The Missing Cross to Purity

Volume 4, The Works of George Fox, Doctrinal Books I, Continued

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THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE WORLD'S RELATIONSHIP,

Which stands in Strife, Malice, and Wickedness, and the Saints' Relationship, which stands in Love, Life, Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost.

—By G. F.

The relationship, which stands in destroying,
is denied by the children of the light.
All such who live out of light, and out of it walk,
who wear the old garment, whose mind is corrupt,
and have a wisdom, but with it know not God,
and have a knowledge, and with it corrupt themselves,
and have a humility, but it is false,
and have a worship, but in the will of the carnal mind,
and have a righteousness, but in the self,
and speak the high words, but it is in hypocrisy,
and have a liberty, but in the flesh,
where the spirit is in prison.
All such in Cain's way have gone, and have not a habitation in God,
whose affections are below in the earth, and serve the lusts and the pleasures,
whose conduct is among the wicked,
and there is the world's relationship where strife lodges,
and the debate and deceit, and disdain,
and setting up that which God will throw down.
Now while this is standing, which is contrary to the light,
those who walk in the light and are in it, deny those,
and see that which leads nature out of its course,
and what sets the whole course of nature on fire;
and there the whole world is in confusion,
and all the tongues are unbridled, where the power is not over them,
while that reigns which leads nature out of its course.
Of such, his religion is vain, and that relationship stands out of truth;
but all those who are turned to the light, see with the light,
(which reveals what leads nature out of  its course),
the marriage that is honorable,
and what sets the whole course of nature on fire,
and what leads nature into course,
where the pure relationship and the entrance of it is received,
where the self and its righteousness is denied,
and the righteousness of Christ received;
where the worship of the will is denied,
and the worship of God in spirit and truth received;
where self-righteousness is denied,
and Christ the righteousness of God received,
and the former conduct put off,
and the conduct in heaven witnessed,
the affections below changed,
and the affections from above are come to.

Here is the pure religion known without guile, who are out of Cain's way,
where the habitation in God is witnessed and seen,
where the just live by his faith, and honor in the Lord known,
and the true humility learned of Christ,
who is not of the world, though it was made by him,
who lights every man that comes into the world,
who is man's way out of it;
which light is man's condemnation, if he does not believe in it;
and the relationship which is in the world (who hate the light) is in the lust,
where the perverseness is in the love of the world,
where the envy is, where the invention is,
selfishness, crossness, perverseness, backbiting, maliciousness, filled with  unrighteousness,
yet they have a love, yet they have a relationship.
Now the light which comes from the beloved Son of God,
where the love of God is received, the world's relationship is denied,
for the relationship of the world destroys and devours,
but the children of the light, which are in the relationship out of the world,
live in peace, unity, and fellowship, and comfort enjoyed in the Holy Ghost;
so all you that profess relationship in words, when envy lodges in your hearts against one another,
and yet flatter one another to your faces, and backbite one another behind the back,
such relationships we deny, and have a witness in your consciences against it.

And all that profess a relationship one to another,
and love and friendship with the tongue, and in heart deceive one another,
and cozen and cheat one another, and lie, and dissemble one with another,
all such relationships we deny, and have a witness in your conscience against it.
Those who profess religion, or worship, or humility, righteousness,
and the scripture, Christ and the prophets' words,
and live out of their life, and live in envy and malice,
and yet profess you have a relationship to Christ, and God, whom you have not seen,
and profess you love him, but do not love those whom you have seen,
such relationships we do deny.
All who cry up your experiences, high notions, manifestations,
as you call them, dispensations as you call them,
and live in pride, strife, and envy, debates, derision, scorns, loftiness, and high-mindedness,
you are out of the light, and out of the way,
in corners, and out of the pure relationship.
We have a witness in your conscience against those things,
which lets you see what you possess,
and will let you profess no more if you listen to those things ,
which light turns from the world and the relationships therein,
for all who do not believe in the light, have not come to it.
They have a love, but it is in the world,
and a relationship, but it is in the world, which is enmity [enemy] to God.
So that relationship which is enmity, is denied with the light,
that love which is enmity, is denied with the light,
which leads to the pure relationship, which envies not,
where the destroyer and devourer is rebuked.

George Fox

The faith of such is no better than the faith of the Pharisees,
who only believe of a Christ, because the scriptures declare of him,
but the faith of them who dwell in the life and power of God,
and follow the Lamb wherever he goes,
is that faith which overcomes the world.

To believe only of a Christ because the scriptures declare of him, is to believe as the Pharisees believed, who were the persecutors and murderers of the just, but to believe in the light, the life that gave forth the scriptures is seen, and Christ is believed in, and here he has the witness in himself, and comes to be a child of light, and born of God, which birth overcomes the world. Now, said Christ, they hate the light, because their deeds are evil, and will not bring their deeds to it, because the light will reprove them, and this is the condemnation, the light, said Christ. Now it appears who hate the light: priests, teachers, people, young and old hate the light, and will not bring their deeds to the light, because the light will reprove them. Neither will they allow others that walk in the light, and love the light, and bring their deeds to the light, to show them their deeds with the light, and reprove them with the light, because they hate the light, and those who walk in it, and cast them into prison, and so are stumbling at the light all sorts of people, [mark,] it is the light that they hate, said Christ, they hate the light which reproves their evil deeds.

This light is that which the world and its teachers cannot endure to hear talk of, but hate it, and those who walk in the light. It is the light that is so much stumbled at, because their deeds are evil, and they walk in darkness, there is a proof; for those who walk in the light stumble not, but come to receive the light of life. Here Christ's words are fulfilled among them that hate the light, and will not bring their deeds to the light, because the light will reprove them. For that which makes manifest is light; so that which makes manifest they cannot endure, but would be in the dark, and keep their deeds in the dark as it is manifest. Christ said the devil shall cast some of you into prison; he is out of the light, out of the truth, and a liar, and a murderer from the beginning, which now is seen with the light, and trampled upon. All who do not own the light, which comes from the word [within you heart and mouth], are the wicked seeds-men, sowing abroad for tares; there lies, the evil reports. Those who are gone from the light, that comes from the word of truth, are given up to believe lies and reports, and may cry up darkness.  If you hate the light, what do you have to preach, other than darkness; if you turn from the light, pitiful preaching results, which hates the light, which manifests all the works of darkness.

George Fox

TO THE PEOPLE OF UXBRIDGE

Friends,—Your conditions is grieved and lamented over, your want of the life of God, and barrenness of his power among you, whose lean souls are seen, whose barrenness, and barren womb appears, who thirst little after the living God, whose wildness, wantonness, and negligence of the everlasting salvation appears; yet full, like Sodom and Gomorrah, being full of that which is wicked and profane; the streets of your town will manifest it. O, people, where is your salvation, and what assurance have you of that, and of your eternal inheritance, where nothing that does defile enters? O, are you come to examine and see whether Christ is in you, or not, that wickedness, profaneness, unrighteousness, ungodliness, filthiness might go out of you? For if Christ is found within you, the strong man goes out that has kept the house, and defiled the heart, and the body, and the mind, and that imprisoned the soul; if Christ is felt within, there is the soul's bishop. O, people, I am grieved with your abominations, and filthiness, and unsavoriness, and untowardness, and your unsubjected state to the life and power of God. If you do not repent, and your minds are not changed to serve the living God in spirit, which mortifies sin and corruption, the earth will vomit you out, who have cumbered it, and destroyed the creatures of God on your filthy ungodly lusts, and that you have served and pleasured. O, I am weary of mine adversaries, said the Lord, I am weary of your abominations, you have loaded the just, and pressed it as a cart with sheaves, your hearts are gross and fat; with your tongues you have talked of God, but your hearts have been far off, after your own ends: your younger children, boys and people, are full of lightness, wildness, folly, and vanity, and envy, and mocking, scorn and derision, (which is not a good savor in your streets), stubbornness, and untowardness, and profaneness, and wildness, more like Esau's and Ishmael's stock, than Isaac's and Jacob's. Your old men are not sober, nor solid, nor grave, and so they are not good patterns to the younger; so you are all more like heathens than christians, empty of the good, full of the forgetfulness of God, and out of his fear, as though there was no God, as though you had never heard talk of God, nor scripture, nor Christ; but this saying is fulfilled, the teachers have not profited the people at all, Jer 23. But like people, like priest. But what a teacher is he that must serve this people? Who must be the prophet, or the priest, that must fit such a people? Surely he must be such a one who teaches for filthy lucre, and bears rules by his means, that will divine for money, that will preach peace to them, while they put into his mouth, such as mind earthly things, who serves not the Lord Jesus Christ, but their own bellies, that has such fruits in the streets. Butthose who seek for their gain from their quarter, and the price, never lead people to the Lord, but lead them into the earth, and to be like themselves, and they live like beasts and swine, as you may read. Jer 5, Mic 3, Eze 34, Isa 56, Jer 23, Rom 13, Mat 12, whose fruits declare it.

And away with the profession of God with your lips, while your hearts are afar off; and away with your making a trade of the scriptures, Christ's and the prophets' and the apostles' words, for which many suffered death in giving them forth. Away with your lukewarmness, and away with your carnal formality, and away with your doctrines and traditions of men, which perish in the using of them. Away with your singing of David's quakings, and tremblings, and fasts in meter, and instead, come to sing in the spirit. Away with your hour-glass-preaching, and hypocritical praying, and your old mass-house-worship, which is called steeple-house or church, and come to the church in God. 1 Thes 1, and to worship God in spirit, John 4, and the Lord is come to teach his people himself, by his spirit, and to bring them off from all the world's teachers, and churches, and ways, to Christ, the way to himself, and he does enlighten everyone that comes into the world, that all through the light might believe; and everyone believing in the light, which has enlightened them, they shall become the children of the light; but those who hate the light that does enlighten them, they hate Christ, and that condemns them: and that is the light that lets the drunkard see he should not be drunk, and the curser that he should not curse, nor swear, and the thief, that he should not steal, and that the cozener should not cozen, nor cheat, nor wrong, nor defraud; and lets the profane see he should not profane; and lets the envious man see he should not envy, nor fight, nor quarrel, nor lie, nor commit adultery; that is the light which discovers that: not to look after a woman to lust after her, that is the light that said so. If you love the light, it will let you see all your evil thoughts, words, and actions, which be wrought out of God, and turn you from them; and coming into the light, your works will be wrought in God, and your words will be from him, and so good, that is in everyone of your bosoms that will judge you, and condemn you acting contrary to it, and reprove you; but if you consider it, and hearken to it, it will turn your minds to the Lord God; and if you hate it, it will be your condemnation. Therefore, now while you have time, consider and prize it, for this is the day of your visitation, and salvation proffered to you. With the light which you see your sin, which Christ Jesus has enlightened you withal, with the same you may see your salvation, Christ Jesus, from whence it comes, to save you from your sin. And people, that which may be known of God is made manifest within you, which God has showed unto you, that when you do the thing which is not convenient, not righteous, but worthy of death, by that of God in you, you can know; and while your minds are reprobate from that, you are all strangers from the life of God, and the covenant of promise. And friends, the light you must feel in your own hearts, to give you the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ, 2 Cor 4, and all the children of the Lord, shall be taught of the Lord, Isa 54, and you must come to know the anointing in you, to teach you, 1 John 2, and the kingdom of heaven you must know within you, Luke 17, and that is it which never consents to sin. And you must come to know the new covenant, the law in your minds, and in your hearts, by which you need not say to one another, know the Lord, but that all might come to know him, from the greatest to the least, that witness the law of God put and written in your minds and hearts, that you may come to witness the Lord is your God, and you his people. Repent, for fear that you come to say you had time, when it is passed; so from a lover of your souls, and your eternal good.

George Fox

Come, away with your self-righteousness, and your feigned humility, and your will-worship, and your carnal security, and take heed of drunkenness, and filthiness, and profaneness, and scoffing, mocking, scorning, and derision, for such who live in such things, and act such things, shall not inherit the kingdom of God; and away with that you call your sacraments, and your sprinkling infants, and come to Christ the substance, and come to the spirit, that you may be baptized into one body, that you may come to possess the things the scriptures speak of.

The very mist of the air is among you, and so are so light, and vain, which are the prince of the air's fruits, and the priest's who has long preached for his mouth; but if you put not into his mouth, see if he turn not against you, and you shall not keep him long; so look unto Christ Jesus to teach you, who said, learn of me, who is the way to the Father, who has enlightened you, that with the light you may see him, who is the bread to feed upon; but if you hate it, then you feed upon husks.

This is to be read among the people of Uxbridge.

A WORD IN THE BEHALF OF THE KING,

That he may see who they are that honor all Men, and love the Brotherhood, that fear God, and honor the King; according as it is written in the Scriptures of Truth. 1 Pet 2:17.

— By George Fox

Let all people consider what they do, and what they say, and practice; who say they are christians (and go under that name) and bring Peter's words,1 Pet 2:17, Honor all men, [Mark,] that is a large word, for if they honored all men, then they would not hurt any man, but love all men, and have all men in esteem; and if they esteemed a man, they would never hurt him; and if they esteemed all men, and honored them, then they would hurt no man. So if they only practiced what they say, there would be no strife in Christendom; nor would there be strife with any men, nor hatred of any man, nor violence, nor striking any man -  for he honored him, and had him in esteem, and he that honored him, loved him.

Now he that does not honor all men, nor does not love all men, nor has not all men in esteem, (though he may say these words of the apostle, yet he is out of the doctrine of the apostle, and practice) he is in the nature of a Jew, or a heathen, that hates, and dishonors, slanders, backbites, and envies, and does violence to men, does not honor them, nor has them not in esteem, nor does not love them. So look what derision, scorn, maliciousness, and what envy men live in, abusing one another, and wronging one another, yet would not these be called christians? do these honor all men? Do these love all men, even their enemies? Have these all men in esteem, that will strike, and fight, and shed men's blood? Are these such as keep Christ's commands, who said, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your mind, with all your soul, and with all your strength, and you shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Luke 10:27, Again he said, “All things whatsoever you would that men should do unto you, do you the same unto them, for that is the law and the prophets.” Luke 6:31. Now he that loves his neighbor as himself, he will not hurt him; and he that wrongs or deceives his neighbor, or strikes, or abuses, or sheds another man's blood, he would not have the same done unto himself by another; and so such an one is out of Christ's doctrine, and a transgressor of the law and the prophets.

Now is it not so, that many esteem clothes and riches, and so admire men's persons because of advantage. Thus they have become respecters of men's persons, and do not honor all men, but disesteem them that have not fine clothes, and gay apparel, and riches, and esteem them that have; and so honor the one, and dishonor the other; now this is respecting of persons, and not to honor all men, as the apostle James in 2:12 speaks of, who said, “My brethren have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory with respect of persons. For if there come a man with a gold ring, and goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment, and you have respect to him that wears the gay clothing, and say unto him, sit you here in a good place, and say to the poor man stand you there, or sit here under my foot-stool.” Now this is being the respecter of persons, who has not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, and not the one who honors of all men, and so there is the sect maker; but who honors all men, they are no sect makers, but are out of them all.

The second thing is this, “Love the brotherhood, and love enemies;” now here is the two things, to love enemies, it is not to kill them, and to destroy them, but to overcome them with the good; now enemies are sons of Adam, in whom the enmity is, and the sins of the flesh, who be strangers from the life of God, and the covenant of promise and sonship, in which is the brotherhood.

Those that are in the love of God, (which is to the world), would have all others to be saved, and to know their mind and their salvation. Now if they would have all men to be saved, they would not have them destroyed, neither destroy them. Even if they are hypocrites, or blasphemers, or dissenters, or heretics, or fanatics, let them be what they will; he would have them to be saved. The patience and long suffering of God is great salvation. Paul and David, who were great transgressors, witnessed this salvation. But the impatient and envious, (which are the tares), they destroy the saints, and pluck up the wheat for tares, as blasphemers and heretics. But these have not the spirit of Christ guiding of them, and such cannot love enemies, for those who hate enemies, are out of the commands of Christ, and out of his spirit, and mind, who persecute about religion, and church worship, but do not love enemies; neither are they in brotherly fellowship, nor in the spirit and power of God, that goes over all transgression, that was before it was. So those who hate enemies have not all men in esteem, (mark, all men), these are not in brotherly fellowship, nor do not love brotherhood, but are respecters of persons, that do not honor all men, and love enemies; but are in hatred, and envy, and fury, and rage, and madness, (not in the love and meekness), and that is the fanatic spirit, that does not love enemies.

Thirdly, “Fear God and honor the king;” so mark, those who fear God, honor the king; and to fear God is to depart from sin, and evil, (and that keeps the heart clean) which is the beginning of wisdom. Now such as do not fear God, do not honor the king; and such as do not depart from sin and evil, do not fear God, and they do not honor the king.

It may be they may talk of him with the lips, and bow the knee, put off the hat, etc. But that is not the honor; for those who live not in the fear of God, do not honor the king. Drunkards, and swearers, and cursers, you fear not God, therefore you honor not the king; for the scriptures said, “you shall not swear nor curse,” as Paul said, to the Romans , and as Christ said, Mat 5:32-37 and James said, James 5:12. And all you who live in adultery, fornication, uncleanness, idolatry, whoredom, lasciviousness, effeminateness, pleasures, gaming, sporting, pastime, which stirs up vain and idle words, (for which you must give an account) and vain actions, and taking God's name in vain, you fear not God that do so; therefore you honor not the king, but do dishonor him, and this nation, and his government, and his kingdom; “for righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people,” said Solomon; and, said the apostle, “this know you, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, or covetous man, who is an idolater has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ, or of God.” Eph 5:5-6.

And all you cozeners, cheaters, defrauders, dissemblers, liars, backbiters, slanderers, false accusers, envious, and malicious persons, murderers, plotters, fighters, quarrelers, brawlers, scolders, tumultuous ones, rioters, ambitious, proud, heady, high-minded, vain-glorious, perverse, wicked, and willful men, you live not in God's fear, therefore you cannot honor the king; for they who honor the king, must fear God, as you may read, 1 Pet 2:17. All reproachers, scoffers, scorners, despisers, and mockers, and such as give nicknames to one another, and foolish jesters, and vain, and corrupt, and filthy talkers, who vomit out your own shame by your corrupt communication, you do not fear God; therefore you do not honor the king in your hearts. All of you must come to the witness of God in yourselves, which lets you see sin and evil, and then depart from it. The fear of God is to depart from sin and evil, and then you come to honor the king as you live in God's fear, and there is no other way.

All you who are earthly-minded, and live in oppression, extortion, grinding the face of the poor, in covetousness, which is idolatry, and rebellion against God, which is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness, which is iniquity, and say you shall have peace, though you walk in the stubbornness of your hearts, and regard not the Lord; you do not fear God, neither do you honor the king.

All you insober, intemperate, immodest, ungracious, who choose vice rather than virtue and piety, you fear not God, but cast his law and his fear behind your backs; therefore you honor not the king, for you are to be in the fear of God, before you honor the king.

So never profess that you honor the king, who do not live in the fear of God; and never profess that you are fearing God, and honoring of the king, while you are cursing, swearing, damning, roaring, drinking healths, and spoiling, and misspending, consuming, and destroying the creatures, and drinking in, and vomiting up again. All that be there (and are so doing), fear not God, and so they do not honor the king, (this is not for the king's health, nor this is not for the king's honor), but as I said before, such dishonor him.

All that follow the vain fashions of this world, that live in the lusts of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life, which is not of God the Father, but of the world, these fear not God, so they honor not the king.

And all thieves, robbers, man-slayers, plotters to destroy men's persons, lives and estates, to bring men into poverty, and to undo one another; these live not in the fear of God, which is to love enemies, and to do good for evil; and these honor not all men, these love not the brotherhood, these cannot honor the king, that live not in God's fear.

All those who make discord, and strife, and dissension among people by lies, and false reports, and dissemble to get gain, and lay snares for the righteous, and betray the innocent to get gain and advantage to themselves, by telling lies of some to others, these fear not God, these do not honor the king.

And all who envy one another about their fashions, and diet, because they have not means to maintain it as high as others, though they would be in the same fashion, and live as high as others, but their estates will not maintain it, and therefore they envy all others who have estates, and can maintain it; and likewise those who have estates to maintain their fashions, etc. They envy others that would be there, and do as they do, but have not wherewithal to maintain it; and so these do not esteem all men, nor love brotherhood, nor fear God, nor honor the king, that have not departed from these evils; for those who go into evil, and live in evil, or in any manner of sin and wickedness, do not fear God, but they fear God, that depart from sin and evil, and such are those who honor all men, and love the brotherhood, who depart from sin, and these are those who honor the king.

But now, cursers, swearers, covenant-breakers, perjured persons, who will swear, and break oaths, and forswear, make covenants, and vows, and promises, and protestations, and leagues, and break them, such fear not God, nor honor the king.

And such as will fight, and kill, and destroy for a morsel of bread, or a mess of pottage, are profane, as Esau was. These are men without natural affection, lovers of themselves, and lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, truce-breakers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of them that are good, traitors, and men of corrupt minds, and to every good work are reprobates. These do not fear God, neither can these honor the king, nor the kingdom, nor nation wherein they live.

All that follow gluttony, excess and riot, who eat and drink, and rise up to play, feasts, banquets, stage-plays, bear-baitings, cock-fights, horse-races, hunting, hawking, dancing, carousing, wantonness, spending their times after the lusts and pleasures of the world, which perish with the using; these fear not God, these are not like to honor the king, that destroy the creatures upon their lusts, and vain pleasures.

Therefore tremble before the Lord God, you that do not fear his name, but live in sin, and wickedness, enviousness, maliciousness, strife, bitterness, wrath, anger, and clamor, and evil-speaking, lying, false accusing, persecuting the innocent; and live in drunkenness, bloody-mindedness, hateful, and hating one another, desperate, rash, hasty, perverse, unruly, disorderly, rebellious, unmerciful, cruel, hard-hearted, fierce, despisers, wrathful, obstinate, willful, stubborn, full of threats, revilings, haters of God; you love not enemies, you honor not all men, you do not love the brotherhood, you do not depart from sin and evil, you do not fear God, nor is it like that you should honor the king.

Therefore, all people from the highest to the lowest, it is a warning to you all to depart from sin, and all manner of evil whatsoever. You that live in adultery, idolatry, fornication, uncleanness, whoredom, cursing, swearing, drunkenness, lying, sporting, and pleasures, and in cozening, cheating, deceiving, and defrauding one another, dissembling, reproaching, persecuting one another with tongue or hand, backbiting, or slandering, or false accusing one another, rage, malice and hatred, and envying one another; fear God, and depart from those things, and come into the chasteness, and temperance, and sobriety, and truth, and righteousness, and meekness, and lowliness of mind, out of the high-mindedness, and to love the brotherhood, honor all men, fear God, and then you honor the king.

For as you live in sin and evil, you honor not all men, you love not the brotherhood, you fear not God, you honor not the king; that is from the Lord God to you all, you dishonor men, you dishonor the brotherhood, you dishonor the king, you cast the fear of God behind your backs, and his law also, who live in sin and evil, though you talk ever so much of your honoring the king, we will never believe you, that you honor him while you live in sin, for that is it which is to his dishonor and reproach, and will bring the judgments of God upon the land.

So while you live in the wrath, and revenge, swearing, cursing, blaspheming the name of God, and taking it in vain, and professing him in words, but in works denying of him, living in lying, deceit, and hypocrisy, and dissimulation, in unrighteousness, injustice, and iniquity, in pride, idleness, and fullness of bread, in drunkenness, riotousness, and vain pleasures and delights, (which causes you to forget God), and all manner of cozening, cheating, deceit, defrauding, puffed up, heady, high-minded, ambitious, and overreaching one another in bargaining, to overthrow one another to make yourselves rich; we do say, and know, and believe that you neither fear God, nor honor the king, nor love enemies, nor love the brotherhood, nor honor all men, who are so wicked, and malicious and envious against men.

All that are persecutors about religion, church-worship, ordinances, ministers' maintenance, and their traditions, which the apostles never did so in the primitive times, neither did Christ ever give any such command; these fear not God that do so, neither do they honor all men that do persecute them about religion and worship, and cast them into prison, nor love enemies, nor love brotherhood, nor fear God, nor Christ, nor honor the king; for Christ gave them no such command, as you may read in the scriptures of truth.

Fifthly, and all those who persecute people about observing of days, and not observing of days, meats, and drinks, which stand in the will-worship, as the apostle speaks of, 2 Col, who neglect the body. The kingdom of heaven stands not in such things, but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost; and those who do so (contrary to the apostle, who said, “Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind,” Rom 14), bring people from waiting to be satisfied in their own minds, that persecute them, and compel them to observe days, and times, and months, and years. These love not the brotherhood, nor honor all men, nor fear God, nor Christ, nor honor the king; for that which keeps in the honor of the king, keeps in righteousness, keeps in truth, keeps in justice, which establishes a kingdom, and keeps in the kingdom of God, which stands not in meats and drinks.

Sixthly, and all who teach for filthy lucre, for hire, and for the love of money, such serve not the Lord Jesus Christ, but their own bellies: and all who judge for gifts and rewards, and oppress the poor, and do not equal justice to all, nor minister freely, as Christ commanded, (who have received freely), these fear not God, nor regard the scriptures of truth, nor honor the king, who is to keep all to truth, righteousness, and justice.

Seventhly, and all who get a form of godliness, the scripture of truth, (which was given forth from them who were in the spirit of truth), and yet fine, prison, and persecute such as are in the same spirit as they were in that gave it forth; these neither regard God, nor his fear, nor truth, justice, nor equity; so these cannot honor the king, but such who honor the king, must be temperate, moderate, sober, patient, meek, mild, gentle, loving, do equally, justly, righteously, be holy, godly, true, and faithful, peaceable, merciful, and humble; for humility is that which goes before the honor, and these are the fruits of them that fear God, and honor the king, and love the brotherhood, and honor all men. 1 Pet 2:17.

And the fruits of them that fear not God, and do not honor the king, nor love the brotherhood, nor honor all men (though they pretend to do it), are such as these: cursing, swearing, drunkenness, whoredom, lying, murder, plotting, killing, fighting, theft, adultery, fornication, lasciviousness, pride, envy, hatred, malice, cruelty, oppression, unmerciful, idolatry, covetousness, inordinate affections, lust, voluptuous,(- given to luxury),insatiable, incorrigible, impenitency, unbelief, uncharitable, unthankful, hardness of heart, enmity, strife, competition, discord, persecution, and hauling (violent dragging) men without cause, and laying snares for the innocent.

Never did any kill about religion but the heathen, and Cain, and the Jews, which had a law from God to kill and put to death such as drew them from their God, by which law they were to receive a punishment according to their transgression, whipped, or stoned, or run through. Therefore did the Jews think they did God good service, by killing such as were contrary minded to them, in that they did obey the law. Therefore, under this pretence they did kill the saints, the christians in the primitive times, for they were to love their brethren, and to hate their enemies; for they were their enemies, the heathen, and Gentiles, and such as set up a strange God among them. Therefore the christians (who own Christ, which ends this law, and the Jews' types, and figures, and shadows held up by it), were to love enemies; and this was the difference whereby they differed from the Pharisees, that were to hate enemies, and the christians were to love them. For the time has been, said Christ, “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth,” but said he now, “He that smites you on the one cheek, turn to him the other, and resist not evil, but love your enemies:” Now the Jews who hated enemies, their weapons were carnal, but those who love enemies (the christians), their weapons were and are spiritual: so Christ ends that law of the Jews, which they thought they did God good service by, when they put to death them that were contrary minded to them; for they could not love enemies that killed them, neither can those who love enemies now kill them; for they love them that preserve them, and do not kill them, for Christ who ends the prophets (when his disciples would have had fire to come down from heaven, as the prophet had), rebuked them, and told them they knew not what spirit they were of, and said “he came not to destroy men's lives, but to save them.”

Christ nor the apostles never set up any law or commandment to imprison, or persecute any, brethren, or enemies, but love, for God loved the world; and so those who love the brotherhood, and honor all men, that have all men in esteem, they cannot hurt any man upon the earth, that owes nothing to any man but love, that is the debt which must be paid, for love envies not, and he that envies is out of love, and not a child of God, but of Cain, and so a vagabond.

Now all Christendom do profess Christ and God in words, (but are out of the life, and out of the power), who fall into differences and strife about earthly things, and inventions, as days, meats, and their own traditions, which the kingdom of God stands not in, but in power, in righteousness, and joy in the Holy Ghost; but now since the days of Christ and the apostles in the primitive times, they have made laws to persecute one another, who have lost brotherhood, and honoring all men, which if they were in the kingdom which stands in power, (and not in meats and drinks, or days, or outward things), but in righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost, then they would feel the law of love, the law of the spirit of life, and to be made free from the law of sin and death. But those who fall out about days, and meats, and drinks, and inventions, and their own traditions, are out of the kingdom of God, and out of the brotherly love, not esteeming all men, not fearing God, and those who do so, are contrary to Christ and the apostles in the primitive times.

So they do not do God good service that persecute about religion now, and about the church-worship, for Christ commands them to love enemies, who ended the Jews' law, that did persecute the Gentiles, and such among themselves as did draw from the law of God. Christ broke down the partition-wall which was between Jew and Gentile, who slew the enmity, and so of two made one new man, and thereby came the love to enemies.

TO THE TURK, (or today to the Muslims)

And all that are under his Authority, to read this over, which concerns their Salvation.

—By George Fox

Friends,—The mighty God of heaven and earth, that created all things, that has given you breath, and life, and strength to this day, commands you all to repent, and to believe in his Son the Lord Jesus Christ, who was crucified at Jerusalem, who was dead, and ascended, and is alive again, and lives for evermore, the man Christ Jesus, who now reigns; he commands that all powers, principalities, dominions should be subject to him. And this is the command of the Lord God to you, and you all, who rules kingdoms and kings with his mighty hand, which is his mighty power, as he does the waters; so he has kings in his hand, as he has the waters; the Lord of hosts, of heaven and earth, is his name, who sent his Son, who is the life of men, the Savior of the world, the great and mighty prince of peace, the covenant of God with mankind, to make reconciliation for iniquity, and finish transgression, and put an end to sin, the great governor of heaven and earth, who has all power in heaven and earth given unto him, whose command is, that he will be worshipped in spirit and in truth: the spirit that mortifies sin, the truth, the devil and sin is out of, for by your Muhammad have you been deceived, which saint is set up; therefore is the dreadful presence of the Almighty God, the everlasting Father of life appeared among you, and to you; unless you regard and embrace his voice, his power, his command, [the] mighty God of power, of dominion, and of dominions, who rules over all nations, heaven and earth; [unless you regard all of these, God] will seize upon you, and surprise you, and take you at unawares, and bring his judgments and dread upon you, which is now appeared in this the day of his Son; and the hour of his judgment is come, and coming upon all the world, of the mighty God of heaven and earth, of the mighty righteous God of heaven and earth, who in righteousness reigns, and in truth and equity.

Therefore dread the Lord, whose mighty power is spreading over all nations, who commands all nations to forsake idols, and images, observances of inventions, to serve and to worship him, the Creator of all things, that clothes the earth with grass, and causes the trees to bud, and bring forth; that gathers the waters together in one place, that established man upon the earth, the eternal God, the Lord of hosts is his name; and the word and charge of the mighty God is to you, and you throughout all your dominions, not give any worship to the sun, the moon, gods of stone, or gods of wood, brass, or silver, or iron, and not to put any trust or confidence in them, nor anything else, but the living God, or any false conceptions, but the living God, the Lord of hosts, who gives you all breath, life, strength, and all things needful; that you might worship him who is a spirit, whose dominion is set up, and setting up, whose glory now is revealed, and revealing; whose kingdom is now set up, and setting up, and spreading over all the world, who will be glorified and admired, the mighty King, the Lord of hosts, by all that fear him, the terrible God of heaven and earth to the wicked, and they shall find him dreadful that have trusted in lying vanities, and false conceptions, the Lord of hosts is his name, who delivers his people from their iniquities, and their sins; therefore remember him, for now is the day of his Son, the Lamb's power, who is come to reign, and to rule all nations with a rod of iron, whose scepter is gone forth, and righteousness shall shine throughout the world, to the ends of the earth, Christ Jesus the everlasting covenant of God, the great sacrifice, that one offering which ended all sacrifices, and offerings of rams, lambs, oxen, sheep, and whatsoever was outward, Christ the mystery of God, the Savior of the world, to all that believe in him, that through him they might have life, who is the way again to God, who is the second Adam, the Lord from heaven, that leads the sons of Adam, and the daughters of Adam, and is their guide up to the Father, who is the life, the light, and power of God, and their sanctification, that makes people clean, and presents them to the Father spotless, and blameless; for Adam being driven from God, for sin and transgression, and Adam's sons and daughters scattered up and down the face of the whole earth, divided into families, and into nations, and several kingdoms, spread up and down the face of the earth, and some in one worship, and some in another; some worship the sun, some the moon, some stocks, some stones, and some looking at Muhammad, others setting up dead images, and likenesses, which the Lord never did command.

Now all the sons and daughters of Adam being dead in sins, and trespasses, and in darkness under the power of Satan, killing and slaying about their worship, being in darkness, and death, wanting life, and light, being separated from the Creator, in sin and transgression, have set up their inventions in the earth, and outward worships and inventions, but Christ is the second Adam, the Son of God, which God sent into the world, which does enlighten every one that comes into the world, that all through the light might believe, and that all might believe in Christ; and this is the light that Christ the Son of God has enlightened every one that comes into the world withal, that he sees his evil deeds that he has done, his evil works that he has acted, his evil ways that he has walked in, his ungodly deeds, that he has ungodly committed, and his ungodly thoughts, that he ungodly thinks, and his ungodly words, which he ungodly speaks; this is the light that discovers and makes manifest all this to people, their sin and transgression, which they have done in the first Adam, which separated them from God: now Christ, the second Adam, does enlighten them, with which light they see their sin; now being in this light, they see their Savior Christ, from whence the light comes to save them from their sins, he is the second Adam, their life, and being in the light they have life, being in the light Christ the life has enlightened them withal, they have life, for Christ is the life; which light and life that does enlighten every one that comes into the world, every one receiving, they are separated from sin by Christ, and by him brought to God again; for sin and transgression separates from God, and this is that that brings people to worship God in truth, the light which Christ the truth enlightens every man that comes into the world withal, which believing in, he has life, he has truth, and he passes from death, and from darkness, from sin, and transgression, and has the witness in himself, through which light and life all comes to the Father of life, which light brings from all the worship of images, as stocks, and stones, and gods made of men's hands; yes, and from Muhammad, to the Lord Jesus Christ, the great prophet, the Savior of the world, whom God did promise by his prophet he would give for a light to the Gentiles, a ruler to the people, and that he should be his salvation to the ends of the earth: and a new covenant to the house of Israel, and the house of Judah, who would put his law in their minds and hearts, and they should not depart from him; which every one of you that come into the world being enlightened, and having light from the Son of God, and feel your teacher that tells you all that ever you have done, you have thought, or you have spoken, that is the man Christ Jesus, who said, learn of me, I am the way to the Father, that enlightens every man; so all that come into the world must learn of him; (all the sons of Adam, and daughters of Adam, in the transgression are drove from God,) the way again to God, out of sin and darkness, and death and damnation, to life and light again, and salvation. So everyone that comes into the world being enlightened, and being in the light they have the witness in themselves, and he that believes shall not come into condemnation; but he comes into the light that condemns all that is contrary, he comes into the light, into the truth, into the light that is the truth, where the Father of light is worshipped, and the devil and sin are out of; which truth will out-last all false worships, and worships that be out of truth. Now is the mighty supreme judge risen, and the mighty supreme authority set up, and the mighty King of glory, the Lord of hosts (risen) is his name, before whose presence shall all nations tremble, and before whose presence shall all nations and kings shake, for the mighty God of power, of heaven and earth is come to rule, and his mighty power is gone forth to the gathering of all nations to himself, to the subduing all powers to himself, who will rule and reign, whose right it is, the Lord God of hosts, whose the earth is, and the heavens, and the sea, and all things that be therein, and people upon the earth, and gives them breath, and life, and strength, and all things that is good, that they might serve, glorify, and worship him that is the Creator. Therefore, give attention to your Maker, to your Creator, and dread before Him; for before Him, the Lord God of might and power, shall all nations tremble in this his day, in this day of his power, for his mighty power has gone forth to gather all nations, which does compass them, and all nations before Him is but as the drop of the bucket: and now is his day of gathering of all nations and kings to the battle of the great King of heaven and earth, and nothing shall reign and rule but righteousness itself, and that over all kingdoms and dominions, and thrones, and principalities is set up, and the standard of the most high God is pitched over the whole world, and his call is to the bar of righteousness, all kings, and dominions, and powers whatsoever; therefore, dread his name, for his name is dreadful, the Lord God, the mighty God, the Most High, who is in his glory, and rules in his dignity, and power, and majesty; who is a spirit, and will be worshipped in spirit and in truth, by whose breath of life man came to live, who is a spirit, and will be worshipped in spirit, and that is the spirit that mortifies the sin, and that is it in which people must have fellowship with God, and with one another, and with his prophets', and apostles', and Son's words: therefore, fear the Lord, let him be your fear and dread, and turn to the light, which Christ the Son has enlightened you withal, and believe in Christ, the savior of the world, the offering for the sin of the whole world, that you might have life in him, and through him, and come to the dominion, (which Adam has lost), over all the creatures, to Christ, the light and life, the power and righteousness over all, and wisdom of God itself, that renews man into the dominion which man has lost; Christ, by whom the world was made, was before it was made, who is the brightness of his glory, the express image of the substance of God: in him was life, and the life was the light of men, which does enlighten every man that comes into the world; through the light that enlightens them they have life, light, justification, sanctification, redemption, they have salvation, they have truth, they have peace with God; for the light is the covenant, “I will give him for a covenant of light to the Gentiles,” said God, “and a leader to the people:” So that light should be the leader of every man that comes into the world, the light with which every man is enlightened that comes into the world, that is the leader; which light was with the Father, glorified before the world began; which light lets men see all their evil ways and sins, and transgressions they have done in the world, and the first transgression that was upon the earth, with which light, (the covenant of God,) sin and transgression is finished and blotted out, (to them that believe in it,) the which separated them from God, (sin and transgression,) Christ, the light and truth, separates from the sin, transgression, and iniquity, and reconciles to God, and brings to unity with God again, and in that has the people life and immortality, and that is the word of the Lord God to all, and I charge you all to hear it, the light that lightens every one that comes into the world, it will make you free from sin, by which light shall every one that believes see their salvation Christ Jesus, and the man that has told them all that ever they have done, and they shall know his salvation to the ends of the world, and to you all this is the word of the Lord God, ye believing in the light, which Christ has enlightened every one that comes into the world withal, they being in the light, with the light they are justified; and he that believeth in the light shall never be condemned in this world, nor in the world without end. And in the light you will have unity with God, and peace with God, and one with another, and bring you to live peaceably upon earth one with another: yes, all nations and men, the sons and daughters of Adam being enlightened, having a light from Christ Jesus the second Adam, the way to the Father; the life, the truth, all being in this truth which the second Adam has enlightened them withal, who is the life, the truth, the way to God, the way again to God the father of life, where man is driven from, and cannot enter again, but by the light, Christ the second Adam. So all being in the light, they are in the way, they have found the way Christ Jesus, the chief shepherd, the bishop of the soul, (which soul is immortal,) the same yesterday, today, and for ever, who was with the Father before the world began, by whom all was created, who is the soul's bishop, and the author of man's salvation, and redemption, and justification, (who has been driven from him by sin and transgression,) Christ who blots it out, and is the offering that offered himself for the sins of the whole world, who is the light of the world, that enlightens every man that comes into the world, that all through this light might believe in the Son of God, Christ Jesus, the one offering, who is the way to God, and the covenant between God and man, in him is God well pleased, and does accept man; and they which believe in him have life, have power, have wisdom, and receive him that gives them power; and no one upon earth has life, peace, or justification, but such as come into the light of Christ the justification, the life of all that come to God, who was glorified with him before the world began, who lets all men see their way again to God, who is the life, the truth, and the leader of the people; which light is the condemnation to them that do not believe in it, and such have not unity with God, nor one with another; they be not in the one offering, the great sacrifice, the Prince of life, Christ Jesus, the Immanuel, and know not the interpretation thereof, that is, God with us. Therefore, every one of you that would have salvation, receive the light, and so you receive Christ your salvation, and neglect it not; for this is the day of your salvation and visitation; and the mighty power of God is gone forth among you, and his everlasting gospel, which is his power, is going forth to all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, that dwell upon the earth, by which gospel shall kindreds and nations be gathered unto him, and into the mystery of the fellowship of the gospel, which fellowship is everlasting, the gospel everlasting, the power of God everlasting, in which is the fellowship, so that is everlasting; in this, people have fellowship with God, and one with another.

From England.

Some Papers Written to the Magistrates of Malta, and to the Emperor of the House of Austria, and to All the Princes Under Him. To the King of France, and to All the Powers that are Under Him; and to the King of Spain, and Lastly, to the Pope.

—By George Fox

TO THE MAGISTRATES OF THE ISLE OF MALTA

Friends,—Two women being moved of the Lord to pass towards Jerusalem, were stopped, as we hear, by you rulers of Malta, who sent an inquiry to the pope at Rome, asking what you should do with them, (the servants and handmaids of the Lord God). Why were you not worthy to receive them? Why do you not subscribe to the apostles' doctrine, which is to entertain strangers? What is this the purpose of your religion? Why do you not comply with Christ's doctrine; the Lord Jesus Christ, who is now come to reign, who says to love enemies? Why do you send them to the inquisition, who will stop the hand-maids and servants of the Lord? Is this work like the true christians? Is this doing like the apostles, and in doing this, are you like men that were in the wisdom of God, that had the mind of Christ Jesus, and his spirit? Where did ever the apostles do so, or Christ; or the true christians in the primitive times? Why do you wrestle with flesh and blood, when the apostles said they did not? Why do you act contrary to them? Why do you act contrary to the command of Christ? (who hate enemies), as you pretend them to be your enemies, which are your friends. Is not a heretic, or a sect maker one who hates enemies, who has erred from the true church, the body of Christ? Why do you thus act contrary to Christ's commands, and the apostles' doctrine? Do you not manifest that you have but the form of godliness, and want the power. Did ever the apostles, or Christ, imprison any, or put any to death about religion, church, or worship, or any tradition, or compelling any to worship? Had they any among them to force men by an outward law? Was not the gospel preached, the end of the law of God, and so the end of all evil men's laws and inventions whatsoever? Are they preachers of the gospel, that do not preach what is the end of the law [to love all], and brings people to the end of it? Are they not the persecutors that run to the law, or their own inventions, and do not come to Christ that fulfils the law? How have you made the world like a wilderness, and stained the earth by your persecution, and inquisitions, prisons, and images, and destroying people, and drinking their blood, of such as have been opposite-minded against you. This has been occurring since the true church went into the wilderness, (which was not an outward wilderness), just after the apostles' days. In this time, see how has this family of Christendom has massacred one another; how the have fallen out in the family among themselves; when they should have loved one another, when they should have overcome evil with good, when they should have loved enemies, when they should not have wrestled with flesh and blood, but with principalities, and powers, and spiritual wickedness in high places, and rulers of darkness, and brought the creature into the liberty of the sons of God. Such were the spiritual weapons with which the primitive christians warred, but how the carnal have weapons appeared in the hands almost of every christian in name, among which has been the form of godliness with Christ's, the prophets', and apostles' words only; by which they have sheathed their carnal weapons in the bowels of one another, killed, and slain, and tortured, burned, imprisoned, and racked, and put to death one another about their church, religion, worship, and ministry, and teaching and tradition, and ordinances and sacraments, as they call them. Oh! How unlike the apostles, Christ, saints, and christians of old are you. Oh! How have the spiritual weapons been wanting among you, and the spirit of the Lord God, in which you would have had unity in the bond of peace, whereby everyone would have broken down the enmity, that which causes it, and have brought one another into the liberty of the sons of God, and made manifest your spiritual weapons; hereby would you have come to live in the spirit, worshipped in the spirit, prayed in the spirit, and in that had unity with God, the Father of spirits, and one with another, and with the scriptures that was given forth from the spirit; then should there have been unity in the family being in the spirit, in which they all should worship God, in which the scriptures is known, and God of whom they learned, that gave them forth; but what a discord is there in the family of christians in Christendom! what a cry! heretics, separatists, antichrists, errors, a whole family in confusion, and setting up laws one against another, dividing the family, putting one another to death, as heretics, blasphemers, separatists. Were these the weapons the apostles fought with? Did they not preach the gospel, the end of the law, and priesthood, and temple, altar and offering held up by a law? Is not Christ the head of the church, who has all power in heaven and in earth given unto him, who said, love enemies? Do you not hold up your religion, gospel, church, worship, and ministry by a law which is invented, along with invented statutes and commandments? Is this the bride, the Lamb's wife, or the beast, false prophets, and antichrist, and the mother of harlots, (the false church), which has compelled, killed, and drank the blood of the saints, and martyrs? Have not you ruled in this posture, and garb, and wisdom that is earthly, sensual, and devilish, since the true church went into the wilderness, (of which Christ is head)? Must not they be taken, the beast, dragon, and false prophets; and the judgment of the great whore, which is the false church, has come? In this judgment the Lamb, and the saints, the true church his wife, have victory? Is not Christ’s sword, with which he kills, the words of his mouth? Has not all your killing been with outward swords, with jails, inquisitions, racks, and fires? So have you not been traitors to the Lord Jesus Christ, who said love enemies, overcome evil with good, and when they persecute you, not that you should persecute in return. Christ was persecuted and blasphemed by those who lived in error, more than any man upon earth, who was the end of the law, and he did not turn them to the Jews' law, (which was yet standing before he was offered up), to put them to death; but he rebuked the blind zeal of such that would have had fire come down from heaven to consume people, and told them he came not to destroy men's lives, but to save them, and told them they did not know what spirit they were of. Likewise, now they do not know what spirit they are of, that persecute men about religion, church, and worship, and ministry, that slays and destroys men's lives, and not saves them; they are not of Christ's mind. Christ did not use any law to compel and bind men to the worship of God in the spirit, for the spirit of God, (who worship in it), binds down the wrong nature, by which they do not need to be compelled by the law, but come to live in the end of the law, (who are true worshippers). This spirit, hearing what it said, it brings to hear God, and learn of him; such come to Christ; such are not compelled by an outward law to come to God and Christ; but the spirit that brings to hear God, and Christ, binds down that evil nature which needs the law’s restraint, that comes upon them because of that evil nature’s  fruits. So they who have come to the church in God, the Father of Christ, are not compelled by an outward law, they come to the end of the law, who come to the church that Christ is the head of. So the church lives in the end of the law; the body of Christ makes free from the law, and who comes to the body of Christ, comes to the church, and the head of it is Christ. Therefore lay away your persecutions, your jails, racks, and inquisitions about your ministry, worship, and church; and come into the power of the Lord God that comprehends the world, and feels over the world to the beginning before the world began; when Christ Jesus was, who has all power in heaven and in earth given him, who is now come to rule and reign in his power. Christ is terrible to the wicked, and the wrath of the Lamb is gone out against them, and thousands there are living in his power, and are with the Lamb, the wonderful one, the beginning, and ending, the prince of peace, prince of life, that slays, that destroys the devil, the prince of darkness, the prince of the air, the prince of the world, and saves men's lives. So who comes into the power, into Christ's power, which has all power in heaven and earth given to him, and have his mind to save men's lives, they shall know what spirit they are of, and that such are contrary to their family of nominal christians; those in Christ’s power know who have manifested that they do not have the spirit of Christ [and are of the other spirit, who persecute].

The mighty day of the Lord is coming upon all wickedness, and ungodliness, and Christ is come to reign, who is the prince of life, who will rule all nations with a rod of iron, whose dread and power is to be sounded over all nations.

TO THE EMPEROR OF THE HOUSE OF AUSTRIA, AND ALL THE PRINCES UNDER HIM

Friends, read this over, which is for your general and universal good, and consider as you read, and then you will see what has been up and reigned since the apostles' days, and where you are, and what you act, and by what weapons you hold up your religion, since the apostles' days.

—By George Fox