The books and divers epistles of the faithful servant of the Lord Josiah Coale collected and published, as it was desired by him the day of his departure out of this life.

AN INVITATION OF LOVE TO THE HUNGRY & THIRSTY, Who truly hunger after the Food of Life; and a Call (to such) to come (from off the Barren Mountains, and from feeding upon vanity) in∣to the Everlasting Kingdom and House of my Father, where the least of his Servants have Bread enough: With some Information of the Way which leads thereunto.

EVery one that hungers, and every one that thirsts, and every one that breaths after Righteousness, Come, the Fountain of Life is opened, and the Everlasting God of Jacob is arisen in this day of his Power, to gather unto himself the dispersed of Israel, into his Everlasting Fold of Rest, and into his Everlasting Covenant of Light, Life, and Peace, with him to dwell; And for this very end hath he caused the Eternal Light of his Son to shine forth, and hath set up his Standard, and displayed his Ensign (to the Nations) to which the gathering is; and the Call is gone forth, and the Spirit bids, Come, and eve∣ry

one that hears, let him Come, and drink of the water of Life freely; For the Fountain is now opened; and the true Shepherd now Calls; and his voyce is heard; and all who are wandering upon the barren Mountains, and in desolate places, and are wea∣ry and heavy laden with sin, may Come, and follow (him who leads to the Everlasting Fold of Rest, which is) Jesus Christ the true Shepherd, and the Light of the World, and Way to the Father; who is now arisen in this his Day for his Seeds sake; to gather his Sheep from off the Barren Mountains, where they have been scattered and driven away, in the dark and in the clou∣dy day; And to make manifest the way of Life freely, to all who hearken to his Counsel, and obey his voyce, who declares unto man what is his thoughts; And by his Light makes manifest the Secrets of the heart, and reproves the deeds of darkness; by which all who are guided by it, comes to receive power over sin, which made a separation between God and you: And this is he (which the Holy Prophets of God prophesied of, in the dayes of old) who is given a Light to lighten the Gentiles, and for Salvati∣on to the Ends of the Earth: And whom Moses said the People should hear, and said, that he that would not hear this Prophet, which the Lord should raise up (to wit) Christ Jesus the Light of the World; Even he should be Cut off from amongst the People; and therefore every one, you being enlightened with a measure of the Light which comes from this Prophet, Christ Jesus, by whom the World was made, and whom the people is to hearken to; it is a thing of concerment to you all, to wait to hear his voice, who calls your minds out of the vanities of the World, and the love thereof, that you may hear & live, and no longer to spend your labour for that which doth not satisfie the soul; But to hearken diligently to the Voice of God (who is Light) that you may come to eat of that which is good, and let your Souls delight in fatness; and so every out who prizeth the Everlasting Peace and welfare of your Souls, beyond the pleasures and delights of the World; Return unto him who calls in your minds out of the visible and perishing things of this World, and the love thereof; and wait to know the Sword of the Lord Jesus Christ (who is the Prince of Peace) to Cut down the Transgressor in every particular of you; and to know the Righteous Law of God revealed in you, to take hold on the un∣righteous

Nature which hath led you into Rebellion against God, and against his pure witness in you, which hath long called for pu∣rity, and for a holy Life, and a godly Conversation; that so into purity and holiness you might all come, without which none can see the Lord; And so they who comes to the Light of Christ in them, such comes to that which is pure, and holy, with which they may come to see God.

And Friends, This is the Word of the Lord God to you all, and his Everlasting Counsel to you all, who have desires in Truth and Righteousness to walk in the way of Life? that you hearken dili∣gently to the Voice of God, the Light in every one of your Con∣sciences, and to it be obedient at all times, in whatsoever it makes manifest to be the mind and Will of God the Father; that so his will may be done by you in Earth, as it is in Heaven; and that your sins and iniquities may be blotted out (by him) for his own Names sake; Who is now arisen for his Glories sake, which hath been long trampled upon, and for his Seeds sake which hath long cry'd unto him, from under the burden of oppression, which hath ruled above the pure in every one of you; And the Cries and Groanings of the Oppressed, hath entered into the Ears of the Lord God of Rest, and he is arisen and is zealous for his Glory; And in the valley of Judgment will he plead with Egypts King, and with all the Host of the Egyptians, and by his out-stretched Arm will he bring deliverance unto his own Elect Seed, and the Host of the Egyptians will he destroy in the Red-Sea of his Wrath, and then shall the Seed rejoyce over its Oppressors.

And so Friends, as you hearken to, and obey the Voice of the Lord, the Angel of his presence you will see leading you in the way in which he will have you to walk; and beware of him, and obey his voice, for he will not at all pardon your transgressions any more, Exod. 23.20, 21. But will give a just reward to every one according to their deeds, whether they be good, or whether they be evil: And so that you may come and receive the reward of E∣verlasting Life, which is enjoyed in my Fathers Kingdom; Every one be good and faithful Servants, and improve your Talents which is committed to you, that so when the Lord shall come, you may be found doing his will, and not your own; So shall an enterance be Administred unto you into the Kingdom which is

without end, where you may feed on the Heavenly Manna, and drink of the water of Life, out of the Wells of Salvation, even abundantly, and be filled and your Souls satisfied therewith.

And so Friends and people; arise and come out of Death, you that have desires after the way of Life and Salvation Which is now Preached freely, and be all obedient to the measure of the Grace of God (which bringeth Salvation) which hath appeared unto you, and believe in the Light which you are enlightned withal; for saith Christ, I am the Light of the World, he that believeth in me shall not abide in darkness, but shall have the Light of Life; and this is the sure word of Prophesie, unto which you do well if you take heed, as unto a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawn and the Day-star arise in your hearts, which Star being followed, will lead unto the knowledge of the Saviour, as it did the wise men who found him lying in a manger, for there was no room for him in the Inn, because it was full of other guests (him that reads let him un∣derstand) and so when you have found him according to the An∣gels Inteligence, though it be but in a low place, in you, yet wait to know him to grow in stature, and you in him to increase in Wis∣dom, and in Favour with God; for truly People, no Union nor Fellowship with God can be known by you, until you come to be Obedient to the Son of God, and to hear him in whom the Father is well pleased, and in whom alone we are accepted of God, and by whom we have free access to his Throne of Grace, where he sits at the Right hand of the Majesty on High, Judging and Condem∣ning all who walk contrary to his Light, and that disobey the Gos∣pel which is now Preached; and justifieth and giveth life unto all that obey and follow him, and stand in his Counsel; which is the desire of my Soul that you all may do, who have desires in the least measure after this Life of Holiness; And for your sakes have I written these Lines according as the Lord gave it me by his Spirit;

Who am a true lover of all your Souls, and a Labourer and Traveller for the Seeds sake which is Scattered throughout the Earth; That those who are wandering upon the Barron Mountains, and in desolate places, may be gathered into the Everlasting Rest, and Fold of Jesus Christ, with me to lie down in peace and safety, where none can make us afraid. Josiah Coale.