News from the new-Jerusalem sent by letters from severall parts, relating some hints and observations of that citty, all conspiring in a testimony that renders it exceeding glorious.

25. Letter.

The Coppy of a Letter, as it was sent from Mrs. T. P. in behalfe of Mrs. E. P. To a Congregation of Saints in London, under the forme of Baptisme.

DEAR brethren in the bowels of love and meeknesse, I kindly salute you, wishing you an encrease of all faithfulnesse and true knowledge in the mystery of Christ: The cause of my pre∣sent writing is to acquaint you, that provi∣dence

hath lately brought a letter to my hand, directed to my husband, concerning one Mrs. P. once a member with you; which wo∣man, say you, for scandalous evils, was cast out: Now it being some yeares since it was done, I humbly desire a little to reason with you about the grounds, why this still remains up∣on your spirits, seeing Christ saith, forgive yee one another, as I forgive you; and God is said to remember our sinnes no more; this therefore is a note of forgivenesse, not to re∣member; and sure we should shew our selves children of our heavenly father; But further I desire before the Lord, that you examine your owne hearts in this thing, what your end is in it; if it be that you thinke, she is not worthy to have a livelihood amongst men; then why doe you not either by the Civill Law (if that will take hold of the offence) or by some other way (if nothing will satisfie you but her blood) take some present course that may put an end to this great difference? but if you thinke this bee too grosse, or more then the offence requires; then I beseech you, for the Lords sake, to consider your owne actings in this thing, whether you doe not as much as in you lies, carry on the same designe (though more closly from the eyes of the

world) which sure before the Lord, can appear no other, but the hunting after her life; nay, is it not more, then to take off one single life at once? for which is greater cruelty, for a Ty∣rant to take a mans life at once? or by de∣grees? and then your selves be judges, whe∣ther your proceedings towards her be not a killing all the day long: for you cannot bee ignorant that she hath no livelihood amongst men, but what she earnes by her hands: and your defaming her in this manner cannot, in an ordinary way, but deprive her of that, and so at last bring her blood upon you: If you say, you acquaint none but the Saints with it, it is evident to the contrary; for your open publishing it in the Counsell of Warre, caused the world to take notice of it, and yet your spirits rest not here; truly deare friends, as the evill spirit wrought in her one way, when she was with you; so consider whether the fame spirit, doe not highly worke in you at this time another way; the Lord give you understanding in all things: But if her life be not that which you aim at, then is it those di∣vine discoveries of life and light, which God makes out to the world by her? if it be so, then you are to know, that hee is too strong you strive withall; but about this I would a

little quere: first, whether doe you think, that because such evils were manifest in her, when with you; therefore it is impossible now that any good should bee brought forth by her? doe you not hope to grow better and better? But secondly, is it not Gods u∣suall way to manifest himselfe there highest, where in time past he was by the evill spirit kept lowest? yea, doth hee not suffer himselfe for this very end many times, thus to die in appearance, and to leave a soule to it selfe, that it may see what it is in it selfe, and learne to die to it selfe, that so hee may have the more glorious resurrection in that soule? I beseech you for the Lords sake to consider these things: As for her outward person, I conceive she cares as little for it as you can; therefore you may take your fill of trampling on it; but I beseech you bee carefull how you medle with the spirit that breaths in her; for surely bre∣thren, I know not what spirit manifested it selfe in her while with you; I am sure (and I speake nothing but the truth) that I have found a most divine spirit in her, as farre as I could discerne, and that which comes to the spirit and life of things; and in this me thinks you should rejoyce, for truly, I have heard many professors, and seene many professions,

but to my knowledge, I never heard one come so neare the power as shee does: I doe not speake this as being affected with any person, party, or opinion; I blesse my God I am now (in his strength) delivered from that, though some have falsly affirmed my being deluded by her; but I am confident I can say with Paul, and that not onely repeating the letter, but in truth; that those things which I have received, have not beene from man, nor woman, nor any other thing, but by the meere revelation of Jesus Christ in mee, God mani∣festing himselfe in my owne flesh: and there∣fore they much wrong both her, and me, that affirme it; but especially they wrong or speake a lye of that God that did it for me: and because I heare it so reported amongst you, I thought good to write one word to cleare it, that so whether you will heare, or whether you will forbeare, the word of truth might judge you; give not eare therefore to all you heare, though from brethren, least you be brought into a snare; for since the defection of the Churches, men, yea good men, have been such lovers of themselves and their own opinions, that they will speake largely, upon little ground, to keepe up their owne glory, God having not yet undone them; for were

they once undone men, they would willingly be what God would have them, however the world accounts of them.

There is another thing which came to my care, that it should be given into the Counsell by your two witnesses, that the said Mrs P. should say, that you cast her out for difference in judgement; and when Collonell Rich and Collonell Harison asked to whom shee spake it, they said to some of Abington: Now in∣deed my husband said to you, that he thought such a thing; but when hee came home and saw so little ground for his thoughts, I thinke he had but little comfort in telling you so; and then, brethren, if you upon such slender grounds should act in this strange manner a∣gainst her, affirming this thing so publikely, I thinke you have cause to bee humbled for it, and justly to repent of your evill; I desire you to beare a little with mee, for truly it ap∣peares to mee, rather to bee your rage of spirit, then your true love, either to her, or truth; for mee thinkes it would savour more of a true Christian spirit, if you had first spoken with her, and have seene what change the Lord hath wrought in her, as knowing that Mary out of whom seuen Divels had beene for∣merly cast, was made the first messenger of

Christs Resurrection; yea, and she must bring it to the Apostles, and not the Apostles to her: You say, in your letter, that you left her to the judgement of the great day; and I beseech you, brethren, doe you not, againe take her into your owne daie? for truly I be∣leeve that daie in a measure hath come upon her, and the Lord himselfe is at worke with her; therefore doe not feare but the worke will be well done; onely we, as well as shee, must have patience in it, and surely this is the confidence that I have concerning her, that she hath seen evill in that estate she walked in with you; and certainly, God is good to her in this, shewing her what an abominable spirit of wickednesse may bee hid under the greatest practises and professions of externals; not that these are the cause of it; no, the gold and the silver is mine, saith the Lord; but wee bestowing it upon our lovers, and making our selves great with his ornaments, he is fain, in love to us, to take us from them, or they from us, and so finde out a more sprirituall ad∣ministration to perfect us in: Oh the infinite riches of our God! where doth his bounty ••nd? sure his waies of love are unsearchable, e••d his paths of mercy, in which he followes anore fallen man: and poor backsliding soules,

are past finding out; how narrow are our ca∣pacities? we judge as men; We may think as some did of David, that there is no help for such things in God; but all things in truth will be found possible with him, even where they are altogether past our thoughts and con∣ceptions, and become to us impossible; I be∣seech you therefore be perswaded to bow down to him; I know you are conscious, that all judgement is not committed unto you, and therefore it is possible you may not judge right in this thing; for truly, brethren, we may con∣ceive many things even by the letter it self, & yet not living in that spirit that writ the letter, we may erre; I pray do not mistake me, as if I would any way speak slightly of the letter, farther than it speaks of it self; no, I blesse the Father for it, and by sweet experience can say, that I was never so confirmed in it, now the Lord hath drawn me to him out of it, even in that spirit that wrote it; I am for the con∣scionable use of it, but I would not abuse it; I am sure, those men that would set it above the spirit, can hardly free themselves from that thing; I hope, therefore you will not count it your excellency to walk in the letter, but rather desire the Lord to perfect you in that spirit that writes the letter, for then and never

till then, shall we be able to walk by it aright, and speak of the letter truly.

I have not yet acquainted my husband with your letter, I shall wait upon God what an∣swer to receive from you: for truly, dear bre∣thren, upon serious deliberation, I know not how to approve my self faithfull in the eyes of God, to my brethren here, if I should deliver it; for God having put it into my hand, I must also see clearnes from him before I part with it: for though, blessed be the father, we have a sweet hopefull people amongst us that wait upon God, and have fellowship one with an∣other; yet whether they may digest such things as you write of, I really question; therefore it would be unfaithfulnes in me, if I appre∣hending an evill to them, or any other, should not as much as in me lies, prevent it; and this I shall doe, by detaining the Letter, till fur∣ther manifestation from God what to do with it; Doe not judge me in this thing, I beseech you; I have one Judge, even the Lord, and he that put it into my hand, will a•• length clear my integrity in it; I have nothing to doe for my self in it, the Lord knows, only to find out (if it may be) how I may approve my self ••aithfull to men in the Lord and for the Lords ••ake.

Your desire I exceedingly like, that we may be kept from errours, and the Lord keep us all from errours, but who must shew us what errour is, but the God of truth himself? we have lived in errour, and have suckt them in from our cradles; and yet who will speak so much against error as we, stating our selves still in the truth: My sweet friends, the day of truth is but now dawning upon us, and how is it opposed, even by those that are children of truth, in their measure? yet wee have all looked for it, and prayed together for it a long time; but truly now, we will not own our prayers, but turn away our face from our Sa∣viour, because he comes not in such a garb as we imagined he would, when we know its his prerogative to cloath himself with what flesh or garment he pleases: brethren, what would you have? doe you not know that a glorious day hath been spoken of ever since the Prophets, and the Apostles? Though the day was dawned upon them, yet they bid their hearers not to be terrified, as if that day were near; for saith he, there must be a falling a∣way first; and that wicked one be revealed; notwithstanding Peter could them that he was a partaker or that glory, that should be af∣terwards revealed; However (saith he, you

have a more sure word of Prophesie, to which yee doe w••ll to take heed; as if he had said: Brethren, we have been with the Lord in the mount, and have beheld that excellent glory, but yet to you that have not so seen Christ, there is a more sure word of Prophesie; for visions and revelations doe most especially con∣firme and strengthen those that have them; but here is a word that is spoken to all, and is as a light shining in a dark place, therefore you do well to take heed to it till the day dawn, and the day star arise in you own hearts, and you be swallowed up with that glory, that now you expect and wait for; onely know this, that no private spirit can understand these Scriptures that speak of that day, it must be the spirit of God alone; let us cease from our own spirits therefore, for they are selfish and private, bound up to this and that, and so would confine God also; but his Spirit is as large as himself; its without bounds; its neither here nor there distinct, but it is individually every where. But that which I desire you to consider from these Scriptures is, that this day of falling a∣way hath been; and all the world hath won∣dred after the beast, since the Apostles time; therefore how near may we expect our glory; we should not be troubling our selves there∣fore

still with falling away, but now look for a rising, for sure man hath had his day, and now the Lord will have his day: now seeing this day of the Lord must have a dawning, and some Disciples may be taken up into the Mount, before other some; it should teach us not to judge our brethren, that spcak of higher injoyments then we have, for we being behinde should rather judge our selves, seeing we are more in the day of man, and acknow∣ledge our selves so to be, still looking for, and hastening to the day of God, in which we may act self, or selfishly, no longer, but our God may bring forth his own righteousnesse in us: and truly, brethren, you may be satisfied in this, that we are very industrious to keep our selves from errour, but we know that in his strength we shall be perfected, and when him∣self comes and speaks, then shall we know that it is he; and truly brethren, I would not have you infidels but believing; this day hath taken some unawares, and though many may have it in notion, yet I am sure, that some have it in power.

I have one thing more to you concerning your letter, and truly I cannot but wonder at it, that is, how you durst so peremptorily to judge the woman that she brought a delusion

for a vision of God, I beseech you consid er seriously before the Lord, whether it was so or no, before you make it so publike, and send it forth with the authority of a Church: surely friends, you will much abuse the autho∣rity of your Church, in affirming meer suppo∣sition for truth; the Lord be pleased to open your eyes in this thing; it may be your father in mercy desires, a little to plead with you by a weak instrument, and therefore put the letter into my hand, that so he might put some stop to your furious driving; and truly I can look upon it no other wayes; therefore willingly meet your God in this mercifull act towards you; for if you doe not, the dumb Asse next time may reprove you; I confesse, soules, I am the weakest of all, a poore undone soule in my self; the Lord alone take all the glory, yet if I may be usefull, as being one of the body, in keeping you from doing greater evils, I shall be willing and rejoyce, though I go under ne∣ver so great an odium my self; for sure friends, account of me how you will, I am one of you & tenderly affect you, and in this thing would have God truly exalted: For this grace is gi∣ven me to love truth under any appearance, though indeed, that may sometimes appear to men to be truth which I cannot close with;

but I mean any appearance that my God comes in, and I hope shall be more and per∣fected in it; and indeed it is sweet to me that he hath given me, through mercy, to know his voyce from a stranger; It may be the world may judge me for it, because it comes not in their form, but I shall rest in the Lord: well brethren, if you see mercy to you in that which the Lord hath spoken by me, receive it and re∣joyce in him; it may be, I may prove to you as Abigail did to David, keep you from shed∣ding blood, and from avenging your selves with your own hand, the Lord shew us therefore what that scripture meaneth, I will have mercy and not sacrifice: there be many things in the letter of the scripture, which we through weaknes may think to be sacrifice as the Pharisees did, when God abhors it, and will have none of it, in such a time as he cals for mercy; therefore he bids us learn what that meaneth: we may have it, & read it & speak it, but to learn the inside of it, learn what it mea∣neth, will be our comfort, and our Crown; and truly my dear friends, I am perswaded, that this is a time, in which, mercy is required of us towards our Sister, and not such sacrifice: If you please to send me a word of answer, leave it with Mr. C. I doe not think it fit as

yet, that you acquaint my husband with it, not for unlawfulnesse sake, but inconveniency; for surely brethren, I am not willingly carry∣ed, to give you or him, or any one offence; onely as the Lord manifests it to be his will, and then I must leave Father, and mother, and all, and cleave to him. Let me have your an∣swer as soon as you can: but I beseech you, do not answer me, but the Lord, and then see how you can justifie your selves; in him there∣fore shall I wait for it, and dear souls, though I am nothing, and can doe nothing in my self; yet I beseech you doe not reject any word of truth, love and sincerity that God sends by my hand. Job saith, He did not reject the cause of his Maid servant, when it came before him, though the word saith, they contended with him: I can give you more satisfaction, if you please, how I came by the letter; I am sure it was unexpected by me, onely the Lord would have it so; and therfore all your care must serve the Lords designes, to bring it to my hand when my husband was not in town: doe not therefore look upon me, but look to the Lord, & use me as kindly as Job did his servant, reject not my cause, for surely it is not mine: I leave

you to the Lord, whom I desire rightly to guide you in this thing, and am

Your sincere loving Sister and servant, from the greatest to the meanest of you, T. P.

Abington, 26. March 1649.