Universal Love.  
Being an EPISTLE Given forth by the Spirit of God, Through his Suffering Servant Will. Gibson.  
AND Is to be sent into all Nations and Countries, where the Lord God hath raised a People to worship him in Spirit and in Truth; to be read in his Pure Fear, in their public Assemblies and private Families, for their Edification and Comfort.  
Printed in the Year, 1671.   

Universal Love, etc.  
ALL Friends every where, who have believed in Christ Jesus, the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the World, that all men in him might believe and be saved: Whose Understandings he hath opened by his Spiritual Light, shining in your hearts; and thereby hath given you to know your Duty towards God, and Man; and thereby hath drawn you to confess him before men, and to make public Confession and Profession of the Worship of God, which is in Spirit and in Truth. All in the same Pure Spiritual Light, steadfastly continue, Waiting, Walking, and Abiding; that so every one of you may receive Strength from the Lord God of Heaven and Earth, to perform your Duty unto him in all things; yea, to serve him with your whole strength, as he hath commanded; and to do that which is Just, Righteous, and Equal unto all People, with whom you have to do: That so you may shine as Lights in the World; and that your Light may so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and Glorify your Father, which is in Heaven: Christ the true Light saith, No man lights a Candle, & putteth it under a Beshel, (that is, he doth not hid or cover the Light) but setteth it on a Candlestiks, that it may give light unto all that are in the House. So see that your Light be not hid, veiled, nor covered; but that it may shine forth in its Splendour and Brightness, leading and guiding you into all Truth, according to his Promise, who said, I will send you the Spirit of Truth, and he shall lead you into all Truth: And this the Lord God hath fulfilled unto a little Remnant, and is fulfilling it daily, and will fulfil it unto many Thousands, who yet ●it in Darkness, under the region and shadow of Death: Glory to his Blessed Name for his tender Mercy, which he hath mightily shed abroad in this our Age, in and through the Light Christ Jesus, who is the Way to God the Father; who is made manifest in us, to take away and destroy all Sin, because it is of the Devil, and is against God, and Grieves and Dishonours him; therefore will God have it taken away and destroyed by Jesus Christ his divine Wisdom and Power; that so Man and Woman may be wholly freed from that Corruptible Bondage, which the Devil hath brought them into, by leading them into Sin, which hath separated them from him, and withheld his Blessings from them; that so again they may be a Free People, as it was in the beginning, before Transgression was: And this is the Glorious Liberty of the Sons and Daughters of God, which Christ did restore many into in the Apostles days, which Work he is now Gloriously carrying on in these our days; Glory, yea, Glory be unto the Lord our God forever, for the same. For, now the Children of the Lord, are taught by him; and his Sons and Daughters are led by his Spirit into all Truth; and the Peace of all such is plentiful as a River, whose Streams never fail; and such can sensibly say, Good is the Lord, and worthy is he to be Feared, Loved, and Served for evermore.  
So all Friends, who have taken a Profession of the Holy Name of the Lord God upon you, walk worthy of that Holy Call, wherewith the Lord, in his tender Mercy, hath called you. And in all your Buying, and Selling, and Exchanging of God's good Creatures, in Markets, and Fairs, and in all other places, abide in the Pure Spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ, that therein you may be a sweet Savour of God unto his own Witness in the hearts of all People that see you and hear you; all keeping in the Doctrine of Christ, who said, Let your yea be yea, and your nay nay, in your Communication; and what is more cometh of Evil: So all keep in sound Speech, which the Spirit of Truth doth lead into; that so you may all Glorify God in buying, and selling, and exchanging of his good Creatures, that so he may Bless you in the use of them; for, his Blessing is, and will be, upon the Faithful. So, let all words be spoken in the Pure ●ear and Counsel of the Lord in buying and selling, and exchanging, and in all your Handicraft Trades, and Labours; and keep out of that which is superfluous and needless; and so your Words and Actions will be Few, Sound, and Savory, without any Deceit; and this will minister Grace unto the Hearers: And Blessed are all those that so do; their Substance is, and will be Blessed.  
And all Friends, that Travel up and down in the World, about your Occasions, and come to lie, or be at Inns, Victualling-houses, or Taverns, where Beat, Wine, Ale, or other strong Liquors are sold; keep in the Pure Spirit of the Lord God, that thereby you may be preserved Pure and clean unto God, in the use of eating and drinking of God's good Creatures; that so, whether you Eat or Drink, or whatsoever you do, you may do it in the Pure Wisdom of the Lord God, to his Glory; And not to drink in excess, to spend God's good Creatures upon unclean Lusts; but to be true Witnesses for God against all such things, where ever you 〈◊〉, that so God's Blessing you may all feel in your Business. Be not Drunk with Wine, said the Apostle, but be siaed with the Spirit.  
And all Friends, in your particular 〈◊〉, in your daily Labour and Business, all watch in the H●ly spirit of God, that the Enemy of your Soul may not 〈…〉 your Minds into Lightness, Vain-words, nor Laughter, nor Idle-jesting, nor Anger, Wrath, Strife, nor Business one against another; but that you may live in unfeigned L●ve together, and serving one an other in the same; 〈…〉 being subject unto their own Masters, serving 〈…〉 with Eye-service, but with an Upright Heart, as unto Gods For, whatsoever 〈◊〉 any man doth, he shall receive a 〈◊〉 of the ●●rd, whether he be Bond or Free: And Masters giving unto their Servants that which is right in the sight of God; and 〈◊〉, as they would be done unto: And Children obeying their Parents in the Lord, which is just and right in the sight or the Lord. The Eye of the Lord is over the Righteous, and his Ear i● open unto their Cries; but the Face of the Lord is against every one, that doth Evil.  
And all Friends, that 〈◊〉 Parents of Children, walk ye before them in 〈…〉 Wisdom of the Lord God, and be good Examples unto them in all things; directing their Minds unto the Principle of God, when they are capable to receive Direction: And let not your Fleshly Affections be drawn out, by the Enemy of your immortal souls, to encourage your Children in Wildness, nor any Unrighteous Word or Action; but still, in the Wisdom of the Lord God, watch over them, and show your Dislike unto the Evil in your Children; and seasonably (in the Wisdom of the Lord) Reproving and Correcting them for the Evil, and Admonishing them to that which is Good; not in Rashness, nor Fretting; but in that weighty Spirit of the Lord God, which will keep your own minds Cool and Temperate; and that will not harden your Child's Hearts, nor provoke them to Wrath against you.  
And Friends, Strive not so much to get great Riches in this World, for your Children, as to bring them up in the Fear of the Lord God; for, if they come into the Fear of the Lord God, and Serve him, though you have little to leave them, yet will the Lord God provide for them; and if they do not Love, Fear, and Serve God, much outward Riches will do them no good; but they will be hurt by it, as we may see many are at this day, who had outward Riches left them by their Parents; who were not trained up by their Parents in the pure Fear of the Lord God; but contrariwise, in Pride, Sports, Plays, Games, Vain words, Lightness, Wildness, Swearing, Lying, and Drunkenness, etc. and so, growing up in Wickedness, which took root in them in their Youth: They spend their outward Riches, left unto them by their Parents, upon their Ungodly Lusts, and so Grieve and Dishonour the Lord the more thereby; and so, it had been better for them, that they had never had it.  
And all Friends every where, Keep in the Pure Spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ, which will keep you all Meek, and truly Lowly and Humble in Heart and Mind; that your Adorning may not be that, of putting on of Rich or Costly Apparel; but that it may be the hidden Man of the Heart, in that which is not corruptible; even the Ornament of a Meek, Pure, and Quiet Spirit, which with the Lord God is of great Price,  
And be you not, nor your Children, Conformable unto this World, and its Fashions, and Customs, and Manners, which are Corrupt, and Vain, and Changeable, and abundantly Sinful, in Riotousness, Gluttonny, Drunkenness, and Superfluity of Apparel; while they suffer the Poor to lie languishing in the Streets, for want of a Supply of those things which are needful: And this is a crying Abomination in England, and many other Parts of that, called Christendom, which is a great Shame to the Bishops, who are called, Reverend Fathers in God; a Name very unfit for their Unmerciful, Ungod-like, and Unchrist-like Nature: For, God is Love, and those that dwell in him, they dwell in Love; and Love doth feed the Hungry, and cloth the Naked with a Garment. So the Bishops, Priests, and Rulers, and Rich, and Fat, and Wanton People, who suffer their Poor Neighbours, yea, and their own Church-Members, to suffer want of Food and Raiment, (while they are Eating, and Drinking, and clothing, in excess, without the Fear of God) have not a Habitation in God, who is Love, nor in Christ Jesus. So be not you like unto them, but keep in the Wisdom of the Lord, in putting on your Apparel, and in all things else, that you may preach forth Righteousness in the whole course of your Life, and manner of your Conversation.  
And all dear Friends every where, who have been called by the Lord God out of the worships of the World, which are vain, into his own pure Worship, which is in Spirit and Truth; continue steadfast with the Lord in all things, I tenderly beseech you (as moved by him)  
Oh Friends! You that have been moved and commanded by the Lord God of Heaven and Earth, to withdraw yourselves from the false Teachers, who are set up by men, and not by the Lord God; whose Work hath been, and yet is, to preach up War, Strife, and Persecution, and to set People one against another, to destroy one another. O keep your Testimony pure unto the End, that so you may all receive a full Reward of the Lord God.  
O Friends, you know what War the Priests have prepared against us, since the time the Lord, in his tender Mercy, let us see their Deceit, and called us out from amongst them, and constrained us, to forbear putting into their Mouths: What Havoc and Spoil have they made of our Goods, and imprisoning of our Bodies (divers until Death?) But O how hath the Lord born up a Remnant (who loves him and fears him) as upon eagle's Wings! And hath made us to bear joyfully the spoiling of our Goods, and the imprisonment of our Bodies; Glory, yea, Glory unto his Holy Blessed Vame forever.  
So all be valiant for the Lord God, and his Worship, which he hath called us into; and have an Eye unto the Recompense of Reward, which the Lord God hath in store for those who continue in Welldoing unto the End. So the Lord God Almighty strengthen you all with his Mighty Power, in your inward Man; and let not an Evil Mind of Unbelief spring up in any, to distrust the Lord concerning outward things: For, he who feeds the Ravens, and clothes the Grass, and takes Care for Sparrows, he hath provided for us, and doth and will provide for us, if we do abide in Faithfulness unto him, he will not suffer us to want that which is good for us, that all the Faithful are fully satisfied in: And many have deep Experience of his Fatherly Care over them, which hath begotten a depth of Love in their hearts unto him; by which they are made strong in the Faith, to follow him through the greatest Hardships: And so we know him a God near at hand, Mighty to Save; and do endure Afflictions with Cheerfulness, because we do inherit his Mighty Power, by which we are made Conquerors over Hell, and Death, and all the Rage and Fury of Man.  
And all dear Friends in England, and elsewhere, who have been, and yet are under great Sufferings, in the Spoil of your Goods, and Imprisonment of your Bodies, for your Pure Obedience to the Living God, in meeting together to Worship him in Spirit and Truth: Happy are you, and great is, and will be your Reward, if you continue in Welldoing unto the End.  
O Friends! Rejoice in the Lord, who hath given you Ability to suffer for his Glorious Name's sake; knowing, that it is not only given unto us, to believe in Christ Jesus, but also to suffer with him, and for his sake; and if we do suffer with him, we shall also Reign with him: But if any should refuse to suffer with him, they cannot Reign with him; For (said Christ) he that denies me before men, him will I deny before my Father, which is in Heaven: And he said, Whosoever doth forsake Father or Mother, Wife or Children, Lands or Living, for my Name's sake; he shall receive in this World Manifold, and in the World to come, Everlasting Life: And this is a faithful Saying, and worthy to be believed and accepted by all; and it is believed by Thousands, and the Truth of it seen and witnessed inwardly; Glory to the Lord God for the same.  
O the Glorious Powerful Presence of the Lord Jesus Christ, which Thousands do enjoy in their Hearts and Souls! Which doth give them perfect dominion over Sin, and the Devil, who is the Author of it. O my dear Friends! This is a Manifold Reward for our Sufferings; and I do sensibly say, and affirm on God's Behalf, That the Sufferings, which do attend us in this World, for the Truth's sake, are not worthy to be compared to the Glorious Power of the Lord, which is already revealed in us, who have steadfastly believed in him, and freely have been given up to suffer with him, and for him: For, as our Tribulations have been increased, for his sake; our Consolation in him hath much more abounded; so that we can truly and sensibly say, as those, who suffered with him before us, did say, Greater is he that is in us, than he that is in the World; by whom we do overcome the World, and the Devil, who is the god of it: And he hath made us Conquerors through his Love, Life, and Power; and so we can bring in our Testimony for him, to his Glory, and our own everlasting Comfort, That he is able to save unto the utmost all that come to the Father by him. So dear Friends every where, be Valiant and Cheerful in your Sufferings for the Precious Living Truth, and Way of the Living God, in which you are come to know your souls Salvation; and as good Soldiers of Christ Jesus, endure Afflictions, and rejoice in them, and through them, and over them; and Reign in the Lamb's Patience, over all Persecution and Persecutors, unto the End of your Days, in this World: For, dear Friends, It is those that endure unto the End, that must inherit Everlasting Life, and the Heavenly Joy and Divine Riches, which is beyond what can be declared in words: But if any man draws back, my Soul shall have no pleasure in him, saith the Lord God: So all Friends, prise your precious Time, and press forward in the Truth, that so you may grow more and more Spiritually-minded, our of Earthly-mindedness; for, we brought nothing into this World. and it is certain, we can take nothing out: so having Food and Raiment, let us therewith be content; for, here we have no continuing City; but though our Earthly House of this Tabernacle were dissolved, yet have we an Inward Eternal Habitation in the Lord; and though our outward Man perish, yet do we know a renewing of strength in the inward Man, day by day: And our light Affliction, which is but as for a Moment, worketh unto us a far more and exceeding weight of Glory, while we look not at the loss of Temperal, Outward, and Perishing Riches; but at the gain of Spiritual and Eternal Riches, which the Lord our God is abundantly enriching us withal, in this the Day of the Manifestation of his Great and Glorious Power and Wisdom in us. So dear Friends, we have no cause to be dicouraged; for we certainly know, That the Lord God is with us, and he will plead our Cause with all our Adversaries; and he is stronger than them all; and by his Strength we are upheld, and made bold as Lions, to meet together to Worship him, as he hath commanded us: And all our Enemies are not able to pluck us out of our Heavenly Father's Hand; but as Christ hath said, we do witness it to be true, who said, My Father is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck my Sheep out of my Father's Hand. So, God Almighty 〈◊〉 you all my dear Friends, and Heavenly Relations, and Spiritual Kindred, whom the Living God hath Redeemed out of the World, which lieth in Wickedness, by his Almighty Power, which hath wrought Mightily and Effectually in you, for your Redemption out of sin; and hath brought a Remnant to sit together in Heavenly Places in Christ Jesus, where the Devil and Sin hath no place: And he is daily increasing the strength of the least of his People, who wait upon him in the Measure of his pure Light, Grace, and Spirit, already made manifest; and those that are Faithful in a little, he doth make to inherit great Riches; he bears his Lambs in his Arms, and gently leads on those who are waiting upon him in the Way of his Righteous Judgements; and those that do own him in the Way of his Righteous Judgements, he doth show Mercy unto: and though they do know a time, wherein they do sow in Tears; yet they do not long abide in that Estate (but he brings them to reap in Joy) as it is witnessed at this day by Thousands, who have known a time, wherein the Hand of the Lord hath been heavy upon them, because of Sin; but he hath blotted out and forgiven those that have been brought unto true Repentance, and a Forsaking of Sin, by his Righteous Judgements: and so, Times of Refreshment are come unto those who have patiently born his Righteous Judgements; and now such can sing forth the high Praises of the Lord, in the Land of the Living, in the Beauty of Holiness. O the Beauty, the Beauty that is in Holiness! And without Holiness none can be accepted of the Lord God, who is Holy; for Holiness becomes his House and People forever: And the Temple of God is Holy, which Temple Faithful Suffering Friends are, who have owned him in the Way of his Righteous Judgements, and have been cleansed thereby; in whom he hath appeared as a Refiner, with Fire; and as a Fuller, with Soap. O Friends, How precious is that Freedom and Liberty, which Christ Jesus, the Power and Wisdom of God, hath wrought in us and for us? O stand all in it forever; and none suffer yourselves to be again entangled with the Yoke of Bondage, which the Enemy of your Immortal Souls once had you under: O remember those bitter Days and Hours, which we spent in Darkness, when we knew not the Way of Life and Peace! O remember how we did wander as Blind Men, and could find no Comfort in all the Earth unto our Immortal Souls; and then the Lord God of tender Mercy, heard our Cries and Groans in secret, and hath rewarded us Richly! O let his tender Mercy be had in Everlasting Remembrance by all that have partaken of the same!  
And all Friends, Keep your first Love unto the Lord, and his pure Living Way, which he hath brought you into; and none look back into the World, and its glory, which will Perish and come to an End: But keep your Minds chaste unto the Living God, who hath showed you such great Kindness: O let not the Cares of this World, and the Deceitfulness of Riches, and the Love of other things choke nor hinder the growth of the pure Seed of Life in any of you! nor let not the Storm or Heat of Persecution drive any of you away from the Lord God; but all keep your Virginity unto the End.  
And all Friends every where, Keep your Meetings in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, who never fell nor changed; and feel his Living Virtue in the midst of you, keeping you Quick, Fresh, and Lively; out of all Carelessness, Dulness, and Drousiness; for, these are Uncomely. So all have a great Care to keep out of such things; and all wait upon the Lord in the Comly Order, that you may all be Refreshed by him, in your Meetings; and that you may all have Cause to say, Good is the Lord, and worthy is he to be waited upon; for he feeds the Hungry with Good Things: And as all do diligently wait upon God in the Measure of his Holy Spirit, which he hath given unto them to profit withal, they will feel a true Hungering and Thirsting after the Righteousness of God, to be made Partakers of it more and more; and unto such the Blessing doth belong; and God will deal bountifully with such; for he delighteth in his People's Diligence: And as it is written, The Diligent Hand maketh Rich; but the Sluggard shall be clothed with rugs, whose Field grows over with Briars and Thorns: And Man, in such a State is Miserable, and shall not be Crowned with Honour, which God gives unto the Faithful; nor can he in that State die in Peace with the Lord. Therefore all be Faithfal unto the Lord God in all things, that when your days are ended in this World, you may rest Eternally in the Bosom of the Lord; as it is written, Blessed are the Dead which die in the Lord; for they shall rest from their Labour, and their Works shall follow them.  
And Friends, Our God (who is the True and Living God) he is Love, as it is written of him; and all People, who do dwell in God; they do dwell in unfeigned Love one unto another, and also unto their Enemies, as the Lord Jesus hath commanded: In which Love of God we are raised up to Worship him, and in it to watch one over another, and to build up one another in Holiness; and in it are we Comforted and Edified, and are made of one Heart and Mind, and made near and dear one unto another, and truly tender one over another, and careful one of another's Good every way; and in true Humility to Honour and Esteem one another, and thereby led to be just and true in all our Words and Actions, one to, and concerning another, and to and concerning all our Enemies, in which we do seek the Eternal Good of all People; and in which we do live in sweet Unity, and pure Peace together, as doth become the Family of God.  
O how sweet is the Unity in God's Spirit of Love and Life, in which the Bond of Peace is kept, without BREACH! For, in the Spirit of Love and Life, all Friends being kept (which keeps all Upright, Just, and Pure) the Bond of Peace cannot be broken.  
So in this, the Lord God of Heaven and Earth preserve you all, my dear Friends, (unto whom my Love is dear and near in the Lord) that so all your hearts may be full of the Pure Love of God, which thinketh nor doth no evil unto any (but doth good unto all) that you may be known to be the Disciples of Christ, who said, Every Tree shall be known by its Fruit; and said, A Good Tree cannot bring forth Evil Fruit; and he said, The Good Man, our of the Good Treasury of his Heart, bringeth forth Good Things,  
But he said, The Evil Man, out of the Evil Treasury of his Heart, bringeth forth Evil Things: Which are the Fruits of the Flesh, begotten therein by the power of Darkness, which doth Rule in the Hearts of all the Wicked and Ungodly, upon the Face of the whole Earth.  
Which Evil Things are, Envy, Malice, Murder, Oppression, Injustice, False-judgment, Idolatry, Strife, Hypocrisy, Defrauding one another in Words and Actions, Evil Imaginations, and Evil Thoughts, and Evil Words, Pride, Covetousness, Swearing, Lying, Drunkenness, Whoredom, Theft, Lightness, Wildness, Vain-Laughter, Idle-Jesting, Whispering. False-accusing, and Tale-bearing to sow Strife, etc.  
So all Friends, who do make Profession of the pure Truth, and perfect Way of the Lord, and to be Followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Patient and Innocent Lamb of God, who did not Sin, neither was Deceit at any time (in any thing) found in his Mouth; See how you do follow him, your Living Example; and perfect Pattern, I say, Search all with the Heart, searching Spirit of the Lord God; and see that you stand out of all those, before mentioned Evils, etc. For, because of them comes the Wrath of God upon those who do continue in them, and do not believe in Christ, and follow him, who leads out of them, and destroys them: For, no  Thing can inherit God's Kingdom.  
But Glory to the Lord God, He hath Redeemed a Remnant from such of the before mentioned Evils, as they were guilty of who now know a Pure Peaceable Rest, and a quiet Habitation in him, in whom he works to Will and to Do of his own Good Pleasure; and he is daily Redeeming those that wait upon him in the Ways of his Righteous Judgements.  
And so all who do profess the Truth, and live and walk contrary to it, and thereby cause the Way of Truth to be Evil-spoken of, and harden the Hearts of Unbelievers against it, and so shut the Kingdom of Heaven against men, not entering themselves, but by their Evil Example hinder others: If they do not Repent while they have time, and amend their ways, and walk orderly, as becomes the Gospel; heavy will the Judgements of God fall upon them in the End.  
And all such who have once known and Professed the Way of Truth, and in some Measure (and for some time) have walked in it; but now are turned away from it, into the Ungodliness again, like the Dog to his Vomit, and the Sow that was washed, to the wallowing in the Mire; and now are grown so hardhearted, that they can speak Evil of the Way of Truth, and oppose it; and hate, contemn, scorn, and reproach those who live in it, and suffer for it: (My Soul pities them) Miserable is their Condition. O that it were in their Heart to seek a Place of Repentance! then it may be, the Lord might show Mercy unto them: But if they do go on in Gainsaying (as Core did) then had it been better for them, that they had never been born; for, Everlasting Torment and Anguish will be the Reward of their wicked work.  
And dear Friends, and Brethren, and Sisters every where, This Testimony am I moved of the Lord God to bear for your Consolation, (viz.) That this is the True and Living Faith, wherein we stand, who have believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, the true Light, and have followed the Leadings of his Blessed Holy Spirit, which hath led us out of the Evil that is in the World, by which we have been crucified unto the World, and its Glory, and the many Sinful Customs and Fashions, that are of it, and in it; and by which we have been led into a Holy Innocent Conversation: And by, and in this Faith, we do live to God; and in it are we brought to Love God (Uprightly) and to serve him with our whole strength: For, this Faith is his own Gift, which hath wrought by Love, in us, Effectually, to the purifying of our Hearts and Spirits, which were defilled with sin: And in this Holy Faith is our Religion and Worship Pure, and is of the Pure God, and so is accepted by him; and we have the Witness of this in our own Hearts: And we do certainly know, that we are of God, by his Spirit, which he hath given us: And this is the one standing Faith, which is God's Gift, in which the Pure, Standing, Unchangeable Worship of God is again renewed, and set up amongst us, as it was in the Apostles days; Glory, yea, Glory be to the Lord God forever, whose day of Light and Life is now (again) made manifest in, and unto us, as it was in the Apostles days; and it shines Gloriously amongst us to our great Consolation.  
O the Glory, the Glory of the Lord God O how doth it shine in the Assemblies of the Righteous! Overcoming, Refreshing, and Melting the Hearts of the Upright, and making them more glad, than they that have great increase of Corn, and Wine, and Oil. And we can truly say, The Lord hath dealt bountifully with us; our Lot is fallen in a Fruitful Hill, and we have a goodly Inheritance; and this is our Inheritance, The everlasting Power and Wisdom of the Lord our God, whereby we are redeemed out of the Evil that is in the World, and through Faith in the same, are upheld in Purity, wherein our Peace and Joy is great at this day, and no man can take it from us.  
And my dear Friends, I know the Lord God is daily increasing your Faith, who have been freely given up to suffer for Righteousness sake; so that you can say (with the Prophet) Though there be no Flocks in the Fold, and though the Fruits of the Earth be taken from you, for your pure Obedience unto God; yet can you not Murmur at it, but do still Rejoice in the Lord God of your Salvation; and can cast your Care upon him, knowing he doth care for you, as a Tender Father, for his Tender and Obedient Children.  
And my dear Friends, Though all the false Worshippers and Apostates upon the whole Earth, should join together, and seek to destroy our Testimony, and pure Faith, and pure Worship; yet can they never do it: But the Testimony, and Faith, and Worship, into which we are gathered by the Lord our God, it shall stand and remain, when all their Fight, Persecuting, and Bloodthirsty Faiths, and Religions, and Worships, and False Testimonies are gone, and ended.  
And we shall yet live to Praise the Lord our God, notwithstanding all the Rage and Fury of our Enemies. And though Sufferings may attend us for a little time, yet will they be ended in the Lord's Time; and he doth suffer us to be tried, but it is not in Enmity to us, but in Love, that we may be gathered unto him, out of all things which perish with the using; and that we may know him to be our Strength; and that he may show forth his Virtue and Power in us, in our Sufferings; and that People, who sit in Darkness, and whose Hearts are set on Earthly Things, may see, that he hath redeemed a People from the Earth, who can suffer the Loss of all earthly Enjoyments, rather than to deny their Testimony Faith and Religion, which he hath called them into: And by Friend's Faithfulness herein, is the Lord God Glorified, and the Understandings of People opened; and they come to see the difference betwixt those, who do profess Christ in words, and Faithful Friends, who do enjoy him in Life and Power: And so, the Wise Man's House upon the Rock comes to be known from the Fool's House upon the Sand; that so those, who are dissatisfied with the Dead, Huskey, False Worships that are in the World, may know where to centre and sit down, even with us, who are become the Flock and Heritage of the Lord God.  
And God's Worship in the Spirit and in the Truth, which he hath set up amongst us, and into which we are gathered, it must spread over the Nations and Kingdoms of the World; and the Nations and Kingdoms of this World must become our God's, and his Christ's (as it is written) This hath the Lord God Decreed, and all his Enemies cannot reverse nor alter this his Decree.  
And God will certainly throw down all the Fight, Persecuting, Bloodthirsty Faiths, and Worships, and Religions upon the Face of the Earth, which have been set up in the Fallen, Earthly, and Sensual, and Divilish-wisdom of Wicked Men; about which they have shed the Blood of many Innocent People, who have been taught of God, and therefore could not bow unto their Devilish Inventions.  
And the Living, Powerful, Almighty, Dreadful God, before whom all the strength of his Enemies is but as a Thread of Tow in the bot fiery Flame, he is risen to execute his Judgements upon the Old Red Dragon, the Devil, who hath made the Nations, like the Raging Sea, throwing forth Mire and Dirt, and hath set People to devour one another about Religion, Faith, and Worship, like Wolves, Lions, and Dogs: And the Lord God will certainly Plague him, and Bind him; and REDEEM the Nations from under his Accursed power.  
And the Great Whore, who hath been drunk with the Blood of the Saints, who have kept the Testimony of Jesus (which is the Spirit of Prophecy) Her will God judge, and the Beast, and False Prophets, and all whose Hands and Hearts are defiled with shedding Innocent Blood; the Wrath & Indignation of the Lord God will be heavy upon them: And God will certainly Waste, Consume, and Confound, with his Righteous Judgements, the Stock and Root of the Wicked and Ungodly, and will Rout Wickedness and Ungodliness out of the Nations of the Earth; and will plant the Nations with Righteousness, Holiness, and Purity, that so he may be Exalted over all the Works of his Hands.  
And the Lamb Christ Jesus, the Prince of Life and Peace, who comes not to destroy men's Lives, but to save them, He must have the Victory over the Dragon, Beast, Whore, and False Prophets, whose Work hath been, and still is, to destroy both the Souls and Bodies of People.  
And all Nations that come to be saved, must walk in the Light of the Lamb Christ Jesus, in which Light we do now Reign with him, over all Deceit, and over all the false Worships in the World, (notwithstanding our outward Sufferings) for our Reign is Spiritual and Inward.  

AND all Friends, who are newly convinced, or such who may be Young and Weak in the Faith; God hath put something into my Heart to write unto you, for your Establishment in the perfect Way of the Lord.  
And this is God's Counsel unto you all, Let your Faith remain firm and steadfast in Christ Jesus, the true Light and Life of men; and all wait upon God in that Measure of his Blessed Light and Spirit, which he in his tender Mercy hath given unto you, to profit withal; that therein you may all grow into a living Sense and Knowledge of God (which hath been lost by Transgression) that you may all come to be renewed up into the Pure, Spiritual, Heavenly, and Divine Image of God, in which man was made in the Beginning (A Noble Vine; wholly of a Right Seed) So, all wait to know your Birth of the Immortal Incorruptible Seed (which is the Word) of God, which Lives and Abides forever; which Word, Seed, Light, and Life is to be found, received, and enjoyed within People: And Blessed are they who do believe in it, and continue steadfast unto the End; in them it doth take root, and bring forth Fruit abundantly unto the Praise and Glory of God, and unto their abundant Joy and endless Comfort: So all you, that have been bound down in sin, by the great Enemy of your immortal Souls, and who have known great Distresses, Anguish, and Sorrow because thereof; Wait you all diligently upon God in the Light, which doth show unto you your present condition, and therein you will receive Power from God, who is Light, over Sin and the Devil, who is the Author of it; and so will come to feel and know Christ (the true Seed) in you, to bruise the Old Serpent's Head, yea, his whole strength and power in you to waste and destroy, and he will bring you out of the Bondage of Corruption into the Glorious Liberty of the Sons and Daughters of God; and so you will come to know, that God and Christ is greater in you, than the Wicked-spirit (called the Devil) who will certainly bind him, and cast him out, and take from him all his Armour, wherein he trusted.  
But for the Accomplishment of these great and weighty Matters, You must all wait upon God with much Diligence and Patience; and let the Pure Judgements of God freely take hold of all that is Unrighteous, and contrary to God in you; that so the Pure, Powerful, Quickening Word of Eternal Life may freely operate and work mightily in you, as a Fire, Hammer, and Sword; that so by it you may be perfectly set free. For, there is not any thing else, that can make free from sin. And this is an Eternal Record, and True Living Testimony, which the Eternal and Engrafted Word of Life (which doth Reign in my Heart, and in the Hearts of my Faithful Friends) doth bear unto you, and unto all People upon the face of the whole Earth.  
And whosoever doth Write, Print, or Speak against the Word, Spirit, Light, and Life of God and Christ within Man and Woman; and do say, That it is not able to destroy all sin, nor able to lead into all Truth, nor able to uphold Man and Woman in it They are all Liars, Deceivers, and False-witnesses; and their Words, Writings, and Testimonies herein are not of God, nor for him; but are absolutely of the Devil, and for him, whose Kingdom stands in Sin (which Christ is come to throw down, and wholly to destroy: So let none believe them in those things; for, if they do, they will be undone by it.  
And so, all keep out of all the Shadows and Figures, which do not make the Heart and Conscience perfect in the Sight of God.  
And all keep to Christ, the Immortal and Eternal Husband, and know him to Baptise you with his Spirit and Life, which doth burn up the Corruptions: And this is the one standing Baptism, of which the Apostle did testify; and the one Faith, of which he did testify is, to believe in Christ the Light, and Life, and Word, and Power of God, who said, There is one Lord, one Faith, one Baptism, one God over all, through all, and in you all: So, who are come to witness this, have no need of outward Shadows and Elements (which are but beggarly in comparison of the Life and Substance) So, in Christ, the Substance, Life, and Light, all are to come to sit down in the Heavenly Places, knowing his Flesh and Blood, which comes down from Heaven (& feeding upon it, which gives Life, and this is the Lord's Supper) with which he feeds his Faithful Followers, by which they are made strong to resist the Devil, and to overcome him: So, in and with this the Lord God preserve you all, and by it strengthen you in your Inward Man, that you may follow the Lord God with Cheerfulness, that you may walk in the Way of the Lord valiantly, and never be weary of it, nor faint in the hour of Temptation, which is suffered to come upon you for the trial of that precious Faith, which the Lord God hath in a measure given unto you; but all look unto him, who is the Giver of Faith, by which the Just lives in Dominion over the Tempter.  
So let none look down at the Temptations of the Devil (for that will weaken, and do hurt) But all, when you are tempted, look up unto Christ Jesus, the great Power and Wisdom of God, who is given unto us by the Father, to take away all Sin, and to lead into all Truth; who, in the days of his Flesh (as the Apostle said) was tempted in all points like as we are; but he did not sin: And so, it is no sin to be tempted (by the Devil) unto any wickedness whatsoever; but the sin is, to consent with the Mind unto him, and so to join to him, and so by him to be led to think, or speak, or act that which is evil in the sight of the Lord God; but out of all this Christ Jesus doth redeem; and he is able to preserve and uphold you in Purity and Holiness (in all things) For he is able to save to the uttermost all, that come to the Father by him (and that is, to free from all sin) and of this the Apostle was a true Witness, (who writ thus of him.) And though the Devil may go about you like a Roaring Lion, ever seeking which of you he may devour (whom the Lord hath redeemed from him) yet, be ye not hereby Affrighted, Discouraged, nor cast down in your Minds, nor despair of overcoming him, you tender, and contrite hearted Ones; but resist him in the Faith, and be steadfast, and Christ will secure and uphold you: So all look unto him from whom your help comes.  
Given forth by the Spirit of God, in the sixth Month, 1671. through a Tried and True Witness of those things, which he hath here written for the Edification and Comfort of all, who are turned from Darkness unto Light, from the power of Satan unto God: And what is here written, may be of some service unto those, who are yet Strangers from God, and his Way, and Worship, which is Pure.  
I am a Sufferer for Righteousness sake; a Prisoner (for the Testimony of Jesus Christ, the Light and Life of men) at Maidston in Kent, in England.  
And my Heart's Desire is, that all People might come to believe in Christ Jesus, the true Light, and so be redeemed by him from Sin, and so from the Curse, which is due unto it, and from the Devil who is the Author of it; that so they might be blessed Eternally. And as the Holy Apostle said, I do say, God would have all men to come to the Knowledge of the Truth, and be saved: But Christ said unto the Wisemen of the World, great Professors; Search the Scriptures, for in them ye think ye have Eternal Life: but ye will not come unto me, that you might have Life. And as it was then, so it is now; People will not come unto Christ the Great Power and Wisdom of God, to be redeemed from Sin by him, and so to have Eternal Life in him; and so, many die in their Sins, And he said, If ye believe not that I am he, you shall die in your Sins; and whither I go, ye cannot come. No Unclean thing can enter the Kingdom of God; and there is no Repentance in the Grave; and all who die, and perish in their Sins, their Destruction is of Themselves, and the Lord God is clear.   
William Gibson.  
THE END.