AN Epistle of Love AND Good Advice To my Old Friends & Fellow-Sufferers in the Late TIMES, The Old Royalists And their Posterity, And to all others that have any sincere Desires towards GOD.  
There was a Man sent from God, whose Name was John, the same came to be a witness, to hear witness of the Light, John 1. 6, 7, 8, 9  
My Friends;  
ALL you that lay under the Lash of the late Times, I cannot forget our Sufferings, nor the Mercies of God to us, but must needs put you in mind to be weighty and serious in improving your Deliverance to better ends, than many of you have done hitherto, that ye may come to know the things belonging to your Peace, before they be hidden from your Eyes, that whatsoever happen ye may be fitted and prepared for it, so that ye may escape the Snares of the old Enemy of Mankind, who is profound in Subtlety, and hath his Agents about in all places to promote his Kingdom of Darkness, and Delusions, which are discovered only by the true Light, that enlighteneth every man that cometh into the World, which shineth into the Heart of man to give him the Knowledge of God; 
2 Cor. 4.6,  for as the outward Sun in the Firmament is not to be seen but by its own Light that shines from it, so God that is a supernatural inward Light, is not to be seen or known but by his own Light, that shines into the dark Heart of Man, that is gone out from him into the fallen state; and as you do watch and wait for this Light you will see your Redemption, and will be fenced from the Power of this crooked Serpent, and his jealous Whisper, and detracting Insinuations, that have made all the Broils in this Nation from time to time to this very day, and mostly upon the account of Religion.  
Happy had it been for this Nation, if Religion (so often pretended to) had been real, without any mixture of man's Invention; but God that saw that Men were not fitted and prepared for it, through their own neglect and carelessness, in not being faithful to what they knew was their Duty towards him and their Neighbours, upon this account hath the Lord withheld this great Blessing from many of the great Pretenders and Sticklers in matters of Religion as well as others, so as they have miss of the real and Spiritual Knowledge of this Ministration of the glorious Gospel of our Lord & Saviour jesus Christ, which is Peace on Earth, Good Will towards men; this is truly preached by some, both in their Doctrine, Lives and Conversations in this day spring of divine Light and Love, which hath appeared in a large measure to all those that have been faithful to what they knew of God in their own Hearts and Consciences, whose Hearts are tender, and brought low before him, and have given up all their Concerns to him, and can part with all for him: These, I say, are the Plants of Renown, and no others, neither can any come to be grafted into this Stock by any outward Rule or Observation of man's contrivance; the divine Virtue must be in ourselves, it is not in the Power of Man to put it into us, it is the Gift of God in our own Hearts, that inward Principle that leads to the divine Life, which is the blessed Grace of God that bringeth Salvation, which hath appeared to all men, as saith the Scriptures, and those that are taught by it, they do deny all Ungodliness and worldly Lusts, and do live Soberly, Godlily and Righteously in this present World; 
2 Tit. 2. 11, 12.  these are they that are brought out of the Vanities and Deceits thereof, and have received the Anointing that teacheth them of all things, so as they need no man to teach them. 
1 John 2. 27.  But how this will relish with those that keep People always in teaching, that they may always be paying them, I know not, neither am I concerned for that; the Gift of God in our own Hearts is not to be denied nor concealed; this Gift is given to all mankind, even to the Rebellious, that the Lord may dwell amongst them, as saith the Psalmist; 
Psal. 68 18.  it shows to man his Rebellion against God, and exhorts him to come out of it; it teacheth Humility of Mind, and all other Moral, Heroick and Divine Virtues; This Light, Power and Spirit of the Lord God is tendered to all mankind, as well Women as Men, if they do wait in Faith and Patience to receive it; this may be easily proved, first by the believing Woman of Samaria, that carried the Tidings of the Messiah to the Samaritans, whereby many of them were converted: And also after the Resurrection of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, he appeared first to two Women, and sent them to carry the Glad-tidings of his Resurrection to his Disciples. 
John 4.  The Apostle Peter in the Acts 
Acts 2.  preached out of the Prophet joel, to those People that said the Apostles were drunk with new Wine, and showed them their mistake, that they were not drunk as they supposed, but it was that which was spoken of by the Prophet, That should come to pass in the latter days, (saith God) that I will pour out of my Spirit upon all Flesh, your Sons and your Daughters shall prophesy, and on my Servants, and on my Handmaids will I pour out of my Spirit, and they shall prophesy: This hath confirmed that saying of the Apostle Paul, That there is neither Jew nor Greek, Bond nor Free, Male nor Female, but are all one in Christ: 
Gal. 3. 28.  And the same Apostle in one of his Epistles to the Corinthians. 
1 Cor. 11. & 14. 34.  speaks concerning women's Service in the Church, both of Praying and Prophesying; and in some other places in the Scripture 
1 Tim. 2 11, 12.  he forbids some women's teaching and usurping Authority over the Man; all which do no ways obstruct nor contradict what is formerly declared concerning such Women as have received Power from God to Pray, Prophecy or declare the Glad-tidings of the Light of the Glorious Gospel of Christ Jesus: Much more might be said in this case, which I do forbear, this being sufficient. The Protestant- Religion forbids expounding one place of Scripture to make it repugnant to another; see that remarkable Article of the Church of England, called the Twentieth Article: It is the Subtlety of the Serpent to expound one place of Scripture to make it repugnant to another, to uphold such Formalities as he can creep into; although the Scriptures of Truth be all an equal Truth, yet they are not all of an equal weight, the Substance declared therein is of more weight than the Forms and Circumstances thereof. Our Lord Jesus Christ the God of glory, hath visited People under several Forms, and hath left them again desolate and empty of his presence; when their Forms come once to be admired or adored, than they are no better than an Idol, and a cover for Hypocrites. Also, this I have seen in my time of understanding things of this nature, which is above forty Years, although the Lord Christ hath appeared to People in several Forms, yet he died to end Shadows and Typical Forms; our great concerns are to be conformable to his Death, that we may be partakers of his Resurrection; It is usual with the Serpent to creep into Forms, but he cannot creep into this true Conformity, there is no Harbour for him in the Cross, he is not willing that any should take up the Cross, and become a true Disciple of Christ Jesus: It is the Seed of the Woman, that bruises the Serpent's Head; 
Gen. 3. 15.  (I pray mark that) for wheresoever this Seed is sown, either in Man or Woman, that is sown upon the good Ground, 
Mat. 13. 31.  it will bring forth its Increase, according as is declared in the Scriptures of Truth, and is there called the least of Seeds, and is the Day of small things, which many have despised, for that which they have accounted to be greater Enjoyments, which are but as the glory of the World, 
Zach. 4. 7. 10.  which the Devil, the God of the World hath shown them, who tempts Man and Woman at this day, as he did our Saviour in the days of his Flesh, when he showed him all the Kingdoms of the World, and the glory of them, and as these pretended Gifts of the god of the World are received, they blind the mind of Man and Woman, lest they should believe in the Light of the glorious Gospel of Christ, who is the Image of God, or that it should shine into them; this is that inward Principle of the divine Light and Life, which is given of God to man and woman to be their Guide, to bring them out of their fallen state, that the Work of the Devil may be destroyed in them, which is Pride, Vain Glory, Covetous Minds and Corrupt 
2. Cor 4. 4.  Manners, feigned and contrived Religion, which is Hypocrisy, all which this Nation is much poisoned withal.  
And further, I shall add this, that the Lord is opening the Storehouse of his divine Treasures of Wisdom and Knowledge, to all those that do sincerely wait in silence, that their Minds may be made empty of all Imagination, whereby they may be fitted and prepared to receive that inward Principle of God's love to mankind, in all Humility and Resignation to him, that his divine Power and precious Grace may be their Teacher, to lead them out of their outward Observations into that inward Principle of the divine Life, whereby all Gods Children do govern their Actions; O that ye may all come to this, to dwell with God, and he with you, as it is written by that Evangelical Prophet Isaiah, 
Isa. 57 15.  Thus saith the high and holy One that inhabits Eternity, whose Name is Holy, I dwell in that High and Holy Place, with him also that is of a Contrite and Humble Spirit, To revive the Spirit of the Humble, and to revive the Heart of the Concrite One, this is that that all will desire at one time or other, and That they may die the Death of the Righteous also; Ay! but this will not serve your turns, you must come to live the life of the Righteous first, which is To order your Conversations aright, and then you will see the Salvation of God; and ye will then see the destruction of the Lusts of the Flesh, the Lusts of the Eyes, and the Pride of Life, and whatsoever is contrary to God; By the work of God in your own Hearts, and by his inward and spiritual Grace, Sin will be mortified in you, and ye will be brought into a serious Consideration and heavenly Contemplation of the Beauty and Glory of a Celestial Life, that ye may be fixed Stars in the Kingdom of God forever. 
Psal. 50. 23.   
All you that are like the Noble Bereans, that are diligent Inquirers of this Age, I shall leave you to search the Scriptures, and see if these things be not true; for this is written in true Love to all, but more especially to awaken those that are asleep in their mistaken Judgement, and led away by the dreaming Conceits of Imagination: These are they that have taken up a Religion upon Trust, upon the Credit and Relation of the Sons of Tradition, whose Faith, Doctrine and Discipline are the Commandments of Men, making a Money-Trade of Religion, and Persecuting such as do not conform to it: Some of these have publicly declared themselves to be neither Papists nor Protestants, but true Sons of the Church of England. I desire you in all love, to examine how far she is degenerate from her first Principle, it may be easily discovered, if you understand Bishop jewel's Apology for the Church of England, and also the Principle and Practices of both these and the late Times, which differ not much in the ground. I have no Enmity in my Heart against any Person or People, but desire the good of all men, and that ye may be truly informed, and also to remember this Saying of the Wise Man, Faithful are the Wounds of a Friend, but the Kisses of an Enemy are deceitful. 
Prov. 27. 5, 6.  My aim is, that ye may understand me as I am, and not otherwise, not accounting me Worldly Wise, but honest, in dealing so plainly with you at this day, when the Ruin of the Dissenters from the Church of England, is threatened, I myself being one of them; and also that the Projectors of Self-Interest amongst you have gotten more Power to destroy, than Honesty to preserve our Protestant-Interest. But to return to my purpose, which only concerns the ground of True Religion; The Faith unfeigned, which is the Gift of God only, and not at man's disposing, this was confessed by the Apostle Paul, when he said, Not for that we have Dominion over your Faith, 
2 Cor. 2. 24.  but as Helpers of your joy; for by Faith you stand; True Faith being the substnce of things hoped for, the Evidence of things not seen; 
Heb. 11. 1.  it comes from God, and leads up to God again, and hath nothing of man's contrivance in it: Therefore let all cease from imposing Faith and Worship towards God upon his People, and let God alone to be King and Lawgiver in men's Consciences, in matters of Faith and Worship towards him, unto whom alone it belongeth, whose right it is to reign there in the heavenly Dominion, which gives Victory over Death, Hell and the Grave; they that do otherways, do but lead men out from God, into Man's Contrivances, from that inward Principle of the divine Life, that God hath put in their Hearts and Consciences, to be the Guide of all Mankind, and is the only Infallible Way for them to trust to; for this brings them out of the Pride, Vanity and Deceits of the World, the other keeps them in them; so that few of them come to the true Knowledge of God, but continue in following the Devices and Desires of their own hearts, offending Gods holy Laws until they lay down their heads in everlasting Sorrow. And thus is the Creation of God destroyed, by the craft and subtlety of those blind Guides that see not beyond their own worldly Interest and profit; but if men would have regard to the Commandments of God, to keep them, that would make them wiser than their Teachers, that have been the chief cause of sowing Discord between the King and People, and between one sort of People and another, which have strengthened both Faction and Atheism, and will do more and more, if it be not prevented. 
Psal. 119. 6, 98, 99, 100   
Let these things be weighed in a sincere humble Mind, which is a true Balance, left any be deceived by the false Weights and Measures of those that make a Trade of Religion, which are the Buyers and Sellers of the Souls of men; these have been the chief cause that Hell hath enlarged itself abundantly of late years, to the great Grief of all sincere true Christians; for since this Dayspring of divine Light and Love that hath appeared so effectually to all those that have waited in Faith and Patience to be Partakers of it, the old Enemy of Mankind, which is the great Accuser of God's People in all Ages, hath raged more abundantly, seeking by Persecution, Slanders, and Reproaching the Children of Light, to remove all that may obstruct his Kingdom of Darkness and Delusions; but the Lord God Everlasting will more and more break forth by his Almighty Power to blast the Expectations of all those his Agents & Instruments, that have strengthened man in his Wickedness, to prevent or hinder the Prosperity of Peace and Truth in this Land of our Nativity, whether they be Professors of Religion, or Profane loose Persons.  
O Eternal Powerful Lord God hasten this thy Work, that all Mankind may fear and tremble before thee: Then shall the works of Darkness be destroyed, and thy holy Power will be adored more abundantly in the Hearts and Consciences of the Sons and Daughters of Men, to thy Everlasting Praise and Glory for evermore, Amen.  
Written in the Year 1683. Anne Docwra.  


THe Mystery of God's Love to all  
Is Light within: Now since the Fall,  
Vain man, that's rocked asleep in Sin,  
Sees not the Daystar coming in. 
1 Pet. 1. 19   
The fond Desires of Vain Delight  
Brings Sorrow and Eternal Night.   

Awake, Awake, come to the Light, 
Ephes. 5. 13, 14, 15.   
Which shows thy Deeds that are not Right:  
Why shouldst thou sleep the Sleep of Death!  
And lie in Sorrow down Beneath,  
When Light is given thee for thy Guide,  
To bring thee from thy Life of Pride?  
The humble lowly Truth invite  
All men to stoop, to it unite,  
That thou mayst know a Restingplace  
With God, that will the Proud debase.   

This Testimony of God's Love, 
John 3. 19, 20, 21. 2 Cor. 4. 6.   
The Light descending from above,  
That shines into the Hearts of all,  
For to Redeem out of the Fall;  
It shows to man, how to begin  
The Work of God that Conquors Sin,  
Discovering Vice and Virtue clear,  
To all that will to it adhere,  
That every man may see his Sin,  
Even by the Light that shines within;  
Which shows to every one, his Deed's  
Spring from the good or evil Seeds.   

This Light is for the Righteous sown, 
Psal. 97. 11.   
The Just man's Path, where God is known:  
Sons of Corruption come not there. 
Prov. 4. 8, 9   
No Vipers in this Path appear.  
This troublesome Insect that Aspires,  
To Rob man of his good Desires  
To justice, Mercy, Love and Peace,  
That no true Virtue may increase;  
Their Sun will set, and Storms will come,  
A Bed of Sorrow is their Doom,  
Though in the Sun these Viper's play,  
And think not of a Reckoning day.   

Awake, my Friends, come and behold,  
This Light divine will not be sold,  
Nor bought for Money, 'tis too dear  
And precious, as it does appear.  
Our bounteous God, he hath sent forth  
His Proclamation of great worth, 
Isa. 55. 1.   
Which calls to all to come and buy 
John 7. 37, 38, 39,   
Of him, that will not Life deny,  
Wine and Milk without Coin,  
Both heavenly, pure and divine;  
All those that freely feed on it,  
In heavenly places they shall sit.   
Anne Docwra   
THE END   

BOOKs Printed and Sold by Andrew Sowle at the Crooked Billet in Holloway-Lane in Shoreditch.  
NO Cross, No Crown: Or a Discourse showing the Nature and Discipline of the holy Cross of Christ.  
An Answer to a foolish Libel, called, The Quakers Opinions.  
England's present Interest discovered, with honour to the Prince and safety to the People.  
An Epistle to the Churches of Jesus throughout the World.  
An Epistle to the Children of Light.  
An Address to Protestants upon the present Conjuncture.  
A brief state and exmination of Liberty Spritual.  
Wisdom justified of her Children.  
Reason against Railing, and Truth against Fiction.  
The Invalidity of I. F's Reply.  
Innocency with her open face.  
An Epistle, containing a solemn Farewell, etc. All writ by William Penn.  
The Christian-Quaker and his divine Testimony vindicated by Scripture, Reason and Authorities; in two Parts, Writ By W. Penn and G. Whitehead.  
A Lamentation over England and faithful Warning to the Inhabitants thereof. By William Bingley.  
Due Order of Law and justice pleaded, against Irregular and Arbitrary Proceedings. By George Whitehead.  
The Real Quaker a Real Protestant. By G. W.  
The Religious Assemblies of the People called Quakers vindicated.  
A legal Examination of Abuses of Law. Concerning 1. Forcible Entry; 2. Imprisonment without Warrant, how contrary to Law; 3. Riots, Routs and Unlawful Assemblies; 4. The public Peace. and Breach of it; 5. Oppression and Duress by Goals and Gaolers, and what Privilege the Law allows to Prisoners.  
The Prisoner's Vindication, with a sober Expostulation and Reprehension of Persecutors. By john Gratton.  
Lawson's Treatise concerning the seven Liberal Arts.  
Something in Answer to them that say, the Quakers are no Christians. By G. F.  
Universal Love. By W. Smith.  
The great Case of Tithes once more revived. By Fr. howgil.