The spirit of envy, lying, and persecution made manifest for the sake of the simple hearted, that they may not be deceived by it : being an answer to a scandalous paper of John Harwoods, who in words professeth God, but in his works doth deny Him, as may appear by what is herein written / G.F.

Dear Friends.

THE Life and Power of God, in which ye are raised, and by which ye are nourished and refreshed, is the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Foundation which shall never be rased our, for it is laid of God, and no man can lay another; and ye that feel the Life and Power of God in your selves, ye feel Christ the Salvation, Righ∣teousnesse and Wisdome of God, and so ye by the power of God are kept and preserved in sincerity and integrity to God, and thereby comes to be established upon the Rock, which the Gates of Hell cannot prevail against, nor all the fiery darts of the wicked touch; and in the Power of God ye being gathered and establish∣ed, ye stand and live in that which scatters the clouds, and keeps your eye clear to the Lord God, by which Power ye see in a good understanding through all the spirits and powers which worketh in the darknesse, and by the Power are preserved out of the••, and set above them, where ye reign as Kings in the immortal Seed of God, by which the Serpents head is broken and his Seed destroy∣ed; and this is the true freedome in the Son, who dyed and suffer∣ed, and is risen again in life, and brought Life and Immortality to light, in which Life and Light ye are the children of the most High God, and heirs of the everlasting Kingdome of God, where ye have a sure portion in the Joy, and Peace, and Blessing of God, in which sit ye down and keep your habitation, and the God of life and peace, and endless love, be with you all, and cloath you with the Garment of everlasting praise, that in all things ye may give him the Glory, who lives for evermore.

And Dear Friends, Be ye all watchful in the Light by which ye were and are convinced, for the Times are perilous Times, yea, and that amongst such as professe to one Truth, and by declaration speak the same words; and such there are crept in amongst Friends in the truth, who by fair words and seeming appearances seeks to subvert the simple minded, and to beguile the unstable souls, and so would beget a dislike in the hearts of Friends, against such as Godhath raised and exalted in his heavenly Power, Life, and Wis∣dome;

and such Papers there are in Print, which are published by John Harwood against G.F. wherein he hath slanderously report∣ed of him, and falsly accused him; and if any such papers come amongst you, or that ye may hear a report of them, let not your minds be hasty to believe, that what is so reported is truth, but weigh the matter in the savoury life, and you will feel that it came from a very bad spirit, and not worthy of any acceptation amongst Friends that live in the savour of truth, but is to be judged, con∣demn••d, and cast out. And all that live in the truth and the sa∣vour of it, will find a sufficient answer in themselves, by which they may receive their satisfaction. And this is signified unto Friends, that no lyes nor slanderous reports may rest upon the truth, nor remain upon the innocency of Gods anoynted, but with the true spirit of Judgment they may all be cleansed out from amongst the heritage of God.

And Friends, All that abides in the truth doth certainly know that G.F. was raised by the mighty power of God, and hath not preached himself, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and himself a Servant for Jesus sake; he is a living witness of the Resurrection of the Just, not handling the Word of God deceitfully, nor using flatter∣ing speech at any time, but in simplicity and godly sincerity he hath spoken in Christ the everlasting Seed; and his word hath not been yea and nay, but from the beginning his word and his preach∣ing hath been unchangeable, and he the same in the truth, without any variablenesse, and he is grown up in Israel in the mighty power of God, and is cloathed with the heavenly wisdome of God, where his life is hid from the eyes of his accusers; and they that love the truth, and abide in it, do know that he hath ever been dear and tender over the good in all, and hath judged the evil with righte∣ous judgment; and though there be many risen, which would weaken his testimony, as if it was not what it had been, yet all that have received his testimony, and continue in his doctrine, have a more sure evidence concerning his life, then to be shaken or mo∣ved at the report of false accusers, which in the Light is seen to be that spirit which strikes at the Life it self, and so would kill and take possession, which spirit is to be judged by all Friends in the truth, and the souls of such pitied who with it are ensnared; for

the day of the Lord is to pass upon it, and it shall suddenly with••r and perish, and come to nought; and all that give up their belief unto it, and therein doth abide, they shall fall as leaves from the Tree, when the vertue retires into its Root. But as for G.F. the Lord God hath exalted him, and the Glory of the Lord rests upon him, and all that have received his Testimony in the love of it, and the Testimony of such as preaches the same Word, and therein doth abide, even the same glory in their measures doth rest upon them, and a sure defence is stretched over it, and the Storms of restless Clouds shall never blast it, nor the waves of the troubled Sea slow over it, the Lord hath spoken it. And this is manifested unto Friends in love to the everlasting truth of God, not setting up a man, or throwing down a man, but in all things giving the pow∣er preheminence, and in dearness to the Vessel that is filled with the excellency of that treasure, and also beating down the Prince of the Power of the Air, the spirit that worketh in the children of disobedience; knowing in the Counsel of the Lord God, that whatsoever such spirits pretend to, or in what likenesse soever they do appear, yet the deceivablenesse of unrighteousness is lodged in the Root: And therefore my dear Friends, of all such beware, and love the word of truth, and live in it, that in love, meekness, and peaceableness, ye may feel your rest in the bosome of the Lamb; and the blessing of the Lord God be upon you for ever.

William Smith.

THE END.

Let this go only among Friends.