AN EPISTLE TO Young People Professing the TRUTH.  
Dear Friends,  
KNowing that many which fear the Lord, and think upon his Name, have had (for some time) a concern upon their minds for the declining Conditions of many Young People that are amongst us; saying often one to another, What will become of the next Generation, considering the Youth of this are so degenerated from those that received the Truth at the beginning. Whereupon it came into my Heart, according to the Examples of Christ and his Apostle, who to rectify abuses in Marriage, and other things, saith, [but it was not so from the beginning] intimating, that the best way to amend things amiss, is to bring People to the beginning, that as they received Christ Jesus the Lord, so to walk in him, which is the Drift and End of this Epistle to Young People, and others professing the Truth.  
Many are yet alive who from their own knowledge can testify the Humility, Mortification and Self-denial of the Youth at the beginning, together with their centempt of all youthful Vanities, etc. their Words Few and Savory, their Countenances Grave and Serious, in their places Diligent and Faithful; being Examples of Temperance and Sobriety to Neighbours and Acquaintance; in the Worship and Service of God Attentive and Watchful, carefully improving all opportunities to increase their Communion and Acquaintance with God in Christ Jesus the Light: All which were as blessed signs of those times of refreshment from God's Presence that the Souls of the Faithful were then made partakers of.  
Let Children inquire of their Parents (that were Eye Witnesses from the beginning) and they can tell them; let Servants ask their faithful Masters, and they can inform them what manner of People the younger sort of Quakers (so called) were at the beginning: Nay, there were few such Strangers in the places where the Truth first took place, but they could declare these things; by all which (as in a Glass) many now professing the same Truth may see themselves bearing another Image; therefore ought diligently to make inquiry what is the Cause, and whence the disparity ariseth, for if the Gospel at the beginning proved itself to be preached again by the forementioned, and many more blessed Effects upon all that received the Truth in the love of it; What is the matter? is not the Gospel an Everlasting Gospel and Christ the Way, the Truth and the Life, the same Yesterday to Day and forever? and doth not his works still in the hearts of the Called, Chosen and Faithful bear witness of him?  
Therefore, it's to be feared, those that are thus fallen, have received another Gospel, or the Gospel perverted, or turned upside down, as the Apostle speaks, seeing those at the beginning began in the Spirit, but since that many that began well think to be made perfect by the Flesh, where too many hold the Truth in unrighteousness: But my design is not to accuse, but to inform those that are out of the way, if possible they may be reclaimed before the evil day overtake them.  
I know some of the Younger are ready to blame the Elder, and some Children their Parents, and some Servants their Master's Examples; to all which I say, that such as are justly guilty thereof shall bear their own Barden, and shall not escape the Righteous Judgement of God; but you that make this Plea, know that the Soul that sins shall die, and the Witness of God in your own Consciences (if harkened unto) will convince you of the vanity of this Fig-leaf Covering, and the deceitfulness of your own hearts in thinking that the evil example of others will be an excuse for your backsliding.  
For those that in their Youth received the Truth at the beginning, were surrounded with Evil Examples on every hand, so that if Examples could have prevailed to continue them in Worldly Vanities, they could never have broken through those oppositions from Accquaintance and nearest Relations; for if they had looked outward, all hopes of Preferment in this World were wholly gone, and looking inward, there appeared such strong holds of Satan, as seemed impossible ever to be overcome; the Truth itself being such a Stranger in the Earth, that almost every Body was backward to give it Entertainment, Especially if they had any thing in this World to lose for harbouring of it.  
Whereas the Youth and others of latter times found the Truth both ready proved, and successfully defended against the subtle Arguments & Wits of those professing times in which it at first break forth, and that not by the might and power of Wit, or outward Learning, but by Simplicity and Godly Sincerity, accompanied with Holiness of Life and Conversation, which was a great confirmation to the first publishing of it, together with the Meek and Patiented, yet Bold and Valiant suffering the loss of all for the Truth as it is in Jesus; by which, in a great measure, the rough way was worn smooth, and the passage made much more easy to those that followed, than it was at the beginning; for those that were as gazing stocks at the beginning, of latter times came to be well known, and that estrangedness to Persons and Principles came to vanish away, & a good esteem of the Truth and of those that professed it spring up in divers Persons, so mightily grew the Word of God, and prospered at the beginning.  
But alas, of latter times the wild Boar of the Forest hath got into the Vineyard, and rooted up many hopeful Plants, & others are fallen into the World, Customs, Ways and Fashions, who are become as Spots in the true Christian Assemblies, and Blemishes to the Truth as it was at the beginning, as if the Sins of Sodom, which were Pride, Carelessness, Excess and Contempt of the Poor, were become the Vices of Zion, many young People and others getting into those things again, which their Parents, Relations and Acquaintances, for good Conscience sake, were forced to lay aside, as it in these latter times the Efficacy of Truth was not the same as at the beginning, and as if the Cross of Christ, that was so powerful [then] was [now] become of none Effect.  
Little doth the wanton Youth of this Age think what Sighs and Tears their godly Parents, and Friends that love them, pour out in secret for them, both because of their Eternal Estates hereafter, and the dishonour they bring here unto the blessed Name and Truth of God; whereby it's become a saying amongst Ancient People, That the Quakers now adays are not like those at the beginning.  
What Watchfulness, what Carefulness, what Diligence therefore ought every one to use, lest by bad Company and Examples, they should be ensnared before they are ware, and so by degrees be drawn to such Inconveniences, as afterward they will find very hard to withstand, until they are brought to that degree of stupidity, and hardness of heart, that all Exhortations unto Virtue and Godliness find so little entertainment, that even Strangers in our Meetings are more serious, and tenderness of heart sooner procured in them, then in many who have frequented our Assemblies from their Childhood unto Men and women's Estates, so evil and catching are the bad Examples of others to them whose hearts are not kept tender to God.  
Be serious therefore all you that make profession of the Truth in your tender years, and examine yourselves how you came to make profession of it, was it for some byends and sinister respects? or was it by Education from your Parents or others only? not regarding the good intention and end thereof, so as to come to the root of the matter in yourselves, nor heeding to be guided by the Light in your own Consciences, but from time to time feeding only upon good words from others, etc. as it's to be feared too too many do at at this day, I say, unto all such careless ones, I pity your Condition, for all your Goodness will prove like the morning dew that soon vanisheth when heat ariseth, and all your Profession will whither like the Corn upon the house top; therefore let the time passed suffice that you have spent your precious time to no purpose, and rest no longer in an easeful mind, above the Cross, but sink down in deep Humility to the oppressed Seed of God in you, which he hath left as a Witness for himself, that you might not be as Sodom, and like unto Gomorrah, if you diligently hearken to it in your own particulars.  
Parents and others that fear the Lord are bound in duty to God, to use all means they can to impress the tender minds of their Children, and Youth, with the sense of God's Power, and in so doing they shall not lose their reward from God, although their Children when grown up, turn their backs upon it; for Parents at the beginning looked upon the Truth as the best Portion for their Children, not so much heeding their preferment in this World, if by any means they might have an interest in that which is to come; and in order thereunto they counselled their Children to mind the inward and spiritual Grace, that so they might not rely upon any outward and visible thing for Preservation and Defence, because that inward and spiritual Grace was commended to us at the beginning, as the best Teacher to deny Ungodliness and Worldly Lusts, and to live Godly, Righteously and Soberly in this present Evil World; but if Young People will reject the good advice of their Parents and others, and degenerate from their Education, their Destruction will be of themselves, and their poor grieving Parents and others can but mourn in secret for them,  
Children and others ought to know, that there is no standing at a stay or stop in Religion, for not to go forward therein, is to go backward; hence it is is that the Scripture saith, Heb. 6. It is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were partakers of the holy Ghost, and have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the World to come, if they shall fall away, to renew them again unto Repentance, seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to open shame. And being a business of greatest Importance the Apostle urgeth it from the Similitude following, For, saith he, the Earth which drinketh in the Rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth Herbs meet for them for whom it is Dressed, receiveth Blessings from God; but that which beareth Thorns and Briars is rejected, and is nigh unto Cursing, whose end is to be Burnt.  
If there be therefore any Consolation in Christ the Truth, if any Comfort of Love, if any Fellowship of the Spirit, if any Bowels of Mercies, you that live carelessly and want only upon the Earth, consider your Conditions, and examine yourselves, how far the  Scripture affects you, for I have a deep concern upon my heart for you all that have forsaken your first Love, and bear another Image than those young People I have mentioned bore at the beginning.  
Suppose by your Conformity to the Vanities of this present World you should gain a large share therein, which but few obtain; what will it avail when terrifying Death looks you in the Face? have you forgotten Moses's Choice, who esteemed it greater Riches to suffer Afflictions with the People of God, then to be related to the Court of a great Monarch? what shall I say to prevail with you, is it not great pity, that any who in years past bore the frowns of the great ones of the Earth Patiently, went through Reproaches Cheerfully, and many Hardships Constantly, for some time, and doubtless such felt a Reward from God for their encouragement, why then should you lose your Crown at last?  
Come let us reason together; and let God Witness speak, Wanted you any thing while you kept your Integrity? did you not witness one day in God's presence better than all the delights that ever you had since your minds by Looseness and Vanities hath been estranged from him? did your Pleasure and Companions in Folly ever afford you that Comfort, and inward Contentment, and Peace, which sometimes you have felt amongst God's People? why then do you deprive yourselves by your negligence of that Sweetness and Comfort which no created Enjoyment can recompense the loss of, besides that farther hope of Glory that is laid up for those that walk uprightly?  
Many of the youthful People and others amongst us need not say What is Truth? because I know it hath often proved itself to their Consciences beyond all outward demonstration, and they cannot be ignorant how divers that have backsliden have been followed with a secret hand against them in all they have gone about.  
Come away therefore and tarry no longer in Lying Vanities, and let none say they cannot leave them, for that is the Language of your Souls Enemy to discourage you; wherefore resist him steadfastly in the Faith, and he will fly from you, for he hath no power but in Darkness and Unbelief; watch therefore to the Light of Christ Jesus that discovers all the twist of that crooked Serpent, and take up the daily Cross to those Evils that so easily ●eset you, and you will find, as you have often heard, the Armour of Light at hand to defend you against all your youthful Lusts, as blessed be God there are yet a Cloud of Witnesses alive that can from good Experience testify the same.   

Postscript.  
LEt none despise these Lines for their Plainness, for we were a plain People at the beginning; I know some of the younger sort are apt to be taken with fine Words and fashionable Language, as with other things in Fashion; but Experience shows that that which tickles the outward Ear commonly stops there, very seldom coming so low as to the Truth in the inward parts; therefore this Epistle is sent abroad in so plain a dress on purpose, answerable to a plain Seed in them that are puffed up, but ought rather to have mourned; which Seed being reached, and their Souls relieved my end is answered.  
Laton the 18th of the 6th Month 1686. John Crook   
THE END.