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 the Meeting of Friends in Truth, that are Captives in Algiers.

NOw, Dear Friends, The Lord having drawn you by his Spirit to his Son Christ Jesus, in whose Name ye come to be Gathered, in whose Name ye have Salvation, and not in any other Name under the whole Heaven: So that now you come to know Christ your Savi∣our, who destroys the Destroyer, the Devil and his Works; and it's He, that brings forth Everlasting Righteousness, that makes an End of Sin, and finishes Transgression. So that now, you may live and walk in the Everlasting Righteousness of Christ Jesus, who is your Priest, that is made higher than the Heavens, Hebr. 7. And who is your Prophet, that God has raised up, and not Man, whom ye must hear in all things, Acts 3.22. & 7.37. who were as lost Sheep gone astray; but are now retarned to the chief Priest and Bishop of your Souls; namely, Christ Jesus, 1 Pet. 2.25. And Christ saith, He is the true Shepherd, that hath laid down his Life for his Sheep; and his Sheep know his Voice, and follow him: Who is the Holy and Just one, and never Guile was found in his Mouth. And Christ says, No Man comes to the Father but by me. So he is the New and Living Way; and God has given him for a Leader and Counsellor, to Counsel his People; who is the Holy Living Rock and Foundation, which is above all the Rocks and Foundations below: For He the Rock and Foundation is from above, whom all the Children of the Light, that believe in his Light, which is the Life in him, and are grafted into him, do build upon. And so, the Lord God Almighty with his Eternal Power support you all, in all your Afflictions and Sufferings, Trials and Temptations, that you may be built and settled upon this Rock and Foundation, that cannot be shaken.

And now, dear Friends, my desires are, and the Desires of Friends here, that you may all walk soberly, honestly, modestly, and civilly, and lovingly, and gently, and tenderly to all your Patroons, and to all People.

And, That ye may walk Righteously, Justly and Holily in all your Words, Dealings and Doings; that his Name you do pro∣fess now, may be honoured, and you may reach by your Righte∣ous Godly Lives and Conversations, the Good in all your Patroons, and in all others; so that you may shew forth the Fruits of the Spi∣rit, and the Fruits of Christianity; and that you are the Possessors of Christ Jesus your Mediator, who has made Peace betwixt you and your God. And as you have received Christ, so walk in him, and know him to rule in your Hearts by Faith. For herein (as Christ said) is my Father glorified; that you bring forth much heavenly Fruit, and that your spiritual and heavenly Light may shine before Men, that

they may see your good Works, and glorifie your Father which is in Heaven.

And now, Friends, we understand, That some that have come late∣ly among you, have been under great Sufferings and Abuses by their Patroons, because they cannot honour them with that Honour as other Slaves do, or as they have done before. Now, if you wait in Pati∣ence upon the Lord in his Truth (for you are to buy the Truth, and not to sell it; and Truth is that that's stronger than all) the Lord in his time (though he may try you) can mollifie that Nature in them there, as he hath done in other Places, where he hath tried his Peo∣ple with such things. And when they have seen, 'tis for Conscience sake towards God, and it is from the Principle of Truth and the Spi∣rit; in which Spirit and Truth they worship the Most-High God, who is an Eternal, Incomprehensible Spirit, who is God in Heaven and God in the Earth, and dwells by his Spirit in his humble People, they have been overcome.

And now Friends, consider, they are blessed that suffer for Christ's sake; and it is not only given you to believe, but to suffer for his Name: And they that will live Godly in Christ Jesus must suffar Persecu∣tion. But the Apostle says of the true Christians, Who shall sepa∣rate us from the Love of Christ? Shall Tribulation, or Distresses, or Perse∣cution, or Famine, or Nakedness, or Peril, or Sword? As it is written, For thy sake are we killed all the day long: We are counted as Sheep for the slaughter; In all these things we are more than Conquerers through him that loved us. I am persuaded that neither Death nor Life, nor Angels, nor Principalities, nor Powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor highth, nor depth, nor any other Creature shall be able to separate us from the Love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord, Rom. 8.36, 39. Psal. 44.22.

Now dear Friends, you may see here was a Godly Sincerity, Fer∣vency, Stedfastness and Resolution in the true Christians, which ought to be in all such now, without boasting. And the Apostle says, Re∣joyce, for as much as ye are partakers of Christ's Sufferings, that when his Glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding Joy: For if ye be Reproached for the Name of Christ, happy are ye: for the Spirit of Glory and of God rests upon you; on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified, 1 Pet. 4.13, 14, 15.

And so dear Friends, Be wife, that you may give no just occasion: And keep low in the Humility; for such learn of Christ, and the meek follow him. And so my desire is, That you may all be preser∣ved to the Glory of God, and that you may be Valiant for the Truth up∣on the Earth, and spread it abroad, that all may come to the Spirit of God, that God poureth upon all Flesh, and to serve and worship him: And so that all Flesh may see the Glory of God, by his Spi∣rit; and that all might come to the Light, which is the Life in Christ the Word, by whom all things were made and created, with which Light he enlightneth every Man that comes into the World, to believe in, and to love it, and to try their works, whether they be wrought in God, yea or nay, 1 John 3.19, 20, 21.

And that all might come to the Grace of God, which hath appear∣ed to all Men, and brings Salvation. which will teach to live Godly,

Righteously and Soberly, and deny Unrighteousness. This is the true Christian's Teacher, which brings Salvation, and teacheth to de∣ny that which would lead them into Destruction, into Ungodly, Un∣gracious Ways and Words; but this Grace teacheth the Saints to walk in Gracious Ways, and their Words come to be seasoned with Grace, which teaches them, and brings their Salvation. So that which is the true Christian's Teacher, brings their Salvation.

And so every one sit under this Teacher, as the true Church of Christ did; as you may see Tit. 2.11, 12.

And so dear Friends, I do commend you to him that has all Power to support, who is God All-sufficient to supply you, and is near un∣to all that calls upon him in Truth and Righteousness. Therefore cast your Care upon him; for he Cares for you: And so, as you walk in the Truth, to answer the Truth in your Patroons and others, you will see in time, you will reach the Good in them, that they will give more Credit to you, and Trust you more than them that disobey the Spirit of God in their Hearts. So the Lord preserve you Faithful to himself.

Let us hear as often as you can how things are with you.

G. F.

London, the 4th of the 3d Month, 1684.

Notes

• Epist. 391.
• Christ our Priest and Pro∣phet.
• To walk Justly and Holily in all Words and dealings.
• To wear out Sufferings by Patience.
• They are blessed who suffer for Christ's sake.
• To give no just occasion of Of∣fence.
• The true Chri∣stians Teacher.