The truth exalted in the writings of that eminent and faithful servant of Christ, John Burnyeat collected into this ensuing volume as a memorial to his faithful labours in and for the truth.

Taunton, the 7th of the 2d. Month, 1677.

My dear Friends in Cumberland,

UNto you my Love and Life reaches, and purely flows forth in that which Lives for ever; wherein I do in the Innoceney and Life of Righteousness truly Salute you all, whom the Lord hath raised and called to be a part of the first Fruits unto himself in this day of ours, wherein the Glory of his hidden Life he hath Revealed unto a Remnant, even that which from the Wise and Prudent of this World is still hid; and from such, as turn back into that Wisdom, it comes again to be Vailed, so that the Light of the Glo∣ry of it they lose again, though they had a view thereof. And therefore blessed are all, who keep their Habitation in that Power which never Changeth nor Decays, the Glory of the Heavenly things will be still in their view, by which their Hearts will be enlarged towards the Lord, both in Love unto him, and a Living People to his Honour in all things, that his Name may be Exalted, and the Testimo∣ny of his Truth in its own pure Nature in every thing kept up, according to its Brightness and Glory, as by the power thereof we were raised up in the beginning, as the life of Holiness grew in us, dear Friends, that which quickned and raised us from the Dead in years past, through which we Live unto God; and as we keep in the same, we shall for ever be accepted by him, and be well pleasing in his sight: but out of that you know none shall be regarded by him, though ye might do much, for he did not regard them in the days of old for all they could do, that did not keep in the Life of Righteousness, though they might go far, even to the covering of the Altar with Tears. And therefore, as I said, that by which you were first quickned and raised,

is that in which for ever we must be accepted, so that every one is to mind and wait for an increase, and by ex∣perience of the growth of that wherein there is a coming upwards, from a Child's State, to a farther growth, and still it is in the same Nature, without degeneration from that which was first, and so the first is witnessed to be last, and ye grow more and more into the fulness of Christ, in whom all fulness dwells. And therefore my dearly Be∣loved, in all your Meetings upon the Truth's account have an eye unto, and wait for an Injoyment of his Blessed and Heavenly and Heart-breaking Power of the Lord God a∣mong you, that your Hearts may be broken thereby, and your Spirits melted into true Love and Contriteness, and you preserved in that state, and then will your Hearts be inlarged in the Heavenly Wisdom that is Pure, Peaceable, Gentle and Easy to be Intreated, and in that Wisdom and Power in you all, in the same will all your works stand to the Honour of God, and Comfort one of another, and your Eys will be always to the Promotion of Truth in Righteousness, keeping up your ancient Testimony, into which God raised you by his Power in years past, and in the Life and Power of God you will keep under, and weak∣en that which would arise to trample his Holy Testimo∣ny under Foot, and so keep the House and Family of God in Order, and keep to the Cross to that, which would be out in a Fleshly Liberty, to make void the Cross of Christ, by which we were Crucified to the World, and the World to us; for that which would be from under the Cross, is the same that would lead into the World again, and so would make shipwrack of Faith and a tender Conscience, and lead into headiness, hardness, stubornness, and looseness again, and then do they Apostatise from the Life of God that is in them, and become Reprobates concerning the Faith, and so through forsaking their first Love, lose their

Reward at last. And therefore the true Elders, Elder Men and Elder Women ought to have this Care upon them over the younger, that all may be preserved in the first Love, and first Zeal, that none may lose that, nor draw back into a fleshly Liberty, down into the Wisdom that is from below, which hath not its Spring in, nor from that Heavenly Gift, which cannot keep the Hearts pure, as the Heavenly doth; and you know, it was the Gift of the Heavenly Power, that first Quickned us, and made us to Live to God; and you know, it is the same that keeps our Hearts Tender and Lively, by which we Live for ever. For our Life that we now Live, is by Faith in him who is the Power of God, and we Feed upon him, and his Flesh is Bread, according to his own Words; for he is the Living Bread that came down from God, and still comes down, therefore mind it, wait for it, and stand up for it, and be not starved again upon the barren Mountains of your own Imaginations, where this Bread of Life is not to be found. And dear Friends, keep your Men and Womens Meetings in the Lord's Fear and Power, and keep in the Holy Care, where you may have a sense of your concern in the Body, and feel your Place and Charge every one of you, and be Zealous for Righteousness in the particu∣lar and in the general, and the Lord will be with you, as he hath been, I am witness: For none no longer dwells in the Truth and Love, than they dwell in Righteousness, though they may make a profession. And be not at all discouraged in your works for the Lord and his Truth, by that Spirit that would bring a light esteem upon your Holy Care and Godly Order in the Truth, for it is the same in Nature, that in all ages endeavoured to lay wast God's Heritage, and obstruct his Work, and layed stumbling blocks in the way of God's Traveling People, to cause them to fall, and to turn back a∣gain; the Lord will blast every desire, that those go about in this matter who let in this Spirit, and bring his Life over

it, and preserve his People therein; that in this Life and Heavenly Liberty, they may Serve him, and Praise him, who Lives for Ever, who is Everlastingly Worthy, to whom be glory and Dominion, World without End.

Dear Hearts, you being Living in my Remembrance, as also the Heavenly Seasons we had together, when I was last with you, my Heart is filled with Love towards you; and in that I send these few Lines, as a Salutation and tender Greeting unto you, that you may know you rest in my Re∣membrance, as I believe I do in yours. So the God of Love and Peace keep you all in his Love and Fear unto the End, that your Portion may be with him in his Eternal Kingdom, where there shall be no Sorrow, but you may dwell in Pleasure for ever, and for evermore.

From your Friend and Brother in the Fel∣lowship of the Gospel. J. B.