him, dishonour him in his light and life, as the Jews did dishonour him in the days of his flesh, though they may be as high-professors in the letter, that Christ is come, as the scribes, (the writers,) and the pharisees, and chief priests (the readers and expounders of the law and prophets,) were, that he was to come?

And had not the Jews the scriptures of Moses and the prophets, the scribes, (the writers,) pharisees, and chief priests and other priests, (these readers and expounders of the law and prophets,) had not these the scriptures that testified that Christ was to come, and yet they knew not Christ, the word of God, when he was come?'

Did not Christ say to the Jews, he that is of God heareth God's words; ye therefore, hear them not, because you are not of God?' John viii. 47. Now, might not the Jews say to Christ, as the professors will now say to us, do not we read the law and the prophets every sabbath-day in our synagogues and temple? and are not they the words of God? But may not Christ answer you again, and say unto you, that you have not the same spiritual ear as his prophets and apostles had, to hear God's words; but those ears of yours are stopped like the pharisees' scribes', and high priests', and Jews', who had outward ears and eyes, but heard not, nor saw they Christ wanting the spiritual? and is it not said, he that hath an ear, let him hear what the spirit saith unto the churches?'

And did not Christ say to Pilate in his examination, for this cause I came into the world, to bear witness unto the truth; every one that is of the truth, heareth my voice?' So then, it is not every one that speaks the words of truth, of Moses and the prophets, Christ and the apostles; but every one that is of the truth; he must be of the truth if he hears Christ's voice; for, does he not tell you plainly, it is not every one that says Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom; but he that doth his will shall know his doctrine? Likewise, doth not Christ say, 'every one that doth truth cometh to the light that with its deeds may be manifest that they are wrought in God?' And therefore they that do not the truth, though they may talk of it from Genesis to the Revelations, if they come not to the light, their works cannot be manifest to them that they are wrought in God, neither can they see how their works are wrought. For doth not the apostle say, that which makes manifest is light?' And doth not Christ say, every one that doth evil hates the light, neither cometh to the light, least his deeds should be reproved? And if every one that doth evil hates the light, do not such hate Christ, the life and the salvation, the covenant of light? And are not these the haters of light, and the doers of evil, that say, the light which is the life in Christ, is natural, and of the devil, and the Quakers' idol, and a new christ,' &c.? And so, neither come to the light themselves, nor suffer others to come to the light, least their deeds should be reproved: wherefore it was the Jews, VOL. V.-27

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scribes, pharisees, sadducees, and high-priests, that did the evil, and hated the light, and would not come to the light, least their deeds should be reproved? And may not this be also truly said of many in Christendom, of the great professors of the letter of Christ and the apostles, that he is come,' as of the great professors of the letter, the Jews, that he was to come?'

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Now, such as hate the light, and will not come to the light, who do evil, because it will reprove them, and let them see their evil deeds; how should such do the truth, and be of the truth, and hear Christ's voice, as he saith, 'My sheep hear my voice?'

Swarthmore, this 20th of the 8th month, 1675. (

G. F.

TO ALL MAGISTRATES AND PEOPLE IN CHRISTENDOM, And elsewhere. to turn from the Persecuting Mind, that destroys people's bodies and estates for not conforming to your religion and worship. And that you may receive the Mind of Christ, as the Apostles did, who came to save Men's Lives, and not to destroy them; and to rebuke them that would destroy Men's Lives and estates.-By G. F.

You do not read in the old world that either Adam, Seth, Enoch, or any of those famous fathers, that did succeed each other unto Noah, did force or compel any to their religion or way of worshipping God; though it is said, 'Noah was grieved with the unrighteous conversation of the old world, who grieved God and his spirit which strove with them;' but it doth not say, it strove with them, with carnal weapons, or gaols, or imprisonments.'

And though Noab was a preacher of righteousness, we do not read he forced or compelled any, or had any such command from God.

And after the Lord God had destroyed the old ungodly world, for their ungodliness; who grieved him and his spirit.

So their destruction came by resisting the spirit of the Lord, and going from it into ungodliness; and God was just in overthrowing of them, whose spirit had striven with them long, yet he saved just Noah.

And after that he had destroyed the old world, and saved Noah and his family; we do not read that ever either Noah, or any of them that succeeded him, unto Abraham, did force or compel any to their religion, or the worshipping of their God.

Also, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, that did succeed each other; we never read that they did compel or force any to serve or worship God, or compel them to their ways.

And after, when the children of Israel went into Egypt, we do not read that Pharaoh did compel them to his religion, or worship, though he did oppress them several ways.

And when the Lord sent Moses to call them out of Egypt, Pharaoh, and Jannes, and Jambres withstood Moses and Aaron, and resisted Moses; yet we do not read they offered to compel them to their religion, and worship, and the Egyptian church; but they compelled them to work.

And do we not read that Abraham or Isaac, when they went into Egypt, or Abimelech's country, that either Pharaoh, or Abimelech, did compel them to conform to their religion, way, and worship.

And likewise Lot, who sojourned in Sodom, we do not read that he compelled any to his way, or religion, or that the Sodomites compelled him to their way; though he was vexed with their filthy conversation. And likewise, when the children of Israel came out of Egypt, and received the law of God, they did not compel or force other nations to serve their God; but other nations came to them, and when their males were circumcised, they might eat of their sacrifices.

So look along from Moses to Joshua, and the Judges, and all the prophets, and the kings, wherever ye can find that they did compel any nation to serve and worship their God.

Now, the Jews, when they were taken captive, we read that Nebuchadnezzar compelled them: but the Jews distinguished what sacrifices they were to offer, and what not, and what was called holy, and what unholy.

But you do not read that they forced other nations, to offer a sacrifice to God upon his altar by their law, and imprison them, and spoil their goods if they would not, or that they forced other nations to come and worship in their temple, or did force them to bring in their tythes, or yearly offerings; though they took tax or tribute of them.

And we see after the kings in Maccabees, how several of the Jews suffered by the heathen, because they would not conform to their worship: but we do not read that the Jews compelled other nations to come to their worship, after they had conquered them, and made them tribu

taries.

Neither do we read, that ever any of the high priests or Levites did cast any into prison, because they did not bring in their tythes into the storehouses, but it was a curse that remained upon them, as in Malachi, if they did not.

And after Christ came and sent forth his disciples amongst the Jews, and bid them not go in the way of the Gentiles, and told them, when he gave them their commission, and sent them out to preach the gospel, 'freely you have received, freely give.'

But he said unto them, whatsoever they set before you, that eat; for the workman is worthy of his meat,' &c.

Now, they did not compel any to hear them, nor to give them meat. And Christ did not compel any to hear him, or any to communicate to him; who is the Lord and master.

And after Christ was risen, who gave a larger commission to his disciples, and bid them go into all nations, and preach the gospel: Christ who had died for all men, and was a propitiation for the sins of the whole world, after he had died and was risen, bids them go into all nations, and preach the gospel to every creature.'

Now, these apostles and ambassadors, were not to compel any to hear them, or to give them maintenance; and if they would not hear them, nor set before them meat; Christ gave them no such commission to cast them in prison, and compel them to give them maintenance; but Christ said unto them, he that believeth is saved, and he that doth not is condemned already.' And that was punishment enough to them that would not receive their message.

And they that received them, received him that sent them, and they that received a prophet, received a prophet's reward.

And they that would not receive them, they should shake off the dust of their feet as a witness against them: and that was punishment enough. And if any would not hear his brother, as concerning practice in the church, he might take one or two more of the church, and if he would not hear them, then they were to tell it to the church; and if he would not hear the church, then he should be to them as a heathen, and as a publican; and so was cut off from being a member of Christ's heavenly body, he being the heavenly head, and that was punishment enough, they did not cast them into prison.

And Christ told his disciples, when he did send them forth as sheep amongst wolves, (so the nations that were settled in their own way and religions, were like wolves to them,) Christ told his disciples, they should be brought before kings and rulers, and hauled before magistrates, and put out of their synagogues, and whipped and scourged for his names' sake.'

And you may consider, that these were either heathens or Jews, that were these whippers, and scourgers, and persecutors.

But Christ bid his disciples take no thought what to say, when they were brought before them, for it was the spirit of the Father that spoke in them, and it should be given unto them at that present hour.

So these disciples of Christ were not to study beforehand, what to preach and say to the kings, rulers, and magistrates, when they were brought before them.

Now these heathens and Jews, did whip, scourge, and imprison Christ and his disciples, and they bore it patiently.

But where did ever Christ or his disciples, whip, scourge, or imprison any, or the true church in the apostles' days, for not hearing of them, and not giving them maintenance, or spoil their goods?

But the true christians suffered the spoiling of their goods, as the apostle speaks of to the Hebrews, that were the hearers of Christ, who told them, 'that God had spoken to their fathers by the prophets,' but now in these last days, he had spoken unto us by his Son, &c.

So mark, God had spoken to us, that is, his church, by his Son, who is the head of it.

For God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself, who was the first speaker to Adam and Eve in paradise, and was the speaker again to them that heard, and believed in his Son, and is now.

And now these christians that God was their speaker unto by his Son, which suffered the spoiling of their goods joyfully, and were gazingstocks: now they that gazed at them, and that had spoiled their goods, were the Jews, and the Gentiles, that followed their old professions, and their ways.

Yet these true christians that heard the Son, we do not read that they spoiled either Jews' or Gentiles' goods, or made them gazing-stocks.

For John the divine, saith in his revelations, that the beast compelled all, both small and great to worship him, and to receive his mark.' So we do not read that Christ, or John, or the apostles compelled any, but the beast.

And he saith, that the beast that did compel, received his power from the dragon;' so did not receive it from God and Christ.

And he saith, all worshipped the beast, but those who had their names written in the Lamb's book of life, before the foundation of the world.' And therefore, let all that go under the name of christians and Jews, consider this; and others that make a profession of God and Christ, consider these things, and lay them to heart, and do unto all mén, as you would have them do unto you; for you would not have another man compel you to that religion, which is contrary to yours, and therefore, do not you so unto them; but mind the royal law of liberty, which law is holy, just, pure, good, and righteous, and answers that of God in all, and gives liberty to the spirit of God in all.

And does not the apostle tell you, 'every man must stand and fall to his own master? so the apostle gave liberty here, that every one must stand or fall to him that was their master; for he that was servant of sin committed it, and the wages of it was death, and he that was the servant of God unto righteousness, and the fruits unto holiness, and their end everlasting life.

And does not the apostle say, that Christ was the author and finisher of faith, and whatsoever was not of faith is sin? And therefore must not