us put on strength and courage to be faithful and constant in life or death, to follow the Lamb wheresoever he goes, and if we must suffer for our profession and practice of those truths which God hath persuaded our Consciences of the verity of, we shall never be ashamed nor confounded before the Adversary, though we gain Tribulations, Persecutions, yea death itself for the Name of the Lord and his Truth, yet we shall obtain the Crown of Glory which never fades away: and verily all the Sufferings and Afflictions of this present time, are not worthy to be compared to that weight of Peace and Comfort, which is and shall be revealed amongst us.  
And as concerning our Obedience to Government, ever since we were a people, Ye know what our Principle and Practice in that case hath been, even to obey all men in all things, either by doing or suffering, it at any time ye are required to do any thing by any in Authority which is not agreeing, but contrary to the Scriptures example of the Saints, and the Spirit of Christ in your own consciences, than ye are to suffer whatsoever, if it be death itself rather then to obey and submit to the doing of that which is contrary to a good conscience, this hath ever been our Principle and Practice since we were a People, agreeing with the practice of the holy Prophets, Apostles and Martyrs in all ages, who rather did suffer grievous oppressions and persecutions, then to obey any command of men in power, by doing any thing contrary to the testimony of the Spirit of God in their own particulars; let us all be likeminded this day, not to do, nor bend, nor be in any wise contrary to the Spirit of Christ that dwells in us, but rather suffer whatsoever may be imposed then to sin against that Light and Knowledge of the Spirit of Christ which he hath given us, but let us keep a clean heart and a pure conscience to God-wards, and therein we shall triumph over all in our inward Man, though our outward man be afflicted, and in this we shall have peace and comfort in God over all our Adversaries.  
And as concerning your meetings, the Lord hath given you the testimony of his Spirit in you for the verity and righteousness thereof, though ye should suffer persecution for the same, yet ye have the Spirit of Christ testifying in your hearts that this Way and Practice of meeting together (as our practice hath been) is of God, and he Justifies us in the same, and we have suciffient of assurance by the holy Spirit to stand faithful in that practice of assembling together to worship God.  
First, we have the testimony of Scriptures and exple of Saints in the Apostles days, to prove this practice of Meeting together; The first Christians they met together in this manner and way as we do now, they met in private houses, and from house to house separate and apart from the Public Synagogues and all other Sects; and it is clear that we have the example of Saints and Scriptures proof for this our practice of meeting together.  
2. We have our own experience for this divers years, how that the Spirit of the Lord hath moved our hearts to assemble together, and the presence and power of the Lord Jesus Christ hath been amongst us, and we have tasted of the goodness and love of the Lord, being so met together, how often hath the Lord met with us and his countenance shined upon us, and our souls have been refreshed, strengthened and comforted in this practice of meeting together; these things are true, and may confirm us in this practice of meeting together, and to be faithful to the end.  
3. We have the full persuasions of the Spirit of God lively and fervent in our hearts at this moment, that we ought not to neglect the Assembling of ourselves together, but that God requires it of us, and it is his will that his people meet together to worship him in Spirit and Truth, separate from all the world even in one Spirit, and in the Name and Power of Jesus I hope ye are all likeminded herein, and that the spirit of Christ persuades your Consciences in the Truth of that practice, therefore be faithful unto God herein, and sin not against the testimony of Scriptures and example of the first Christians, nor against your own experience, nor against the admonitions of the Servants of the Lord, who are the first fruits unto God since the Apostasy, and have again and again in the Name and Spirit of Christ exhorted you to meet together; wherefore be faithful to perform your duty of God in that particular whatsoever sufferings should be infflicted upon you by the men of this world.  
And as concerning refusing to take any Oath, ye know it hath been our Principle and Practice so to do since the Lord hath given us knowledge of his ways, and the spirit of the Lord that dwells in us, persuadeth our hearts to deny all swearing, both as it was practised under the Law, according to the command of God, & in the types & figures, & as it is practised among the Christians since the Apostles days, which is as now practised, Idolatry and Superstition; And I say the Spirit of Christ doth confirm our hearts in this truth, even to deny all swearing, and also we have the express command of Christ and of the Apostle james forbidding all swearing by Heaven and Earth and all other Oaths, which bears witness to the truth of our refusing to swear at this day; likewise we have the Testimony of many holy Martyrs and Prophets since the Apostles days, who denied to swear on any wise, who suffered for such their Testimony. All which evidences may justly confirm the hearts of God's people at this day faithfully to hold out their Testimony of refusing to swear at all, seeing we have a cloud of witnesses that testify with us, the express command and Christ and the Apostle; the Testimony of divers holy men in divers ages, who suffered for the same, and the present persuasions of the Spirit of Christ in our own hearts; All which are sufficient to give courage and boldness under all sufferings and afflictions that we may meet withal, for refusing to swear.  
Well Friends, be faithful to God in these and all other things which God hath given you light and knowledge in, and I do warn all to keep a clear conscience, and not to sin against the light and knowledge, that God hath given you, either by denying to profess and practise that truth which the Lord hath persuaded your hearts of, or by conforming to any thing which ye know is not of the truth, and this is the way of eternal peace with God; but if any shall through the temptations of the adversary, and for the love and fear of this world deny the Lord, and renounce good conscience and be unfaithful, such must bear the burden of the Lords anger because of their back-slidings and revoltings from the ways of God. True it is, this is a day of great trial, yet the Lord is strong and gives strength unto all his people that wait upon him.  
And let us be mindful what our controversy is, and with whom, this day our controversy is for the Lord and his truth, to do faithfully and suffer patiently whatsoever the will of the Lord is unto us, & not to renounce and deny the exercise of our pure consciences in those things that God hath persuaded our hearts of the truth of; For if any this day should be unfaithful, either by doing what they should not, or leaving undone what they know they should do; If any deny the Lord and his truth, and conform to the false ways & worships of men, such loses the controversy, and gives the cause of God into the hand of your enemies, which is a fearful abomination, and the controversy is with that spirit which opposeth us in these things which we know are of the Lord. It is with the spirit that we must contend, contend I say by the spirit of the Father, in long-suffering and patience and good will towards all men, and not with the weapons of this World in envy to any, even with that spirit which doth oppose our meeting together to worship God, and would impose Oaths & things upon us contrary to our Consciences; And these things are the main matters of controversy this day, which the spirit of Christ in us must oppose, being imposed on us by the spirit of the world. So all Friends are to mind to be faithful to the spirit of Christ and its persuasions, and against that spirit which is not of him; for the opposition is between the two spirits, and none must say the things required to be forborn or to be done are but small matters in themselves, and may be done or not done without offence, this king of reasoning may be dangerous, and may easily divert from the obedience of Christ; for we are not to look so much at the things in themselves which are required to be done or to be forborn, as at the spirit which doth impose upon us in such cases against pure conscience, if the spirit be not of God we must not obey it in the least things; for this is indeed the matter of conscience, not so much particular things or actions, as the spirit that is not of God, where it requires things against good conscience, for whatsoever that spirit requireth, be it little or much in respect of the action, it must not be obeyed and that for conscience sake, for this is a good conscience that cannot do nor conform to any thing which the spirit that is not of God enjoineth, though therefore suffering be inflicted on the outward man. And last of all, I do advise and exhort that ye have love and unity in the spirit of the Lord and one with another, that oneness of heart and soul and spirit may be amongst us, being bound up in the holy Covenant of the Father, even willing to do or suffer one for another, and in this spirit of unity the Lord will bless us, and make us strong and able to go thorough joyfully all our afflictions; but if any strife or division be in the body, it weakens the whole, if one member vex another through discord, this is not of the Father but contrary to him, this is not for the safety of the body▪ but bruises it and woundeth it, and may more afflict the soul of the righteous than all outward enemies, and strife and contention arising out of our own bowels, may sooner work an overthrow then all the oppositions that can come from men. Oh therefore as a Brother to some, and as a Father to many, and as a Servant to all, let me entreat and beseech that ye follow those things which makes for peace, that ye love one another as Christ has loved you, and that ye be like minded in all things, even one as the Father and the Son are one, and so shall the blessings of the Lord never depart from you; For dear Friends, the Lord hath never been wanting unto us, but always near at hand to fill us with his riches and treasure; and are not we Vessels of honour, is not his Name in our foreheads, are not we the flock of his fold? Therefore let us honour him by the works of truth, of love, of mercy, and all the works of righteousness, let us bring forth fruits unto the Father, thereby proving that we are true branches in Christ the Vine, and let us give up to suffer all things patiently for the testimony of his Truth written in our hearts; if we live let it be to him only, and if we die l●t it be for him, having the seal of his good Spirit in us, that whether we live or die, we are the Lords.  
E. B.