Bowels of Compassion towards the scattered Seed. Or a visitation to all, who hath been seeking the resting place, but hath not found it: the cause why showed; and the way to it manifested, wherein is something shown also, of the emptiness, and unsoundness of all profession, without the light of Christ, to be the guide.  
Also an information to all the honest hearted who desires to know the truth in the simplicity of it concerning us, the people of the most high who is by the world called Quakers: where all people is warned not to pass their Judgement upon us, only by the reports of such as know not God: wherein they are counselled out of love to their souls to wait with patience; and to mind the testimony of God's witness, that they may be preserved from lifting their hand against the Lord, and his work.  
Written in love to the scattered people in America: and is to be sent to all the Islands belonging to it, that all may be warned, and left without excuse. By one who am a witness what the Lord hath done for his people, and hath obtained with him among the rest of the faithful, whom he hath gathered into his fold of rest; where they are throughly satisfied; and lies down in peace and rest.  
Richard Pinder.   

COme oh all ye wearied souls, who hath travailed long, and hath waited long for deliverance: now is the everlasting light broken forth; and deliverance is proclaimed by it unto all that have mourned in the time of Zions' desolation, and hath waited for her deliverance out of Captivity, and bondage to be set free. Unto you the Lordis uttering of his voice, to the causing the dead to hear; that ye may understand the way of life, and salvation; which unto you is held forth in the light of eternal life, unto all that shall receive it, and believe in it, and be turned to it, whereby you will be turned from under Satan's power (which hath caused your souls to mourn) into the power of God; and will feel redemption wrought by it, and deliverance to be brought to the seed of God, which hath long been kept in bondage; and been captivated, and hath groaned for deliverance; but found it not, while your minds was alienated, and estranged from the pure Principle of God in you, and so from the life of Christ, and strangers to it. For all are strangers to the life of Christ, until they be turned to his light which shines in them: whereby they are turned from the darkness, and from under the power of it, into his power who hath enlightened them, who is the life, which was given to be the light of men (which the darkness could not comprehend) that whosoever should believe in him, should not abide in darkness but should have the light of life; and so be translated from death to life; that in his life who hath enlightened them, they might be partakers of God's love, who hath loved them, and called them out of darkness into his light; that in his light they may know his power; that by it, they may be quickened, and made alive unto him; whereby the way of life will be known, and lived in, which is not known by those that hates the light who are enemies to it, and doth not believe in it, and so come short of the life (which should satisfy them) and remains in the death, and the power of it guides them that doth not obey the light, but obeys unrighteousness, and yields their members servants unto it, and so is free from righteousness, because they believe not in Christ (who hath enlightened them) who is God's righteousness, in whom God is well pleased, and in whom his Children finds acceptance with him, and is well pleasing to him in obedience to his light; in which they come to receive his mind, and will, and knows his secrets revealed in them and so knows his voice; and follows it, in the way where they find pasture, and feeding; and so is satisfied, and lies down in peace with him; and knows the resting place, which all they are ignorant of, that denies his light by which they are enlightened; and the leadings of it, which should lead, them out of the way of death, and destruction, which all they are going on in that doth not believe in the light, which is the way to God, and is the truth, and the life; in whom salvation is only to be sought for, and found, and in no other but in him; that hath enlightened you with his true light. So all you that hath long professed God, and hath sought after peace with him, but hath not found it; here is the ground, because you have not sought it in the light; and so have not known the power which should have reconciled you unto God, that so the enmity hath lodged in your hearts; and the partition wall hath been standing unthrown down, which kept you at a distance from God; which must be slain; and thrown down; before peace with God be known, and witnessed; which never any comes to see slain, or thrown down; but those that comes to the light, and receives it, and beleius in it; and so receives the power which slays the enmity; and breaks down the partition wall: for to as many as did receive him, power was given to become the Sons of God, in which power they had victory, and were redeemed to God by it, out of the iniquity, and out of the sin: where peace with God comes to be witnessed in the light, and power of God, which hath discovered it; and thrown it down, and here Christ comes to be put on, & the true faith known, and the increase of it: and the old man with his deeds, comes here to be put off, and crucified; and the new man known, which is after God's Image, and comes to be renewed according to the will of God, and here comes the image of the heavenly to be known and born; the wisdom which is from above received: which is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated: which all they who are making a profession of God, and the Scriptures in their earthly wisdom (and the enmity standing in their minds) that wisdom which is from above they are ignorant of, for the wisdom which is from above comes only to be known in the light: for Christ who is the light is the wisdom of God, & the power of God. So all they who make a profession of God and yet disobeys the light which Christ hath enlightened them withal: their wisdom is earthly, sensual, and devilish: and all who be in this wisdom they are below the knowledge of God, and so in this wisdom is it that men put light for darkness, and darkness for light; and so is not fit to judge of the things of God; for the things of God is foolishness to that wisdom which is from below; and God will confound it, and all them that be in it, that sets themselves against his appearance, which is in light; in which light the things of God comes only to be seen and known in that which is spiritual and eternal: for it is the eye which is eternal and invisible, that sees into the invisible things of God. So all they which be from the light (which is the eye) they are blind, as concerning the things of God; for it is only the light which gives the knowledge of God, and searches into, and sees into the things which is eternal: and the things of God are only spiritually discerned; for the natural man doth not perceive them, neither can see into them. So all you that are speaking of the things of God, and are professing the Saint's word, which was given forth by the eternal spirit which dwells in them, and did reveal the things of God unto them: Now you that profess their words, and yet denies the light that Christ hath enlightened you withal, and calls it natural (and so excludes yourselves from having any thing in you which is eternal of God) you are wholly blind in the things of God. For any who ever comes to know any thing of God, as concerning the salvation of their souls; they must know it by the light in them; for God is only light, and in him is no darkness at all; and so the darkness that cannot reveal him, nor comprehend him, who is light itself, who hath immortality, and dwells in the light, and only reveals himself to his Creatures in the light; that so they in his light may know what concerns the good of their souls; and as they are kept in it, they are kept in unity with him, who is the Author of it. And so as the Saints walked in the light; they had unity with God (who is light) and one with another; and in it knew the washing, and cleansing, by the blood of Jesus, from all unrighteousness. And all they that deny the light, deny that which should wash them and cleanse them; and so tramples under foot the blood of the Covenant, and counts it an unholy thing; and so neglect that which is ordained of God to be the salvation of their souls; and despises the day of their visitation; and slights it; and so remains in darkness, and knows not what way they go, because darkness hath blinded their eye, with which they should fee the way of salvation; and their eye being blinded, than they stumble and so errs from the way of God; and stumbles at Christ the chief corner stone who is a stumbling stone, and rock of offence unto those that doth not believe in him; but take pleasure in unrighteousness. But who loves his light, and walks in it; the occasion of stumbling comes to be taken away: for all stumbling that is in the night in the darkness, from the light: and so all who stumbles, it is because they believe not in the light which Christ hath enlightened them withal; and so the light is their condemnation, because they do not believe in it, but loves their evil deeds; which the light (if they were obedient unto) would lead out of; and so lead out of condemnation: for this is the condemnation, that light is come into the World, but men love darkness rather than light, because their deeds are evil; and will not bring their deeds to the light, because the light will reprove them. And so he ●s the ground, why so many, both teachers, and people, hates the light, and speaks evil of it; because they love, their evil deeds: but all that love the light brings their deeds to it; whereby they are manifest that they are wrought in God, and is justified by his light, which hath led out of the love of the evil deeds. So all you that are breathing after peace, and fellowship with God, and hath longed for it, but hath not found it, come to the light, and this will let you see what hath kept you from it; for this for your sakes is written, that you may understand where the way of life and peace is to be found; and that you may be brought into it, where you will see the emptiness, and unsoundness, and unprofitableness of all that profession which is without the light; and of all those performances which is acted, but not led into by the light, which is the Principle of God. So never any comes to find true peace, neither in performing, nor in not performing, but those that are led into the obedience of what they do, by the principle which is of God; for this orders their service, and worship, unto him aright: and is accepted with him, where an answer from him comes to be known and received; which none comes to know, or receive, but those that are led into what they do by the motions of his own spirit. For his worship and service; that stands in the spirit, and in the truth. And all whose minds are abroad from the principle of truth in them, they are strangers to the worship and service of God; who are waiting for him and his appearance in outward observations, you are mistaken, and the God of the world hath blinded your minds: for his kingdom comes not by observation, nor stands not in words, but in power, and in peace, and joy in the holy Ghost, and the appearance of it is to be found in you, as a grain of mustardseed; and the increase of it you are to wait to feel there. And all you that have been seeking lo here, and lo there, you must turn back, and feel the appearance of it in yourselves; and not be as fools, whose eyes is abroad. For you have been deceived by those that hath cried lo here, and lo there; they have drawn you forth from the principle of God in you (which should have led you into the knowledge of God) and so you have come short of what you have desired after ●nd sought for; and you have spent your money for that which is not bread, and your labour for that which hath not given you true satisfaction. Now the Lord have ●ing remembered the travel of all such; and having regarded the cry of the oppressed, it hath caused bowels of compassion; that so after the time of your long darkness, he is risen to gather you, with thoughts of love towards you; if you be not stiffnecked, & rebellious; but be willing and obedient unto, he will gather you the resting place to lie down with those whom he hath caused to understand his council, and made known the way of life unto them; and hath established their feet upon the sure foundation, and rock of ages: this the Lord hath done for many thousands, after their long travel, and much seeking hath brought to the knowledge of the truth itself; whereby they are throughly satisfied, and lies down in his arm, by which he hath gathered them into his fold of rest. This the Lord hath brought to pass; to the praise, and honour of his own name; in the Island of England; where many is brought to walk in the light of the Lord their God; and lies down together in the resting place, where their waters is sure. And now the Lord is fulfilling his promise made of old; and is ri●en to gather his elect from the four corners of the earth, into his everlasting fold, where there is one shepherd, and one fold witnessed according to his promise; who hath promised that he will seek, save that which was lost; and bring back that which was driven away. And this is a visitation unto you the scattered in America, who hath any true, and living breathe after God; who hath professed him in words, but hath not found thath which your souls longed after by one whom am a witness what the Lord hath done for his people; and having obtained deliverance, and favour wim (amongst the rest) who is constrained by the love, and power of God to visit you; that you may also be gathered, and made partakers of the same love, and power, which now the Lord is manifesting to the glory of his everlasting name; and to the peace; and comfort of all tha● have waited for him, and sought him in sincerity, and uprightness of heart: now hath he caused his glorious light to shine forth, to guide their feet in the way o● peace, and salvation; in which fools shall not err, nor go astray: and all tha● walks in it, shall find pasture; and feeding, and shall grow to his praise, that hat● called them; and shown them the way of life, who hath visited them with the da●● sprung from on high, which hath given the knowledged of salvation; and hat● brought deliverance with it, even unto those that sat in darkness, and under th● shadow of death; behold light i● sprung up, which hath caused many to rejoice Arise, arise, you that are yet in darkness, and come forth, that Christ may gi●● you life; that you may come to witness deliverance to your souls, which is precious in the eyes of the Lord; who doth not desire your death, but rather that yo● should repent and live, that he may have mercy on you; that you might be gather●● in this day of his love; lest it be said unto you, how often would the Lord have gathered you, but you would not. Oh be not stiffnecked, neither harden your hearts 'gainst him; lest the day of your visitation pass over your heads, & it be hid from yo●● eyes, but while the Lord calls, and waits to be gracious unto you, that you may return with speed; that he may show mercy unto you: who hath said that in the day that the wicked man turns from his wickedness, and doth that which is just, he will remember his sin no more. But know assuredly that if you neglect the day of your visitation, and continue, and go on in sin, and wickedness; that the day of the Lord will overtake you; and that his fury, and indignation, you must partake of, which must be poured out without mixture: and will fall heavy upon the head of the wicked, and ungodly, that turns his pure grace into wantonness; which hath appeared unto them, and would teach them to deny all ungodliness; (if they were obedient unto it) and to live godly, and soberly in this present world. But if you go on in wickedness after you are warned, and do despite unto the spirit of grace; then your candle shall be put out: and know then that utter darkness shall be your portion; where there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, for ever, and ever.  
And unto all you whose hearts is tender towards God; and desires to know the truth as it is in Jesus, and is afraid of being deceived, and led in the way of error a few lines I am moved to write unto you, that you may be more fully informed concerning us, whom the Lord hath made witnesses of his truth; seeing many false reports, and many slanders is cast upon us by those that know not God, nor his worship, which is in spirit, and in truth; and this worship we own; and set up, and witness it amongst us: and therefore is it that we are so much hated, and reproached by all sorts of people that are in the false worship, and ways, because we ●estifie against them all, who are in the Sects, and opinions, that are setting up their ●wn inventions; and so is worshipping the work of their own hands; against all such ●●ve bear our testimony, who knows not a principle of God to guide them in their worship: but is worshipping by tradition: for this we say, that it is neither circumcision, nor uncircumcision that avails any thing with God, but a new creature, ●●o this in short; we are against all those that profess that, which they live not ●●e life of; such we account as hypocrites, and all such teachers that profess the scriptures, and Saints words; and yet be out of their life; all such we do deny, ●nd turn from them, as having the form of godliness; but not the power of it, who chenies the light, which Christ hath enlightened every one withal; with which they ●●ould be led into the life of what they profess, and this we say, that none comes ●nto the life which the Saints was in who gave forth the scriptures, but those that ●ome to be guided by the same spirit, as they were; nor into the power which the ●●ints lived in, but those that receives the light of Christ, which shi●es into their own consciences. And I say again, that those professed Teachers, who doth de●● the light of Christ to be manifested within people, to guide, and teach them; ●●ch we account, as blind guides: for we knowing, and being assured that there is ●othing that can guide any in the way of God, but the light, which comes ●●om him, and all they that doth deny the appearance of it to be within; we say they are ignorant of the anointing which was in the Saints, and did teach them; and as they continued in it, they needed not any man to teach them, and all who deny the teachings of the anointing within, we account as Antichrists, and deceivers; and say they were never sent of God: for those that were sent by him, they were sent to turn people from darkness to light, from Satins power, unto God. And again we say, that none brings any unto God, nor profits people, but those that turns them to the light; for how is any like to come into the knowledge of God, while they remain in darkness: and them Teachers, which doth not bring people to the anointing within, to be taught by it; we account of that sort which keeps people ever learning, but never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. For it was the spirit of truth, by which the Saints was led into all truth; and the spirit did reveal the things of God unto them; and it was within them: and what may be known of God, is manifest within. So not any one knows any thing of God, but as his spirit reveals unto them. For no man knows the Father but the Son, and h● to whom the Son reveals him, and who ever comes to know the Father, and the Son to dwell in them, they must come to the light, and wait in it, to feel the Father and the Son revealed: and here you will know the doctrine of Christ; and all that abides in it, they have both the Father, and the Son: and if any bring any other doctrine than this, you are not to receive them into your houses, neither bid them God speed, lest you be partakers of their sins. And all that reads this, may see that that accusation is falsely cast upon us, to say that we deny the Ministers of Christ; for it is none but those that profess themselves to be his ministers; and doth not abide in his doctrine, it is those that we deny; and declare against those that we find walking in the steps of the false Prophets, which we read of in the scriptures. So this is for the simples sake, that they may clearly understand that we do not deny the true Ministry, nor Ministers, but own them; and witness th●● true ministry among us. And praises be unto the Lord, many have the word of reconciliation committed unto them, and are faithful ministers of it; not of the letter, but of the spirit, which gives life; by which many comes to be converte● unto God, and turned from darkness unto light. So it is none but those that can not witness this ministry that we speak against; who runs for their own ends but is not sent of God, and so doth not profit people; those indeed we do declar● against; as all those ever did that was sent by God; and did receive their ministr● from him freely; and so was to minister freely unto those whom the Lord sen● them; and so the Lord he cared for them. And those that make a prey upon th● people; and through covetousness make Merchandise of souls, those we do deny; such as watches not for the good of souls, but for the fleece; such we exhort people to turn away from, lest they be destroyed by them; such who feeds n●● the flock, but feeds themselves; those teachers we declare against, in what Country, or place soever we find them; and seeks to redeem people out of their mouth●● that so they may no longer make a prey upon them; that they may be brought 〈◊〉 know their true shepherd, and true Teacher; who is now come to teach his people by his own spirit, and is fullfilling his promise made with Israel; all the children of the Lord shall be taught of the Lord; and great shall be their peace: and now he is gathering the residue of his own seed into his covenant of light; where they shall not need to teach every man his neighbour, and brother, saying know the Lord, but all shall know him, from the least to the greatest: and he is pouring forth of his spirit upon all flesh; and many, both Sons and Daughters, is brought to Prophesy, according unto his promise; and this he hath fulfiled, and brought to pass, among his gathered flock, other great astonishment: of all the heathen round about; who knows not God, nor his power, by which he subdues Kingdoms; and overturnes them, until the Government of them come into his hand, whose right they are: who reigns in righteousness, in justice, and in equity; who must rule all Nations with his Iron rod, and will dash them to pieces, (like a Potter's vessel) that opposeth him in his work, which now he is bringing to pass; by his own Arm; even his work, his strange work, his act; his strange act. So this the Lord hath put in my heart, to warn all, both high, and low, both rich, and poor, bond, and free, that you take heed how you lift your hand against the Lord, and his people; whom he hath made witnesses of his out-going, which hath been as in times of old; lest it come upon you, as spoken of by his Prophet, behold ye despisers, and wonderers, and perish; for the abomination, which hath caused desolation is seen; and he that stands in the holy place reads, and understands. So I say, again this is a warning unto all sorts of people, in these foreign Countries that they be not hasty to speak evil of things that they know not; nor to judge rashly of things they do not understand; but that they may with patience wait to see what the Lord will bring to pass; lest they be found fight against him; and so be consumed by the breach of his nostrils: for surely his stroke will be grievous, and fall heavy upon all that withstands him: for consider was there ever any that strove against the Lord, and prospered? Nay; though the heathen rage; and the wicked imagine vain things against the Lord, and his people; they shall be confounded; and his Son he will exalt upon his holy hill; to be both Lord and King, and Lawgiver: unto whom Kings, and Princes shall be made subject and shall lay down their Crowns at his feet: and this the Lord will bring to● pass; contrary to all the wills of men; that so he may be exalted, and get himself a name for his own works sakes; whose out-going was ever strange unto the World: and this I say for your sake; whose hearts is after God, that you may not be filled with reports from the mouths of wicked and ungodly men, concerning us, the people of the most high; but that you may be single in your minds from judging of us, until you see further of us. And mind the testimony of God's witness in you, that you may be preserved, from passing Judgement nastily upon u●, only from the reports of such as know not the Lord. For a people that is hated of the World we are; and the Lord hath redeemed us out of the pollutions of it; whereby we give our testimony against it that the deeds of it is evil; wherefore we are hated of the World, as those ever was, whom the Lord called out of it; and chose to bear his testimony against it, and unto his truth; whereby they become a byword, and a reproach unto the World, as we are now, whom he hath redeemed unto himself out of the vain glory, and customs of it; whereby we have the testimony of his spirit, that we are of him, and that the whole World lies in wickedness; and because we obey his commands, and they are not grievous, but joyous to us: And because the love of God dwells amongst us, and is perfected in us, and one towards another, whereby we know that we are passed from death to life, where Satan hath no power, but is cast out; which hath caused great wrath upon them that dwells in the Earth, that so many times they have sought to devour us; and hath had power to cast some of us into Prison, and to inflict punishment upon our outward bodies for a time, in which time the Lord was with us our stay, and refuge; when all the powers of darkness risen up against us, and would have devoured us in a moment, had not the Lord appeared for us, for the deliverance of his own seed, for whose sake he is now risen, with full purpose to gather, and to make it the praise of the whole Earth, and to exalt it in spite of all his enemies, and to crown his people with victory, and dominion ●ver the heads of all the ungodly, whom he hath upholden by his arm, and hath led them through great tribulation, whereby they came to be acquainted with the Lords deal with them, and saw his arm and power, through all preserving of them, where they had their garments washed, and made white, and is redeemed by the blood of the Lamb, and hath received the mark of the living God in their foreheads, and have found their names written in the Lamb's book of life, from the foundation of the World, and so cannot worship the Beast, nor his Image; but makes war against him, with the testimony of the Lamb, by which we overcome and have victory, and rejoices over the Beast, and false Prophet (praises be unto the Lord for ever more) and worships him that made heaven and earth, who was dead, and is alive, and lives for ever more; who hath brought salvation, and redemption, who hath wrought all our works for us, and in us, who hath saved in the time of need: who by his own arm hath brought deliverance, and hath delivered out of captivity, and bondage, and hath made us free, in the kingdom of his own Son; who cannot but extol his loving kindness, and infinite mercies towards us, whose time hath been a time of love, even when none else pitied, than he by his own power wrought our deliverance, and saved us; whereby we are become the first fruits unto the Lord God, and to the Lamb, and rejoices before the Throne of his glory, where we come to be filled with his praises, who hath purchased us by his own blood, and hath redeemed us out of kindred, tongues, and Nations, not to live unto ourselves, but unto him that died for out sins, and is risen again for our justification, that we should not fashion ourselves according to the former lusts, in our ignorance, nor according to the course of the World, neither that we should be conformable unto it; but that we should live to his praise and be conformable to his Image, who is our Captain, and forerunner, who for the joy set before him endured the Cross, and despised the shame, and so he being our example, and Master, who suffered the contradiction of sinners, therefore, we as followers, and servants thinks it no strange thing to be hated, and reviled of the World, we knowing that our Lord and Master passed the same way: and that the servant is not greater than his Lord: and that they who will live godly in Christ Jesus must suffer persecution: So we rather choose to suffer with our Lord and Master, then to enjoy the pleasures of sin; which is but for a season; we rather choose to fill up the measure of his sufferings which is yet behind: for we knowing that all who ever reigns with him, must first suffer with him, for he was made perfect through sufferings; and we knowing, and having such a cloud of witnesses, recorded in the Scriptures of truth, that persecution, and suffering, was the portion, which the people of God received from the World; Therefore we even so walk, as we have them for an example: we believing that they through patience obtained the promise; and is laid down in peace, and rest; that so, none need wonder why we are so hated, and persecuted in every place, by those that knows not God; and by them also that professeth in words they know him; but in works deny him; by all such we are hated, and falsely slandered, but unto us reproaches is great riches: we knowing that they have no evil justly to accuse us of, or lay to our charge, as we have a true testimony in all consciences, that doth witness for us, that our lives and conversations is honest, and harmless towards all men, both in word and action; and that we walk void of offence towards all. Only this the seed of enmity is offended when we cannot bow to it, nor honour it: knowing that all honour is to be given unto God; and that it is due to him, and that he will not give it to another; and that all knees is to bow at the name of Jesus, both things in heaven, and things in earth. So no more we can bow to the seed of the Serpent, knowing that it is that seed, which seeks the honour which is below: and not the honour which is from above; So we honour all men in the Lord; and gives honour unto whom honour is due; but bow to Haman's wicked nature we cannot, though we suffer for it, as Haman would have caused Mordecai to have done. Or it may be they are offended at us, because we prophesy against all sin, and wickedness, and exhorts people to come out of it; and to mind the light of Christ in them, which checks and reproves for sin, that so they might be brought to repentance; to witness the salvation of their souls; now indeed, when the seed of the Serpent hears this, it gins to rage in them, in whom it bears rule, for great is the enmity of the old Serpent, the Dragon, against the Manchild, wherever he speaks, knowing that it is he that must bruise his head, and dash his kingdom to pieces with his rod of Iron, who must rule all Nations; and unto whom all knees must bow, and we knowing this, that all power is given unto him the Lamb of God, which was slain from the foundation of the World we are subject unto him, and his power, for conscience sake; knowing that it i● the higher power, unto which all is to be subject.  
And here the honest hearted Reader may see what hath been, and is the caus● why we have suffered, and do suffer by the hands of unreasonable men, seeing ther● is enmity put between the two Seed, and that he that is born after the flesh persecutes him that is born after the spirit, and that there is no agreement between the temple of God, and the temple of Idols, nor no communion betwixt light, and darkness, and that the bondwoman, and her Son, seeks to destroy the free Woman, and her Son. So if thy eye be but single, and thou read without prejudice in thy mind, and let not the evil overcome thee; thou mayst easily see what seed we are of. If we were of the World, the World would hear us, but the World hears its own; and he hath chosen us out of the World, therefore the World hate us, because it hated him, who hath called, and chosen us; before it hated us: a●● the Servant is not greater than his Lord.  
By one who desires the good of all souls R P Barbados the 6th. day of the 7th. Month. (59)  
FINIS.   

London, Printed for M.W. in the 10th. month, (59)