A Faithful WARNING TO ALL BACKSLIDERS Who hold the Truth in unrighteousness, FOR To return to the Lord and cleave to the Light which leadeth out of Darkness.  
IT is now in my heart to discover unto you the manner of my falling from the Truth, notwithstanding I had tasted of the Lords Love and did come in measure to see what was laid up for them that love him in his appearance.  
VVH●n the time of Trials came on that the Lords People were carried to Prison, the reasoning part got up in me, the which the Enemy soon joined with; showing me the danger that might happen if I went to Meetings that then I should or might be put into a Prison: then, as I said, the reasoning part got up; insomuch, that I began to take care for my Wife, and Children, and Family, considering the weak capacity of my Wife, she being altogether uncapable of managing my Trade, it must of necessity fail; which Friends, I would have you to take notice, this was whilst the reasoning part was gotten up, which, when that began first to enter, if I had stood in that which did discover it not to be of God, my heart had been kept clean; but joining to the evil, that caused the Lords Presence to be withdrawn: then did the Devil transform himself into an Angel of light, showing me, that Friends did not do so well as the Infidels did; for they took care of their Families: then the thoughts of this began to minister to me a false peace; insomuch, that I became one that did weaken the weak, and to lay a stumbling-block in their way: so then, when I had done this, yet had I no peace, but was still condemned in my Conscience: then the transformed Angel had another way signifying to me, that I might be serviceable in my b●●ng forth of Prison, for I might go and serve the Body of Friends, which did for a little while satisfy; but yet the Lords Love was such, that he shown me that was not enough, but had I should go to the Meetings, and bear my Testimony for God, who caused the Light to shine, and had shined into my heart, which gave me to understand my duty towards God and man a●d walked in it and obeyed it. But when I had thoughts of obeying the Will of the Lord, then would my Wives tears flow from her eyes, which drew me to be tender to her; and not standing in the Cross, I came more and more to lose my portion: Then the Devil drew me to acquaint myself with those that did also flee the Cross, and we began to daub ourselves with untempered Mortar, and so grew light and vain, and so come to speak our own words, and to think our own thoughts, and to do our own work, and so become rebellious Children unto him that was our Father whilst we obeyed the Light in our hearts, which shown our duty towards God; but we refusing to obey it, the Enemy came amongst us, and sowed his seed; and so here was a waring in us for victory: insomuch, that we, or I had no peace, but continually filled with trouble at the very time when I was jesting and jeering, the Light in my heart did condemn me; and at my lying down, or at my rising up I was so condemned; that I had some breathe towards the Lord for to desire forgiveness, and was ready to cry unto the Lord, Father, forgive me; but before the word [Father] was uttered, the Lords Witness would arise in my heart, and show me that I was not to call God Father, for I had done the will of the Devil; which caused me to remember what was said of some that was calling God Father, and was doing the works of the Devil, and I was out of the redeemed state, as well as they: but as for my dealing amongst men, I have very little to charge myself with, but can truly say, as to that point, I kept myself very much unspotted of the World; and displayed had some respect for the same of the Truth, and could not endure to hear the Truth evil spoken of, although I was in a great measure departed from it.  
So by my plain dealing among men I was esteemed with many up and down the Country, my name was famous; insomuch, that my Trade did much increase, so that I came to be very much hurried in the World, which did choke the Seed more and more, and so became worse and worse; so the god of the World blinded the mind, that when I would have done the will of God, something or other lay in the way which did hinder; so Death and Darkness came to reign and to rule and have the pre-eminence; insomuch, that the Light which did shine once in me, came to be darkened: so than that wicked Prince began to reign over the Seed, and kept it in bondage, which would have reigned over the Devil, had it been obeyed as it ought to have been; for I could, and did witness it so once, but by disobedience I became a Captive to the Devil, to do his will in a great measure. But yet, had there not been a Seed, (I may say) I might have been as Sodom, or made like unto Gomorrah; but I can say I was kept out of the practice of many things, which at some times was almost or altogether concluded in my mind to act: therefore who is like unto the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, who left us a Seed, or else what had become of me in this apostatising state.  
When I was first convinced of the Truth and Living Way, than accounted I all but dross and dung in comparison of Christ, the Way, the Truth, and the Life; insomuch, that the Lord was pleased to manifest himself unto me in his Way, which was by Christ the Light that lighteth every one that comes into the World; so as I come to the Light of Jesus, I come to see that I had done amiss in giving money to the Parish Priest, whose Doctrine I could not own. I had been a hearer of those people called Baptists, before I came to hear Truth declared by the Servant of the Lord Edward Borough; at which time when I went to hear him, I went not to hear (the despised people, called Quakers) so as to receive their Doctrine, but rather gaze at them to see their manner: when I first came in he that went with me seemed to be very much dissatisfied with what my dear Friend laid down, for which cause he spoke unto me; my answer was to him, I had heard nothing but what was truth, at which time I come away when the Meeting was parted (or the Friends one from each other) with joy, which I knew not how to express; but coming to a Relations house, I declared to the Woman that I had heard the Truth declared, and that I did never know the way to which I could witness satisfaction, but in this Way; which was, that there was the Light of Christ in the Conscience which did discover to man his thoughts; (with many words more used) insomuch, (in the time that I was speaking) she was in the mind to hear them, but after I was gone her own wisdom got up, and so could not become a Fool that she might be wise: So after a little time, as I came to departed from committing of some sins I became a prey; he that was like to begin with me first was the Priest of the Parish, whose name was Cooper, a Presbyterian counted; his threats caused some fear to arise in my wife, who did make it known to her Sister, on which they considered a way how to keep me from suffering, which was, they would pay the Priest, and my Wife should pay them again; which thing did continue obscure for a time hid from me; but my Brother-in-law buying some Goods of me, did (when I came to reckon with him) stop some of my money, which it is like I might dislike; but at last it become customary to me to do it for a time; but in the performance hereof I found my strength decay, more lighter and vain I grew; and at last upon some difference he refused to pay the Priest any longer; insomuch, the Priest's man (who gathered money for the Priest) came unto me, and did acquaint me what this person had said, which was, that he would not pay the Priest for me; when that this come before me, in haste, (being led captive at the Enemies will) he quickly transformed himself into an Angel of light, and did signify to me that it was but underhand dealing, and that I might more lawfuller do it with my own hand; also the Devil, to cause me to perform this work, shown me the actions of some (that were esteemed Friends) in that business, and in other things also, the which ought not to have been minded; for he that leadeth out the mind is the Enemy, the same that shown me, that it did appear the more lawful in doing it with my own hands; but as Friends are kept to the true Light, even the Light of Jesus, they will come to see, and to divide between spirit and spirit, that is to say, between the Spirit of Christ and the Spirit of Antichrist, as they continue faithful to the measure of Light they have received; but if that any grow weary of well doing, and so become slothful and sluggish, then comes the Enemy and soweth Tares; which if I had continued in diligence to have made my calling and election sure, then had I answered the will of the Lord; for the end of God's Love in giving his Son a Light into the World, was, that all men through him might be saved: Therefore I warn all to follow the Light, that ye may become children of the Light.  
Yet more I am to acquaint ye with, as touching the former, how, the Lord did appear unto me at last after I had resisted his Will for years past, yet the Lord who is full of compassion, whose mercy endureth, whose Love is never to be forgotten by me; if ever forgetfulness should enter again, I must never look God in the face more, who hath helped me when I saw no helper in the Earth, than did the Lord appear in two of his Stewards whom he had committed this charge unto, for to speak unto me, and to lay this before me, that I did not do the thing that was right in paying the Priest; withal signifying unto me, that I did it through fear of him, the which the witness for God in my Conscience did bear him record, that what he said was true; also he signified to me the reason why he said I was afraid, which was true; for I was afraid, otherwise I had never paid him, but merely for fear of man whose breath is in his Nostrils: Also my Friend did lay before me, that the Priest was one of those that the Prophet of the Lord cried out against, that would prepare war against those that put not in their mouths; the Witness of God in me did bear him record, that what he said was true; but the Enemy began to rage in me, and (to stand in defiance of the Friends words) he did advise me, putting me on, and bidding me to charge him to mind his Trade, and let me alone, for he was worse than he should be as well as I; the Friend would have known what I had to charge him with, but away I shuffled; but Gods Witness I could not flee from, but it did condemn me that night, and in the morning, but still the Devil did strive to keep the Seed in bondage: I think the day following, or soon after came another Friend to me in some business, and whilst I was talking with him, the Lord, who is the Author of all good, from whence it doth spring, caused him to open his mouth unto me charging me concerning paying the Priest Tithes, & said, he was lately at a Meeting with some Friends, and there he heard them relate things against me that did grieve his heart, (laying his hand on his breast) which did smite me; but still the Roaring Lion was ready to act his part, signifying to me, that I should charge him, and sound him, whether he was not faulty in the same thing; he replied, he never did pay the Priest a penny, notwithstanding the Priest (I think) would have received the value of a Pint of Sack; what then, (said I) hast not thou done, as some others have done, given the Gaoler a Bribe to be thy Friend? thus the Enemy did still endeavour to keep me by his cunning, but the Witness of God in my Conscience he reached, I could not have any peace, but still was disquieted all that nigh, whilst I was awake, in the morning I was also troubled, insomuch, that I spoke to my wife, whose love is great towards me, though not of capacity to determine of many things; the Enemy caused me to steer a new way, laying before me, and her also, that because she never had contended for the Truth, therefore she might pay the Priest when the man come to demand it; this was concluded it should thus be, and this did minister a false peace, which lasted but a little while; for I hastening to the Meeting at Devonshire-house, as I was going the Witness of God did awaken me, and shown me, that I had made a bad morning's work, in making such a conclusion to pay money to him, when I knew it to be contrary to Truth, and therefore ought not to have been done; insomuch that I was fain to deal plainly with myself, the Lord in his Love did appear unto me in his power and might, and shown me that he was not to be mocked, for such as I sowed, such must I reap; therefore I found I should not flatter myself any longer, but deal plainly with my own Soul, that I might not be cheated of the inheritance that is laid up for all those that love God's appearance: Then was my hard heart broken, tears falling from my eyes, and then felt the power of God strong in me, which did begin to work out the evil thing that was concluded should be carried on in the Serpent's subtlety; there did the Lord work in me just like unto a man that is removing his household goods, though I had been so traitorous to his Light, and had cast his counsel behind my back, although he gave me precept upon precept, and line upon line: Oh, what a God have I, a God full of mercy whose mercies endureth for ever. When the Meeting was over I came home, and as I sat at dinner with the rest of my Family, I could scarcely for bear weeping, and fell to admonishing them, bearing my testimony against myself, for being negligent in the work of the Lord, also did encourage them to go to our Meeting, and also spoke unto my Wife to go, who soon did submit to my desire, and did go with me; whilst I was in the Meeting I was very much broken, tears would have flowed from my eyes, but being among those that knew me, I fled the cross in that, and did strive very much to forbear, and did all the time of the meeting with much ado, which did hinder the Lords work which he had begun afresh in me; but when I came to signify to my wife that I was to go forth, (along with the Lords people) the garb she was in caused me to be ashamed and confounded in myself, considering once the hopeful condition that she was in, which was, she had imparted with her Rings, and plucked of Lace, and laid by many things; this come to be laid before me, and the Witness for the Lord in me shown me these things had not been, had I kept faithful to the Lord: So that this did so work upon me, that though I had resisted the Will of God in the Meeting, yet when I was coming out of it I could not hold any longer, but broke forth into tears to the view of some, although I would have hid it. I could not, but did cry louder than ordinary, and so I continued shedding of tears as I went along the street, and did strive to hid them from my wife, but could hardly do it; who is like unto our God, which plucked me as a Brand out of the Fire? what can I do whereby I may requite his Love? shall not I be given up in his will to bear my testimony amongst his people, if it be required of me? yes verily, and shall I sacrifice myself and all that I have unto the Lord for his Love, which is never to be forgotten; oh, praises and glory be unto him for ever, and for evermore, who hath called me out of Darkness into his marvellous Light, who did appear unto me in the night, of Darkness, and caused his Light to shine, in which the power is withessed, in which the victory is obtained; oh, praises be unto thee my God, who art God of Gods, and Lord of Lords, who by thy Light, Life and Power did reach unto me in a needful day, and in a time of trouble; what shall I render unto thee, thanksgiving and obedience for ever: for thou needest not any outward thing that I have; therefore how shall I answer thy loving kindness? Lord, thou knowest the secrets of all hearts, thou knowest my simplicity, thou knowest the very end of my writing it in love to all that have backslidden, to encourage them to return unto my Father: all that have been Prodigals as well as I, return, I can assure you, in my Father's House there is Bread enough, and to spare: I warn all to return to the Father, who willeth not the death of any, but that all might live; therefore be encouraged whilst it is day, for otherwise the night will overtake you, when it will be too late; therefore, whilst it is to day hear his voice, and do not harden your hearts towards to the Lord; why will ye die? I beseech you, return, put not the day afar off; who knoweth how short our time may be here in this World? Seek the Lord while, he may be found, call upon him whilst he is near; for he hath showed us his Servants, that he will not always strive with man, whom he hath given precept upon precept, and line upon line, here a little, and there a little. Friends all, consider your latter end, and the length of time that is after we come to lay down the body into the dust: also consider, that whilst ye do abide here, you have no peace here, but a false peace, For there is no peace to the wicked saith my God: But, ye Backsliders, I direct my words unto you whom the Lord committed of his hidden Treasures, whom the World knoweth not; I say, I direct my words chief unto you, that you might come to answer the Will of the Lord, that so you may come to have an Inheritance among them that are sanctified; you are often in my thoughts, a pity doth arise in my heart towards you; I beseech you return to the Light, and walk in the Light, that ye may come to enjoy fellowship with the children of God; oh, the height, the depth of the Love of God, my tongue cannot express what is in my heart towards you: return, I beseech you, come to a true search, do not heal nor cover yourselves with false cover any longer, but turn your minds inward, & commune with your own hearts, and be still; separate yourselves from those external things, that you may come to inherit a portion of internal things; that ye may come to enjoy the Crown that is laid up for all those that fear him: but this is my testimony for the Truth of our God, that none shall come to enjoy the Crown, but as they come to take up the Cross, and thy own will deny, and subject it to the Will of God, for that is the way to obtain a better inheritance than the Kings of the Earth enjoy, which hath not an inheritance that will never fall, a Crown immortal; Earthly Crowns will fall from the head, but this Heavenly Crown will never fall world without end: Oh, Friends; do not sell your Crown for a mess of Pottage; do not sell the Lords Inheritance to Eternity, for an inheritance in the Earth, which none knoweth how little while they may enjoy it: Oh, consider, I say again consider, the Lords Love is to you, the Lord hath opened his Treasures of Love unto you through me his Servant; who am given up in the Will of the Lord to serve him, and to follow the Lamb whithersoever he leadeth.  
Oh, Lord God of Heaven and Earth, my Soul doth praise thee, thy Name is to be honoured by me, who hath done great things for me, who was as it were wallowing in my blood, than didst thou appear and shown me, that I was as the Prodigal was, that had spent his portion upon Harlots in adulterating from the Lord; also shown me that there was Bread enough in thy House; thou Lord spoke unto me, to the informing of me, just as a man doth his Friend, all but the sound of the tongue: Oh, what a Father have I, what a God have we that pardoneth sin and transgression in us, though we have rebelled and done despite to his Spirit of Grace in resisting it in its appearance, which would have taught us to have denied all ungodliness and worldly lusts, and to have lived godly and righteously in this present world: Oh, Lord, thy Love is never to be forgotten; what shall separate thee from us O Lord? shall tribulation? shall persecution? nay, Lord, in thee is my strength, thou art my Captain, thou hast gathered me from off the barren Mountains, thou hast plucked me out of the horrible pit, out of the mire and clay, thou hast set my feet upon a Rock, thou hast established my go, this can I say; Lord, thou knowest the Covenant that I have made with thee, it is in thy Wisdom I writ, and in thy Stength; of myself I cannot do it; but thou art my chief Captain, thou art my Strength, thou art my Fortress; therefore I give thee the glory, who is worthy of all thanks, all the praise for ever.  
When thou camest unto me as I lay upon my bed, thou didst show me that there was yet a door of Mercy open if I would return, did it not then arise in my heart, Speak Lord, thy Servant heareth; glory be unto thee, who hath caused the Light of thyself to appear in me, who was in bondage to sin, and to the power of darkness, which is the Devil, who is the God of the World, and ruleth in the children of disobedience; praises be unto thee whose presence is with me, who art my Strength, and dost put me upon this great work, which is of weighty concernment; for there he many Gazers at me, and us, who are wise in the comprehending part; they would be glad to have me to write my own words; but I am in the Will of my God, who is my Guide, who leadeth me into all Truth; not to write any thing that is in my own will, but what I do is in the will of the Lord; insomuch, that the mouths of some will be stopped, which otherwise would be apt to say I did it in my own will, to be seen of men; but the Lord knoweth my heart; I have no reservation at all in my mind, but that my God may be glorified, and my Soul comforted and strengthened, that I may never grow faint or weary, but still press forward toward the mark which is set before me, which is the end of Gods calling me out of darkness into his marvellous Light; and this doth arise in my heart, that whither soever these lines may come, which were written in the fear of the Lord, and in obedience unto his Name, that they be not read in a mind that is filled with prejudice, let all of that be removed, as it is out of me at the writing hereof; the Lords Love is raised in me, which doth cause me to write, to inform all, that there is yet a day of mercy held forth for all that will come out from among those that are resisting the Counsel of the Lord, yea, those that resisteth his Will, and are doing the will of the Devil. I bear my Testimony for the Lord, there is yet a day of mercy, If you will return unto him, he will return unto you, and he will heal your backslidings, and remember your sins no more: Therefore be encouraged, for I was as bad as some of you, yet the Lord hath appeared to me by his Light, which never consenteth to sin, this, as is heeded and obeyed, it will lead unto the Father; For none cometh unto the Father but by the Son, who is the Way, the Truth and the Life; nor doth any come unto the Son but whom the Father draweth; So in love to all have I took my pen in hand, who am of myself altogether insufficient; but God hath hath hid those things from the wise and prudent, and hath revealed them to Babes and Sucklings, that his Name may be glorified, and your Souls comforted for ever; praises be unto my God for ever and for ever, world without end, Amen saith my Soul. And by me this is written in the simplicity of my heart, without any self end, the Lord knoweth my heart; therefore let all be careful of speaking evil of what they know not, lest in so doing they should offend: This being all I find of necessity to write at this time, I rest in the Love of my Father, who hath in measure begotten me again unto himself, and hath caused me to make a covenant with him, never to leave him, but to follow him through good report, and through evil report, knowing that I shall reap if I faint not; for it is they that endure to the end that shall be saved.  
This in pure love to all who are yet resisting the Light in their Consciences, to warn them to return, whilst it is day, for it is to day if you will hear the Lords voice in you, harden not your hearts, as they did in the old World, who lived in pleasure, marrying, and giving in marriage till the Flood came and swept them away, all but Nonah and eight persons, as the Scriptures of Truth doth declare. Oh, Father, who is sufficient for these things, I could not do this without thy Presence, without thy Counsel, without thy assistance; Lord, take thou the glory, who art worthy of all, (and none besides thee) of all praises and thanksgiving now and for evermore, Amen.  
Written in the true fear of the Lord, by me his Servant, Anthony Tompkins. The 2d day of the 11th Month, 68  
THE END.