A General Epiſtle given forth by the People of the Lord, called; Quakers.
CHRIST and his Diſciples were the bleſſed Church in the days of his Fleſh, and Judas was one of the twelve, who was Guide to them that took Jeſus, and had been number'd with the other Diſciples, and obtained part of the ſame Miniſtry with them, who fell by Tranſgreſſion, that he might go to his own place, for he was a Devil, as Chriſt himſelf ſaid of him, Have not I choſen you twelve, and one of you is a Devil? for he was a Murderer in betraying his Lord and Maſter into the hands of thoſe Murderers who ſlew him, and cauſleſly put him to death.
But the wicked Serpent was kept out from entring upon the other eleaven Diſciples, becauſe they gave ear to Jeſus, and abode in his Doctrine, and therefore being faithful, were ſent to turn Nations and People from Darkneſs to Light, and from Satans Power unto God, that they might receive
forgiveneſs of ſins, and Inheritance among them which were ſanctified by Faith i
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Chriſt Jeſus.
Now theſe bleſſed Apoſtles and Miniſters of the overlaſting Goſpel kept their Habitations and Stations in the holy Truth, from which Judas fell by Tranſgreſſion, and they were good Examples unto others, unto wh
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m they preached in a holy Life and Converſation. They did not converſe with Drunkards, Swearers, Lyars, Murderers, falſe Accuſers of the Innocent, Fornicators, Adulterers, Idolators, Blaſphemers, malicious Back-biters (he added) and proud high minded ones, &c. to joyn or unite with them in the Iniquities their hearts were privy to, but were ſound in the faith, and preached the everlaſting Goſpel with Power from Heaven, to the ſubjecting and trampling upon Satans Power, to ſtand over his Deeds of Darkneſs and Wickedneſs; and ſuch Majeſty and Dominion is with all Chriſt's Miniſters, who live with God in his holy Truth and Power; but they who go from this Power of the living God, and fall by Tranſgreſſion, as Judas did, become as ſo many Judaſſes to betray the Truth into the hands of the wicked Murderers of the Light, Life. Spi
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it and Power of Jeſus, by their ſcandalous walking and wicked acting, falling
into preſumption with the Angels which kept not their firſt eſtate in the Truth, doing things contrary to the good Order of it, ſhewing forth Examples of Lewdneſs, Vanity and Wickedneſs, and ſo become twice dead, plucked up by the Roots; and ſuch may come raging againſt the Truth, foaming out their own ſhame, through the enmity that Satan hath begot in them, being tormented becauſe of Truth, whoſe Teſtimony ſtands and ariſes againſt all ſuch Judaſſes who fight againſt the Light and the Power of God in his faithful Servants, and ſo Judas-like, for their own baſe ends, do what they can to inſinuate their own wicked Spirits of enmity into the hearts of the innocent, to betray them from that ſimplicity and ſtability that is in the Truth, to draw and lead them into Confuſion, to ſtart back from the Truth, and ſo to fall with them by Tranſgreſſ
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on, as Judas did, that Thief and Murderer: To ſuch is reſerv'd the blackneſs of Darkneſs forever.
And ſuch, whether they be Drunkards, Fornicators, Adulterers, falſe Accuſers, Blaſphemers, or live in any other ſort of Wickneſs, though they have been convinced of Truth, as Judas was, and received part of Truth's Miniſtry, as Judas did, yet being fallen from the Truth by Tranſgreſſion into
Enmity, Wickedneſs and Miſchief, we in the bleſſed Truth, which is everlaſtingly pure and precious, do deny them all, who are wickedly bent and ſet againſt the Truth, and live in a factious, rebellious, ſenſual, looſe, vain and prophane Condition, to the diſhonour of God, and ſhame to pure Religion, the good Order and Government of it.
And know this, though many may profeſs in ſhew to be Chriſtians, and the People of God amongſt us, who were in ſcorn and deriſion firſt abuſed and called and nick-named Quakers, Let all know, that ſince firſt, through Gods Mercy, we became a People, the Devil hath laboured to bring forth his wicked Inſtruments to abuſe us & the Truth, through the ſcandalous living of ſuch as have made a profeſſion of Truth, but never owned by ſuch as lived in it, no, not from the beg
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nning, but have been denyed, and teſtified againſt, both by word and writing, ſo that if amongſt the twelve Diſciples there was one became a Devil, and fell by Tranſgreſſion, ſo now if amongſt every twelve who Profeſs the ſame Truth with us called Quakers, one ſhould become a Devil, and fall by Tranſgreſſion, we cannot help it.
Let ſuch remember Judas his end at the except they can find a place of Repentance.
Judas his ſtate repreſents the body of the whole Apoſtacy and Degeneration from the holy Faith, ſo that Judas is the Father of them all, and they may read their ſtate and Doom in Judas; they all give an occaſion for Truth to be evil ſpoken of, its bleſſed face to be ſpit upon, to be reproached and ſhamed, and evilly intreated, even unto Death and Deſtruction, as much as in them lies; ſo that it may have no eſteem at all in Peoples hearts, but be accounted a baſe and unworthy thing, that People may ſlight it through their wicked living who profeſs it, as if it had no power or vertue in it to ſave Peoples Souls, and heal their Diſtempers of Iniquity and Sin.
This is the Devil's Work in ſuch Inſtruments, that he may block up the way of Truth, and cauſe the ſimple to ſtumble, and ſo diſcourage their Faith, and keep them in Unbelief and Sin: Thus the Murderer of Souls thinks to have his end by keeping People under his dark Power.
But this is our Teſtimony from the living God, That though many may profeſs the Truth, who live not in it, but are a ſcandal to it, yet the Lo
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d hath a living People who fear him, and have kept their Habitations in his Truth, and are good Examples in word and work for others to follow, whoſe
hearts are known to the Lord, and their Zeal for the proſperity of his heavenly Jeruſalem, who are Wells with Water and
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loud
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with Rain, to refreſh the hearts of many with their Virtue, through the Influence of the Lords heavenly Power, and Showers of pure divine refreſhing Bounty, and are the Servants of the living God in their Meaſures, in the true Faith, and unity with the Diſciples and holy Miniſters of Jeſus Chriſt, who fell not with Judas by Tranſgreſſion, but kept the faith of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt to the end, and in the end received a Crown of Glory laid up for them in Chriſt Jeſus; and we teſtify for God againſt all dark Souls, who may meet with us as if they were of us, and profeſs the Truth, yet have not on the Wedding Garment of uncerity and holy mindedneſs, but are reprobate concerning the Faith, and hold the Truth in Unrighteouſneſs.
Such are Spots in our Feaſts of Charity, and partake not with us of the referſhing ſence of the holy Life of the pure God, neither can they eat of the Fleſh or drink with us of the Blood of the Lord Jeſus, or diſcern the Lords Body, though we wiſh all ſuch who come to our Meetings a better Condition, that with us they may truly ſay, Verily our fellowſhip is with the Lord's People in Christ Jeſus.
So we give forth our general Teſtimony, That we own none to be of us, or to have
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nity with us, but ſuch as fear the true and
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ving God, and take up the Croſs of Chriſt
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hich is his eternal Power, that ſo they may
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e kept in the Faith that ſtands in the ſame
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ower, to the purifying of their hearts, and giving them victory over the World, the Myſtery of which Faith is held in a pure Conſcience.
But we dearly cheriſh and love every tender deſire that is raiſed up toward
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God in all, that their hearts and Souls may be kept hung
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ing and thirſting after Righteouſneſs,
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arneſtly breathing for Mercy from the
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ence of the weight of Iniquity which hath been upon them, that ſo they may come to the ſtate of the bruiſed Reed and ſmoking Flax, to wait upon the Lord to renew their ſtrength in his Power, and to be Witneſſes of his burning day, to the purifying of their hearts, and purging of their Iniouities with a true and pure ſpirit of Judgment and everlaſting Burning; let ſuch receive incouragement, for in due time, thorow the exerciſe of Patience and faithfulneſs to God, they will reap, and not faint, and attain their deſired end; but all ſuch as Judas (a traytor) and Demas, who turned from the Truth into the evil World, Hymeneus and Alexander,
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ho made ſhipwrack of Faith and a good Conſcience, we utterly deny, and cannot own, though they may in words and ſhew profeſs the Truth, but their Fruits will make all ſuch manifeſt, and God's Wiſdom will teach all the Lovers of it how to behave themſelves towards all men, in all ſtates and conditions whatſoever, and to love Enemies, and falſe Friends and Brethrens Souls, by wiſhing for them true Repentance unto Life, that they may eſcape the danger of the Wrath and Indignation of God, which will ſuddainly and everlaſtingly overtake all ſuch as pe
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ſevere in Unrighteouſneſs, and hold the Truth in it.
For as the Apoſtle ſaith, Neither Fornicators, nor Idolaters, nor Adulterers, nor Effaminate, nor Abuſers of themſelves with MANKIND; nor Thieves, nor Covetous, nor D
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nkards, nor Revilers, nor Extortioners, ſhall inher it the Kingdom of God. But if any have been ſo, but now are ſanctified, waſhed and jnſtified in the Name of the Lord Jeſus, by the Spirit of God, it is well; but all ſuch as live and abide in ſuch things aforementioned, without Repentance, will utterly periſh.
The Apoſtle Paul in his firſt Epiſtle to the Corinthians chap. 6. reproveth the Corinthian-Believers for going to Law one with
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nother, and that before the Unbelievers,
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d upbraids them for ſo doing, asking them
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f there were not a wiſe man amongſt them,
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, not one able to judge between his Brethren?
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elling them, it was utterly a fault amongſt
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hem, asking them, Why they did not rather
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ake wrong, or ſuffer themſelves to be defrauded?
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aying alſo, Know ye not that we ſhall judge Angels? how much more things that pertain to
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his Life? Nay, ſays, he you do wrong & defraud,
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that your Brethren; Do ye not know that in
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laces of Judicature all ſorts of People are admitted to hear matters debated there? And will
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t not be a ſhame for ſuch as profeſs the Truth to
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e heard there by the vileſt of men, to endeavour to the utmoſt to uncover one anothers Nakedneſs, for ſome worldly end or other; this is worſe than Ham's villiany, who uncovered the real Nakedneſs of his Father to his Brethren only; but theſe who may be called Quakers endeavour to uncover one anothers Nakedneſs to all Sects and ſorts of People, who will be Spectators thereof, though they may be the vileſt of men, who hate the Truth. This is far from Chriſtianity, and endeavouring to cover one anothers Nakedneſs, Weakneſſes & Infirmities; Let ſuch who are concerned be aſhamed of ſuch things.
All falſe and Unjuſt Dealing, Fraud and
Deceit, Cheating, Over-reaching one another, which things are Unchriſtian, we utterly diſown; for Truth acteth Righteouſneſs, and to do to others as we would they ſhould do to us; but we would not that any through falſe pretences, & equivocations or ſub
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ilty ſhould betray any by borrowing, buying, or otherwiſe, whenas the bottom of the matter being found out, it is found to be an implicite kind of Theft, to get others Goods and things into their hands, under pretence of borrowing or buying, &c. whenas aforehand they have known they have not been in a capacity to perform their Promiſes or Bargains, which hath been the cauſe of Contention, and Troubles, and Law-ſuits, and the Ruin of Families, and caſting into Priſons for Debt; but the Truth and fear of God caſts out all ſuch things, and introduces plainneſs and ſimplicity, but the Lord helpeth the needy who truſt in him, and fuch have no need to exerciſe Craft and Fraud to live by, as they fear and reverence the true and living God, without guile, he will bleſs them and help them, and ſtir up true hearted Friends to do them good. The poor man's Basket and ſtore is bleſſed, whoſe heart is with the Lord, and his morcel of Bread and cup of cold Water, as he ſtands in the counſel of God,
and keeps in to him, and looks not out at others, to murmur at their proſperity, or covet their worldly ſubſtance, but are content with their own preſent need or want, their own Innocence and Righteouſneſs will be felt amongſt God's People, who will anſwer their Conditions one way or other; and if it were poſſible that ſhould fail, which is not, the Lord for their ſakes will cauſe Stones to be made Bread, and the hearts of their Enemies to open and feed them. This is concerning the Lords Poor, who are neither ſlothful nor idle minded, nor murmurers, nor look out to repine at others proſperity, but are content to wait upon the Lord only, to be ſupplied by him what way he ſees meet. Thus Innocency and Simplicity never fails of Mercy; but as for Subtilty, ſiniſter falſe Hypocritical Dealing, which would deceive and get for ſelf, God will confound it all, and ſuch will live miſerably in the end, and poor every way, and be caſt ou
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and ſeparated from the ſociety and fellowſhip of God's People, and ſo will be the Worlds, but not the Lords Poor, except they repent, and ſhew forth Fruits meet for it, to amendment of Life, and a holy Converſation, in Juſtice, Truth and Righteouſneſs.
Written in th 6th Month, 1685.
Poſtſcript.
THis Epiſtle was written, and read on our Firſt Days Meeting at Philadelphia in the ſixth Month laſt paſt, and ſeen meet to be now printed for the ſakes of the moderate Enquirers after Truth, and our Principles, that ſuch may have true ſatisfaction, and to ſtop the Mouthes of the Clamorous and Ungodly, who are Blaſphemers and Railers againſt it, eſpecially when they can eſpy a J
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das amongſt us, or any one to fall by Tranſgreſſion, which Chriſt the Truth, whoſe Name we profeſs, who never fell, is clear of; And when ſuch things happen, let not the Ungodly rejoyce in their Wickedneſs, who love it, and live in it without Repentance; for the Damnation of ſuch
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umbers not.
From the Church of Philadelphia in Pennſilvania.
An Epiſtle to the People of God called
Quakers in the Province of
Pennſilvania, and the Territories thereunto belonging.
Dear Friends;
THe Salutation of my Love is unto you that make a Profeſſion of the bleſſed way of Truth in the inward parts, deſiring both night and day, with tender and ſervent Supplication to the God of the Light that hath ſprung upon us in a living and powerful Viſication, that we may all anſwer the Love and Mercy of the Lord to us, ſo plentiouſly manifeſted.
Friends, It is upon me, and long hath been
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from the God of Truth and Righteouſneſs, to communicate to you a ſhort word of Counſel and Advice: God hath brought us hither, and we are yet among the Living; He hath a Work for us to do her
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though the Spiteful and Envious will not believe it: Oh! that we may be faithful to the meaſure of Grace received, that the Evil minded may be diſappointed. Friends, keep in the ſenſe of that which firſt viſited
you, and kept you, and he that was with you to bleſs you in your native Country, will be with you and bleſs you and yours, and make you a Bleſſing to them that you are come among, that know him not, in this Wilderneſs alſo; for the Earth is the Lords, and his Preſence fills it, and his Power upholds it, and it is a precious thing to enjoy and uſe it in the ſenſe and feeling of the ſame; truly this honour have all the Saints, to whom he will give it for a quiet Habitation
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Have a care of Cumber, and the Love and Care of the World: 'Tis the Temptation that lieth neareſt to thoſe that are redeemed from Looſeneſs, or not addicted to it. The Moon, the Figure of the changeable World, is under the foot of the true Woman, whoſe Seed—we ought to approve our ſelves, God hath ordain'd it for a Footſtool, and we muſt not make a Throne of it, nor doth it become them who ſeek heavenly places in Chriſt Jeſus. Oh! ſhow forth a bleſſed Example, for the Lords ſake; and truly, bleſſed is that Man and Woman, who in the inviſible Power rule their Affections about the viſible things, and that uſe the the World as true Travellers and Pilgrims, whoſe Home is not here below; ſuch do not exto
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t, g
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ind o
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oppreſs their Neighbours in their Dealings, but are content with
moderate Gain, looking to the Bleſſing that follows, knowing right well, that they that over-value and over-care, fall into divers Snares and Sorrows, that hurt and pierce the Souls Peace. And in like manner, dear Friends, have a care of Looſeneſs, for it becometh us to be watchful, and gird up the Loyns of our Minds, and be ſober, and hope to the end. Are we from under outward Sufferings and Tryals that once we knew, and that carry an Humiliation with them upon the Spirits of People? let us be more circumſpect that we forget not the Lord nor his tender Mercies to us; for he is God, and he can find us out, and trouble, and vex, and plague the diſobedient and careleſs here, as well as in other Lands. Be zealous therefore for the Lord, for he is a jealous God, and eſpecially over thoſe that have betrothed themſelves unto him by the Profeſſion of his holy Truth, yea, he will be avenged of the Hypocrite and Rebellious, but the Obedient he will bleſs, which my Soul prayeth you may be, that ſo I may never have an occaſion to exerciſe any other Power than that of Love and Brotherly Kindneſs. And, dear Friends, remember who it was that ſaid to his Children and
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ollowers, Ye are Brethren, have a care of Unnaturalneſs in the Profeſſion of the Truth:
To be without natural Affection to one another in the Truth, is a Mark of Apoſtacy, wherefore love one another, and help, and aſſiſt, and comfort one another; this was the new and living Commandment of our bleſſed Lord and Maſter, which if you keep, then can you not fall out, backbite, ſlander, go to Law, or hate one another in the ſight of the World, and that for the things that periſh; verily if any do theſe things, the Wrath of God will overtake them.
Oh' Friends! Let us call to mind the day that hath dawned upon us, and what manner of Perſons we ought to be: Beſides, you know that the Eyes of the Inhabitants of the Lands, and thoſe of neighbouring Countries, yea, the People of remote Regions are upon us, and our doings, how we Live, how we Rule, and how we Obey, and joy would it be to ſome to ſee us hault, hear evil Tidings of our proceedings, as it would be an heavy, and an unſpeakable Grief to thoſe that wiſh well to our Zion. Friends, God requireth great Watchfulneſs from you, eſpecially Elders and Teachers in the Church of Chriſt, that they watch over their own, and others Families, that whatever appears in any, contrary to the Teſtimony and Mind of Truth, may be brought to Judgment, and diſowned, that the Camp
of the Lord may be kept clean of the Uncircumciſed that reſiſt the Spirit.
My Friends, remember that the Lord hath brought you upon the Stage, he hath now tryed you with Liberty, yea, and with Power too; he hath now put precious Opertunities into your Hands, have a care of a perverſe Spirit, and do not provoke the Lord by doing thoſe things, by which the Inhabitants of the Land grieved his Spirit, that were before you, but ſanctifie God, the living God in your Hearts, that his Bleſſings may fall and reſt as the Dew of Heaven upon you, and your Off-ſpring, then ſhall it be ſeen to the Nations, that there is no Inchantment againſt Jacob, nor Divination againſt Iſrael, but your Tents ſhall be goodly, and your Dwellings glorious: Which is the daily humble Supplication of my Soul to my God and your God, and to my Father, and your Father; that am, with unfeigned Love, in that laſting Relation,
Your tender faithful Friend and Brother, William Penn.
An Epiſtle to Friends to be read in their Meetings.
Dear Friends;
VVHat a bleſſed thing is it to fear the Lord, and to ſeek him continually, for his Mercies fail not thoſe that truly wait upon him; he hath been very bountiful to us in our native Land, and hath been very tender and good to us, in bringing of us to this Wilderneſs; he was with us upon the tempeſtuous Seas, he abides with us ſtill, bleſſed be his Name forever, and for evermore.
Oh my Friends! let us call to mind the time when the Lord firſt made his bleſſed Truth known unto us, ſurely that was very acceptable; my Soul ſhall never forget it; what then did we enjoy, that we could not part withal for the Lord? Then did we abaſe our ſelves in Duſt and Aſhes, and I can truly ſay in that Day, I thought the meaneſt things I was unworthy of, and I do believe it was ſo with many more. And now my dear Friends, we are come into this American part, let us above all People not murmer, non be diſcontented, for we have
good experience of the Mercy of the Lord; for as we fear and obey him, he will make this Wilderneſs a fruitful Field; the greateſt thing we deſire here, is, that People may come to fear the Lord, it is that, and that alone will make this a happy Country unto us: Let all that fear the Lord put on Strength and Courage to do his holy Work; for here is much to be done, we muſt begin it, and carry it on, the Lord is ready to help us, and furniſh us with his Wiſdom, Advice and Counſ
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l; indeed we can do nothing without it.
Oh my dear Friends! let us not murmur here, for we may read in the Scriptures of Truth, how many fell in the Wilderneſs of thoſe that murmured; let us be content with our Manna, for here is no liklihood of a Famine, except they famiſh themſelves for want of taking heed to the Lords pure Word, which is daily Bread to his Children, and they live thereby; and many in this Country have great Families and Servants, and for want of good fore-caſt, and a good heavenly Order, they become a burthen unto their Maſters. Come, come,
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ny dear Friends, call your Families together every Family apart, and diſcharge your Duties, and there you may exhort, examine,
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nd adviſe, and by that means Gods holy
Truth will be over them all; You may find many Difficulties to fruſtrate ſuch a good and holy Order, and others may find it a great croſs to get into it, becauſe they may have Children or Servants that are very wild and they may think they will rather ſcoff a
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it, then think it will do them good; but do adviſe you in the fear of the Lord, to ſit down with them in the Evening, or according as ye ſee meet, and wait there upon the Lord, for he is ready and willing at all times, and upon all occaſions, to aſſiſt and help his People and Servants in all things, and by this means your outward Buſineſs will be made eaſier, and you may ſave a great deal of loſt time that is ſpent amongſt Servants in their Maſters abſence; and by this means may find out ſome way that they may be helpful to their Neighbours, and it may prevent much time that is ſpent in Families after they have done their Labour and Service, in much▪ Talk and idle Jeſting; le
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every Family that fears the Lord, practiſe therein this holy Law, and leave the iſſue to the Lord, and by this means you will find unruly Spirits to be chained: Some have ha
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good experience of theſe things, but ſom
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need not this Advice, who are in the practice of it, and witneſs the good effect thereof Alſo, I do think, that here in theſe parts▪
where S
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ips do arrive, it would do well for ſome ſmall number of Men and Women Friends, to meet together, that are ſollid and weighty, to take a little care of the Perſons that are brought into this Country, that they may not ſit down here, or elſewhere, and ſpend that little that ſome bring with them, but that they may be adviſed,
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ook care of, and employed; for here comes many Young People, that are ſingle Men and Women, that go about and ſpend that little they have, and then when it is gone, and ſee no way how to have more, they it may be take ill Courſes, and revile the Country; it would be very well for the time to come, we might uſe means to prevent theſe things,
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nd then that little they bring over with
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hem, may do them good, in order to a ſet
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lement, I mean thoſe that be low, and may
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eed advice. Theſe things I was exerciſed
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ith, and leave them to your Chriſtian Conſideration.
Frances Taylor.
Given forth ſome ſmall time before ſhe
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parted this Life, who is eternally wi
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h
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e Lord Jeſus forever.
THE END.