To the Birth of God in all the Sanctified, the Church of the First-Born, whose Names are written in Heaven; who are born again, not of the Will of the Flesh, but of God's Holy Spirit: You to whom is given the White ston, and the New Name, that none knows but he that hath it, who as living Stones are laid in the Walls( not of the Jerusalem that now is, and is in bondage with her Children, but) of the New Jerusalem that is Above,( in the Heart and Throne of God) which is Free, and is the Mother of us all. To you, however you are divided, or wherever ye are lodged, and held in the cliffs of the Rocks, in Dens and Caves of the Earth, or secret places of the Stars; under all your divided Tribes, ROBERT RICH sendeth Greeting in our Lord God Everlasting. hallelujah.  
Dear Brethren,  
BEing moved in my Spirit, in the Year 1666, to salute the Seed of God, the Seed of the Promise in all Men, and in particular the Seven Churches of Christendom; namely, the Roman; the Episcopal Protestant; the Presbyterian; the Independent; the Baptist; the Quaker; and the Church of the First-Born; to each of them I gave Thirty pounds, to be distributed amongst the Poor of their People, as a sign of my dear Love to the Seed of God in all, which I saw lay crucified, dead and butted in some, and in others risen and reigning into Life that is Eternal. That which principally moved me to this general Salutation, was, the sad and serious apprehension of the Straits and Limits by which I saw the Seed of God held in Bondage, and these several sorts of Professors to value themselves, and also condemn one another, in reference to those Modes and Methods of Worship and Obedience, in which they are divided and distinguished. My Salutation intended a check to this unkind severity amongst them; and according to the inward Testimony from God upon my Spirit( if possible) to let them understand, that our gracious God is no respecter of Persons, Sects, or Opinions, but of every Nation, those that fear God and work Righteousness, are accepted of him; and that all those that walk in the Light of the Lord, wherewith he hath enlightened them, are saved. hallelujah.  
In the Heavenly Revelation of this Blessed Vision, wherein I felt and found myself in a through Reconcilement to all Sorts and Sects of Men, I have begun, and now finished my Epistles to these Seven States of Christians, which I recommend to the Children of Light, to red and to consider what the Spirit saith to the Churches. And because in the Travels of this Testimony upon the Soul, I have met with several Celestial Pilgrims journeying towards Sion, with their Faces thitherward, by whose sprinklings, in many of their Books and Papers, I have been often refreshed and comforted: I cannot but commend, both their Names and Labours, to the sober inquirers after Truth; as well knowing, that though these Witnesses are dead and gone, yet their Spirits and Testimony remain, and still speak to us. At this time I red many Books writ by the Divine Spirit, in which I took great delight, some few whereof I find freedom to expatiate on.  
First, Cebes the Theban Philosopher, his Table writ in Greek,( since translated into English) who lived Anno Mundi 3553; which Table was hung up in the Temple of Saturn. This Table consisted of three Parks or enclosures; at the Gate of the first stood the shape of an Old Man, called life Genius,( afterwards True Instruction) which I understand by interpretation, to represent the Light and Grace of God, which appeareth to and in every one. This Light, or life Genius, taught and instructed all how they should led their Lives, according to those Rules he directed, both to avoid temptations to 'vice, and to embrace all those Divine virtues that led to Beatitude.  
I have red the Imitation of Christ, writ by Thomas of Kempis. Also Cardinal Cusanus, his first, second, and third Rule of Perfection, and his Idiot; with others of the like Divine Nature, all tending to a Holy Life, by virtue of Christ's Holy Spirit in us, the only way to Life and Salvation. hallelujah.  
I have also red many Divine Works writ by H. N. Jacob Behm, John Saltmarsh, Dr. Everard, William Sedgwick, William Erbery, Dr. Gill, Dr. tailor, with others that were inspired of God, and spake of the second Coming of Christ in the Sanctified, and of that blessed Day which should attend his Appearance. hallelujah.  
I have also red, with much delight, two Books writ by J. N. called, Love to the Lost, and, A Salutation to the Seed of God in all.  
Also one small Book writ by John Perrot, entitled, An Epistle for the most pure Amity and Unity in the Spirit and Life of God, to all sincere-hearted Souls.  
I have likewise lately red some Prophecies and Predictions of that Holy Learned Man James Usher, Lord Arch-Bishop of Armagh; who through Inspiration of God's Spirit, spake of many things which long after came to pass: that which is to me most remarkable in that Sheet of Paper is, that he being entreated to writ in brief of Justification and Sanctification, desired he might be excused; notwithstanding the Person soliciting, through importunity, obtained a promise: A while after his Promise being claimed, he replied, He had not writ, yet could not charge himself with breach of Promise, for ( said he) I did begin to writ, but when I came to writ of Sanctification, that is, of the New Creature which God formeth by his Spirit in every Soul which he doth truly regenerate, I found so little wrought of it in myself, that I could speak of it, only as a Parrot by root, without knowledge and understanding, and therefore durst not proceed any further upon it. Adding, I must tell you, we do not well understand what Sanctification and the New Birth is; It is no less than for a Man to be brought to an entire Resignation of his own Will to the Will of God, and to live in the offering up of his Soul continually in the flames of Love, as a holy burnt Offering to Christ. And how little ( says he) are many of those that profess Christianity, experimentally acquainted with this Work of Regeneration in their Souls? Moreover, he desires his Friend to look he be not found a Worshipper in the outward Court; which outward Court ( says he) is the formal Christian, whose Religion lies in performing the out-side Duties of Christianity, without having an inward Life and Power of Faith and Love uniting them to Christ; and these God will leave to be trodden down and swept away by the Gentiles, the profane that call themselves Christians, but are the Synagogue of Satan. The Worshippers within the Temple, and before the Altar, are those that do worship God in Spirit and in Truth, whose Souls are made his Temples, and he is honoured and adored in the most inward Thoughts of their Hearts; and they Sacrifice their Lusts and vile Affections, yea, and their own Wills to him, and these God will hid in the hollow of his Hand, and under the shadow of his Wings, and shall be preserved as a Seed, to partake of that Glory which shall immediately follow.  
I have also lately red two Treatises writ by Sir Henry Vane; First, An Epistle General to the Mystical Body of Christ on Earth, the Church Universal in Babylon. The second, The Face of the Times. Wherein he well discovers the Rise, Progress, and Issue, of the Enmity and Contest between the Seed of the Woman, and the Seed of the Serpent. He saith, That till the Seventh Trump sound, 1666, the Woman's Seed must suffer; afterwards the Seed of the Woman being risen with Christ, must reign with him; and then the Head of the Serpent should be bruised. He speaketh most excellently of the first and second Covenant, and of a single and double Portion of the Spirit, of Regeneration and Restoration into the first Estate in Paradise, which may fall; also of the New Creation, or Second Birth,( the Seed of God in Man) which endures, and never will, nor ever can fall. Hallelujah.  
He saith, The Quakers Principle is, To restore out of the Fall into the first State, who though they are Angels, yet may fall. He shows how Angels fell, who through pride oppose all higher Lights than themselves, and that such fallen Angels become the greatest Enemies to the Birth of Christ in the Saints; which Spirit is the great Antichrist, the Old Serpent, the Devil, that is to be cast into the Bottomless-Pit, with all his Angels; who outwardly appear as Angels of Light, but inwardly they devour the Innocent. This I have seen to be a Truth, in the bitter contests betwixt G. F. and his Angels, and the self-denying, humble, meek Spirit that was in J. N. and J. P. and those that suffered with them, for bearing their Testimony to Christ in the Saints, which is the last, the most glorious and highest Dispensation( as saith Sir H. V.) now at the very Doors; a Truth which many can Witness. He further saith, The Lamb will overcome by Sufferings; and that the first sign of Christ's second Coming, is distress of Nations; that the Potsherds of the Earth dashing one against the other, will make way for Christ's Reign; in which War, none but Hypocrites and Apostates( which make the outward Court) will suffer, whilst God's People will be preserved in Peace and Safety. Sir H. V. also saith, The Holy City and Temple measured, are Saints in Power: That the Woman clothed with the Sun, is Christ's dead Body raised. Urim and Thummim,( he saith) are the two great Lights, Righteousness and Truth, when they meet in our Hearts. It is ( he saith) a fickle and foolish Religion, that depends on the Magistrates Power, either to set up or pull down. That Believers Rewards in Sufferings, is inward Peace and Joy in a serene quiet Mind. He was also in his day a great Prophet, ( he saith) Israel's Captivity is near an end, at which time the Sons of God shall be made manifest; so soon as that is come, there will need little other help than the Grave itself to cast them forth, as the Womb doth the Fruit; then shall you know the Lord is God when he hath opened and brought you up out of your Graves; such will the Lord own visibly for his People, by putting his wonderful Spirit in them, and then will God's Indignation be poured out upon his Enemies. That the Nation that hath kept the Seed of God in Bondage, himself God will judge more signally than he did Pharaoh and the Egyptians; in this day shall the Tabernacle of God in Men be visible. He also saith, Doubtless great and precious Promises are to be accomplished in and upon Believers here on Earth, to the making of Christ admired in them. That this dark Night and black Shade, that God hath drawn over his work in the midst of us, may be the Ground Colour to some beautiful Piece that he is now exposing to the light. That surely God hath a glorious Design to carry on in the World, even the building of David's Throne to all Generations. I know a Day of Deliverance for Sion will come, not with confused noise of the warrior, and Garments rolling in Blood, but with burning and fuel of Fire in the Consciences of Men. Men they may fight against, but this they can never fight against. The Day approaches wherein God will decide his Controversy with the World, not by outward Might and Power, but by the Spirit of the Living God. 'Twas an usual saying with him, Come what would, every thing was upon the right Wheel, in the wise contrivement of God, for the accomplishing of his Righteous Designs in the World. And speaking to his Children, saith, Regard not the Reproaches that are fallen on your Father, say, or do Men what they will, Abraham's Faith will find the Blessing Abraham found. These, and many more of His, as of Others, I take to be true and faithful Sayings, meet to be considered by all that wait for, and expect Redemption, Consolation, and Salvation from the God of Israel. hallelujah.  
You will not blame me, that I have enlarged upon the Testimonies of these Holy Men, that have finished their Course, kept the Faith, and are gone before us into the Eternal Mansions of Glory; who having quitted their Mortal fabrics, are flown into the World of hidden Wonders. The Spirits of these Just Men made perfect, are now upon you, ye are come up to them, and in the harmonious Fellowship of that Spirit,( which is now one and the same amongst all the Sanctified,) I have a few words of my inward Breathings to communicate to your holy Experiences.  
In a deep sense thereof, of my endeared Love towards that Royal Seed that richly dwells in you, I here salute you, and give you to understand, That my Soul is firmly knit and united to that Principle of Life in which you stand, bearing your Testimony for the Truth, before God and Man, amongst a crooked and perverse Generation; who only dwell upon the out-side talks and pretences to God, Religion and Christianity, but hate even to Blood and Violence, all those that are the free-born Seed of the Promise; whose Faith and Obedience stands not in the Will, Work, or Wisdom of Man, but in the Power and Spirit of God, mightily working in their Hearts and Consciences, whereby they are indeed purified, washed, and cleansed from dead Works to serve the Living God. And so much the more is my Heart inflamed towards you, when I consider you in refeference,  
First, To the Nature of your present Station.  
And secondly, To those great Designs that God hath prepared you for.  
First, For the Nature of your present Station, I behold you( not as Moab, Jer. 48.11, 12, &c. but) as a People standing in a more inward nearness with God, than the rest of the formal Tribes of Religious Proselytes in the World; a People that have been scattered from all your fleshly Comforts and Confidences in all those Joys, Hopes, Helps, and Establishments, wherein you have trusted, below God. You have been lead into the Deeps of God's Wonders, while others have been only wading in the shallow Streams of a literal and formal Profession: Unto you it is given to know those Mysteries of the Kingdom of God, which lye hide from others in dark and obscure Parables; you know that the Son of God is come, and hath given you an understanding to know him that is True, and that ye are in Him that is True, which is the very God and Eternal Life. You cannot be deceived with the tinkling Noises, or glittering Baits of, lo here, or lo there, for the Kingdom of God is within you. In a word, there is nothing below Spirit, Power, and Substance, that can either crown your longing Expectations, or reward your holy Breathings after Truth, with a plenary and full satisfaction. Thus as the Lord's lilies among Thorns, so do you stand among the formal Daughters, being preserved in your Station, upheld in your Principles, and as Beacons flaming with the holy Blazes of a free and universal Love, serve to enlighten the World into the way of Truth, and direct their Feet into the Paths of that Peace, Amity, Union, Rest, and Security, to which as yet they are so much estranged.  
And this leads me to the other Consideration of the Great Work, and High Designs which God hath prepared you for. And surely glorious Things are spoken of thee, O thou City of God! You are not only as Mount Sion, beautiful for situation, but also the Joy of the whole Earth, for those humble, gentle, lovely, and pleasant Aspects, by which you shine upon the whole World, with the inviting and astonishing Charms of a divinely inspired Love and Affection; You are a People fitted above all others to be a Blessing to the World; the whole Creation seems to groan and travail in pain, with a longing and languishing expectation to be delivered into the glorious Liberty wherein Ye stand. O how hath the form and out-side of Religion,( mixed with Carnal Interest) exposed the World to Extremities of Horror and Confusion, as at this day? What indignity and reproach doth indelebly stick upon the Skirts of Profession and Christianity, through that fiery and mis-guided Zeal, those Feuds and bitter Animosities, that Strife and Debate, that Blood and Violence which abounds amongst those that walk under the glorious Names of Gospel-Professors and True Christians? How insipid, lifeless, and unsavoury is the whole state of formal Profession grown, who while they cry up a Christ that died for them, and contend for an Historical Faith of his Death and Sufferings, hoping to be saved by a bare Imputation of a Righteousness wrought without them, and yet know nothing all this while of any inward change, or renewedness of Mind and Heart; but totally ignorant of the inward active and real Righteousness, which should commend them to the World in an healing, saving, comforting, and refreshing Spirit? And certainly the higher People are advanced in a literal and carnal knowledge of God and Christ, the more rough, bitter, and severe will their temper be towards all others that differ from them in the least Circumstances of Religion, it being natural to that knowledge and Wisdom, to swell and puff up the Mind in the lofty and high conceits of a self-Righteousness, rather than sweeten and soften the Spirit in that Charity which edifies. Behold, this is the distracted Station wherein the Children of Form are truly presented( as Pharaoh's lean Kine) tearing and devouring each other in this day of Wrath: for now is the judgement of this World; and what may quench these Flames? what may quell these Disorders? what may repair these Breaches, or alloy these Distempers, is the main thing that would be most desirable to know?  
We see that neither the Prudence of Princes, nor the Policies of Government( the Prescriptions of the wisest Reformers, nor the best esteemed Regularities of the most magnified Authors, and reverend Fathers) are capable to accomplish this Reconciling Work: Nay, the Sacred Oracle of the Scripture itself, is so far short of obtaining this blessed End, that all different Parties do endeavour, with the greatest industry imaginable,( by warping and winding the Text) not only to svit it to the occasion of their present Differences, but also thereby to justify their mad, blind, and uncharitable Zeal towards each other: What Remedy then is left us in this Distress? Is there no Balm in Gilead? Yes certainly, for although the extent of our Wounds and Breaches are too wide and great for the most ample Wisdom and Righteousness of Man to heal and cement, there is yet largeness enough in the eternal and universal Love of God to accomplish this great Work, and to make his Jerusalem a Praise upon the Earth: And 'tis( my dear Brethren) by the ample and large manifestations of this Universal Love,  shed abroad in your Hearts, that this great Design of God must be accomplished; and oh how the Consideration of this Glorious Work,( in and by you to be brought forth) doth draw out my Spirit towards you. Awake, awake then, put on thy strength, O Sion, put on thy beautiful Garments, O Jerusalem, thou Holy City; stand forth thou Virgin Daughter, clothed with the strength of the Divine Majesty, and proclaim the Glory of your Principles, by the beauty of your Practices to the World. There is Majesty enough in that Love which fills and feeds your Souls, to confounded the Cruelty of all your Opposers, to shane and astonish the World into silence and stillness; and of this let us be confident, that how-ever the over-flowing Tides of common Calamities( blown up by the raging breath of formal and carnal Interests) may swell as a Flood upon the World, yet no Weapon that is formed against Love( to Truth and Righteousness) shall prosper; the Heathen may rage, and the People may imagine a vain Thing: The Kings of the Earth may Plot, Conspire, and take Counsel together against the Lord, and against his Anointed; yet the Lord hath set his King upon his Holy Hill of Zion, and he shall and doth Rule and Reign in the midst of his Enemies: Let it therefore appear to the World, whose Subjects ye are, whose Banner ye are under and what Motto it bears, which is, Glory to God in the Highest, on Earth Peace, and good Will towards Men. O how beautiful will those feet be upon the Mountains, which are shod with the preparation of the Gospel of Peace; How beautiful are thy Feet with shoes, O Princes Daughter? Cant. 7.1. How amiable and pleasant will your Lives and Testimonies be among Men, when you come forth in the largeness of that Love, Meekness, and Humility, in Forbearance and Forgiveness, which are the proper Ornaments, and most natural Instances of a true Gospel-Profession? In the Name of God arise then, and show yourselves( in his strength) to be that in Power and Life, which the World are only in Pretence and Notion; let it be known by the lively and active demonstrations of the Spirit of God in you, That greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the World: Your Principles I am sure are more noble, extensive, and generous; do but draw them forth, and show them to open view, and you will be a Blessing in your Generation; The several Tribes and Languages shall fasten on your Skirts, and say, We will go along with you, for the Lord is amongst you: Nay, even the Kings of the Nations shall shut their Mouths at this appearance of God in you, Isa. 52.14, 15. For that which had not been  told them, they shall see, and that which they had not heard, they shall consider.( As Pharaoh said of Joseph, Where is there a Man in whom the Spirit of God is? Gen. 41.38, &c.) Finally, my Brethren, Be strong in the Lord, and in the Power of his Might; put on the whole armor of God, for your Work and your Warfare requires it; and ye know that nothing below that can enable you to finish this your Testimony: Ye wrestle not against Flesh and Blood; neither are the Weapons of your Warfare Carnal, but mighty through God, to subdue every high Thought, and vain Imagination. All those Principalities and Powers, and those spiritual Wickednesses in high Places, which have captivated the Royal Seed of the Promise, and exalted themselves against the free Breathings of the Spirit; These( my dear Friends) are the powerful Enemies, over which ye must be more than Conquerors through him that loves you; and when in the strength of this Love you have subdued the World, calmed and quieted that wild and furious Spirit of Wrath that is let loose among Men, and prepared the way for the Kingdom of God, and of his Christ, to be established in us, and amongst us; what remains, but that in a holy denial of yourselves and Services, ( your Gifts and Graces, your Love and Enlargements, your Faith and Patience, your Sufferings and Perseverances) you offer up the Son of the Promise, and cast down these your Crowns at the feet of Him that sits upon the Throne, joining in Consort with the Celestial choir of Saints and Angels in the Sacred Hymns of Divine Praises, and Allelujahs; Salvation, and Glory, and Honour, and Power, to the Lord our God,( Rev. 19.1, to 10.) Not unto us Lord, not unto us, but unto thy Name, be the glory of all thy wondrous Works. Sing Zion, shout O ye Inhabitants of the New Jerusalem. Judges 5.1, to 14. Awake Deborah, awake, awake, sing to the Lord; Arise Barak, take the Harps of God in your hands, ye Heavenly Victors; and in your most strenuous Notes, sing aloud with Moses and the Lamb upon your crystal fiery Floods: Rev. 15.2, 3, 4. Great and marvelous are thy Works, Lord God Almighty; Just and true are thy Ways, thou King of Saints, who will not fear thee, O God, and glorify thy Name? for thou only art Holy; all Nations shall come and worship before thee, for thy Judgments are made manifest. And again, hallelujah, for the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth, and is manifest to be All in All, all Unity in all Variety. Thus to ascribe to God All in all, and to the Creature-Nothing, is the top-Stone of God's Building, to which we cry, Grace, Grace. hallelujah. For His is the Kingdom, the Power and the Glory, for ever and ever. Amen. hallelujah.   

London, Printed in the Year 1680.