I Have had a great Exercise upon my Spirit concerning this late Observation of a Day, or Fast, which was set forth and pretended unto; and seeing the pride and vanity, that people was in, not like true Mourners and Fasters, and such as would have the Iudgment removed; and also seeing the bitter Cruelty, that appeared as a part of the fruits of it; and furthermore, seeing the difference, that did seem to ap∣pear in Friends minds, about the owning or not owning of it, by submitting unto their Requirings, or doing to the con∣trary, as a testimony against it; after I had passed under a Page  108 deep Exercise in Spirit for some time, at last the Lord God by his Eternal Word raised up my Spirit in the zeal thereof, and did smite against all such Mockeries: and then in a hea∣venly Revelation (my Understanding being opened, and closing with the Word) he shewed unto me, that it was to be Witnessed against by all, that stood in the Testimony of God, and that those, that would weaken the Spirits of any in their Testimony in this or other things, wherein Friends have a Te∣stimony for God, it was plainly shewed me from the Lord, how they would draw a vail over the pure in themselves, and in others, and in a cowardly, underly Spirit, by the cor∣rupted, sallen wisdom, would put the Candle, that God hath lighted, under a Bushel, or under a Bed, and so cover it for a while, until at last it would be put out: so that we, like other Professors, at last by this Spirit would be led to yield to any thing, rather than suffer; and so then the offence of the Cross might cease. And then also there was another thing, which had been very long under my consideration, of which, I was not hasty to judge or meddle, wherein Friends have somewhat differed; but at this time was not minded by me, because of the other, that was upon me. But when the Lord had cleared the other to me, he brought up this also before my mind, which is about Sending Men, Horse and Arms to the Training, Trooping or Playing, which is folly as to us; for which many, that could not send, have suffered the spoiling of their Goods. And the Lord then plainly satisfied me, that it was his Testimony, wherein Friends were to stand, and that they that bore another Testimony either in words or action, it was from that Spirit, and in that Wisdom, that would put a bushel over the lighted Candle, and by degrees would put it out, and would lead us to crouch to the Spirit of the World, until its large wing of Darkness would over-shadow us, and become our Covering; and then we should be like others, that have lost their Testimony. And then when the Lord had Page  109 thus done, oh! how my Soul was filled with heavenly, di∣vine love towards all the willing Sufferers for the Lord's Te∣stimony! So that I can say, it was with me, as it was with Deborah, when she said, her heart was towards the Gover∣nours of Israel, who offered themselves willingly among the peo∣ple; and then I could not but praise the Lord. And so this is the Testimony, that the Lord did put into my heart, which I am moved of him to give forth, for the comfort and sa∣tisfaction of all, that desire to serve the Lord in their Gene∣ration, and to keep their Consciences pure, and their Gar∣ments unspotted. And therefore Friends, keep in the first, for he is the last, and shall stand, when all others shall fail. And reason not with flesh and blood, but wait for the power, that it may open you; and as you are kept open thereby, the wonderful things of God in it will be made known un∣to you, and the depths of Satan will be seen also; and there will be a growing in righteousness. For in the power is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith by which the just lives; which cannot be witnessed, where the Testimony is let fall, and the Light covered, and the Talent laid in the earth; though it may be tied in a white Napkin of fair Profession. For the Gift or Talent is neither to be hid in the Earth, nor bound by any in any thing, but to have its liberty, until by its own power all be subjected unto it self, that God may be all in us all. This is the Testimony, that I am to leave with you in these matters; and so being eased in Spirit, in the lasting love of God I remain