A collection of many select and Christian epistles, letters and testimonies written on sundry occasions, by that ancient, eminent, faithful friend and minister of Christ Jesus, George Fox ; the second volume.

To Friends, for all to wait and walk in the Truth.

ALL Friends and Brethren every where, in the Life and Power of the Lord wait, and from it none walk; but that to the Light of Christ in every one ye may be made manifest, that the Fear and Dread of the Lord may be in all your hearts, that nothing may reign, but Life it self. And so, all your Meetings in every place keep, waiting in the Light, which from Christ doth come, the Saviour of your Souls; that his Presence in the midst ye may all feel, who are gathered together in his Name and Power in his Light (which is his Name) and from the World's Gatherings are turned. (And if any be moved (who are turned to the Light) with the Power, which comes from him, to any Service for the Lord, to it be Obedient; and ye will see Christ with you to the End of the World. But if any go, before they are moved, and so from the Light walk, he is a Stumbling-block, and is to be Judged and Condemned by the Light; and is out of the Wisdom, and out of the Fear, and soweth to the Flesh, and reaps Corruption, and by the Light is Condemned. For that answereth not the Light in every Man's Conscience, neither doth it reach to the Life, the Spirit in Prison; but it manifesteth Weakness, and Foolishness and Nakedness, which is from the Light, and contrary to it: And such are Stumbling-blocks, and do not answer the Witness of God in the Conscience.

Therefore wait all in the Light, for to receive the Power from him, who is not of the World, that ye may be preserved from Naked∣ness and Weakness. For that which goes from the Light, and is not guided with it, runs into the Lust; and there is the Slothful, which is to be Judged, and that, that will offend, to which the Wo is; for it an∣swereth not that of God in the Conscience: Neither is it Honour∣able, nor of good Report; for that which is Honourable, and of good Report, answereth that which is of God, and answereth the Light of Christ in every Man in the World with Wisdom, which from the Light doth come, even from him, by whom the World was made.

Therefore all Friends, this is a Charge to you all, and a Command to you all in the Presence of the Living God, In the Light, Life and Power and Wisdom of God walk, that to that of God in every one ye may be manifested in the sight of God, and it may be your Witness, that ye are of God, in every Man's Conscience, which witnesseth against the World, and for him, who is not of the World. And wait all in the Light for the Wisdom, by which all things were made,

with it to use all the Lord's Creatures to his Glory (and none to stumble one another about the Creatures, for that is not from the Light) for which End they were Created, and with the Wisdom, by which they were made, ye may be kept out of the Mis-use of them in the Image of God, that ye may come to see, that the Earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof, and the Earth may come to yield her Increase, and to injoy her Sabbaths; and all such that walk Contrary to the Light, may be turned to the Light, that with the Light they may see and condemn that, which is contrary to it. So that in the Wis∣dom of God ye may all be kept, and in the Fear of the Lord and his Righteousness established, which is far from Oppression, where all Bonds of Iniquity are broken, and the Prince of Darkness Judg∣ed out, and the Prince of Peace reigns, under whose Dominion keep and walk. And all that cause Strife, are to be Condemned and shut out, which have their Eye without, and are Condemned by the Light, the God of the World having blinded the Eye of the Ʋnbeliever.

Therefore ye Believers in the Light, wait in the Wisdom, that with it and in it ye may be ordered to the Glory of God, that among you nothing may reign, but Light, and Life, and Wisdom, and Power, the Dread and Fear of the Lord be among you, and Truth and Righte∣ousness reign; which will answer the Light of Christ in every Man. And all that is Contrary, let it be Condemned with the Light, which comes from him, by which the World was made, who was, before the World was, who lighteth every Man, that cometh into the World: Though they believe not in it, yet ye may answer the Light in every Man, tho' it be their Condemnation.

So being kept in the Light, which cometh from him, by whom the World was made, who was, before it was made, ye come to receive the Wisdom, by which all things were made, and with it to order and use them to the Glory of God. For that which is not from the Light, nor from the Wisdom, is the Offender, which is to be Condemned with the Light, which comes from the Life; and to it in you all take heed, that your Hearts may be joyned together to God, and all that is Contrary, Condemned. And so, the Lord God Almighty preserve and keep you all in Wisdom!

Friends, A Warning from the Lord to you all, in Wisdom to walk, that ye may Adorn every one, what ye profess, that the measure of God's Spirit in every one ye may answer. And know the Lord to guide your Understandings, and let his Wisdom be Justified by you all, and ye in the measure of the Spirit of God in Unity kept; that ye may see Righteousness spring and flourish among you, and no Deceit stand, nor nothing that is deceitful; but with the Eternal Judge it down, and keep it down, that nothing may live, that is for the Sword, which would defile the Land. Therefore in that which is Eternal, dwell, as a Royal Priesthood, in that which comes from him, by whom the World was made; who to all your Souls is a Friend, from whence the Refreshing is receiv'd. So the Lord God Almighty preserve and keep you all, that in his Life, Dread and Power ye may be preserved.

G. F.

Notes

• Epist. 33.
• Keep your Meetings.
• To be moved with the Power, to the Service for the Lord.
• The Slothful.
• Wait for the Wisdom by which all things were Created.
• P. S.
• A Warning to Friends, to walk in the Testimo∣ny of God.
• Wisdom Justi∣fied.