An epistle from the people in scorn called Quakers to all people upon the earth to read over that they may see what the people called Quakers hold concerning God, Christ, his death, his resurrection, his blood, concerning his offering, redemption, salvation, justification, faith, and hope.

An Epistle to all People upon the Earth to read over, that they may see what the people called Quakers hold concerning God, Christ, &c.

ALL what is written of in the Law, the Prophets and the Gospel in the new Testament, and before the Law con∣cerning God, Christ, and his Birrh, and Miracles, and Suf∣ferings, and his Resurrection, we own; and all the Pro∣mises, as the first Promise, the Seed of the Woman shall bruise the Serpents head, which is Christ Jesus; and how that he through death destroyed Death, and the power of death, the Devil; and how that Christ being the Priest made higher then the Heavens, af∣ter the order of Melchisedeck, ends the Levitical Priesthood; and how that he by one offering offered himself once for all, ends all the Jews Offerings that were typical of him, (figures and shadows) and put down the Sacrifices; and Christ by his Blood which cleans∣eth from all sin, whose Blood was shed for all men, puts an end to the blood of Bulls and goats, which was to be offered and sprink∣led upon the Jews, which Blood of Christ every one must feel sprinkling their Consciences from dead works to serve the Living God; and also Christs Righteousness, we own; who is the the Lord our Righteousness, by which self righteousness, mans righteousness, which is as filthy rags, is denied; and the righteous∣ness of the Law among the Iews, the Righteousness of Christ ends: and people are to be saved by it; and not that people should live in their sins, and live in their own unrighteousness, nor in the righteousness of the works of the Law of the Iews; and not that People should profess Christ, and live in their own unrighte∣ousness and sins, and die in them; for Christ came to take away sin, and to make an end of sin and finish transgression; and every

one that professes Christ, and names his Name should depart from iniquity, and not live in it; for none can call him Lord but by the holy Ghost: then how can people call him Lord by the un∣clean spirit? and he that hath not the Spirit of Christ is none of his; and God so loved the Word that he gave his only begotten son into the World, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting Life; and Christ is the Light of the World, and he doth enlighten every one that comes into the World, and saith, be∣lieve in the Light, that you may become children of the Light: and the Faith of Gods Elect we own, which purifies the heart, and gives victory over the World, and access to God, without which none can please God, which faith justifieth and sanctifieth; and this Faith is the Gift of God: and Christ is our Hope which purifies as he is pure. And the holy Ghost we own according to the Scriptures, and there is three that bear record in Heaven, the Father, the Word and the Spirit, and these three are one; and there is three that bear record in the Earth, the Spirit, the Water, and the Blood, and these three agree in one; and Christ's Blood was shed for all men, and was the Offering not for our sins only, but for the sins of the whole World, who was crucified without the Gates at Ieru∣salem, and was a propitiation not for our sins only, but for the sins of the whole World; so we are bought with a price, 1 Cor. 6.20. and we are to glorifie God with our bodies, souls, and our spirits, for they are Gods, 1 Cor. 7.23. we are bought with a price; and so all is to mind the Truth in the inward parts, the hidden man of the heart, which in the sight of God is of great price, 1 Per. 1.19. And we are not redeemed with corruptable things, as Silver and Gold from a vain conversation, but with the precious Blood of Christ, as of a Lamb without blemish, and without spot; and so Christ hath purchased his Church with his own Blood, to present it to God without spot or wrinkle; and so Christ is King, Prophet and Priest; and so God was in Christ reconciling the World unto him∣self: And Christ who was in the form of God thought it no rob∣bery to be equal with God, but made himself of no reputation, but took upon him the form of a Servant, and was formed in fa∣shion of a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto the death, even the death of the Cross, and therefore God hath highly exalted him, and given him a Name above every name, and

there is no Salvation by any other name under the whole Heaven, but the Name of Christ Jesus. And so Christ Jesus died and rose again, 1 Thes. 4.14. and 5.10. Christ who died for us, that whe∣ther we wake or sleep we should live together with him, (who was dead and is alive, and lives for evermore) whose Garments he makes white with his Blood, 1 Cor. 15.3. how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he rose the third day according to the Scriptures, Rom. 5.6. In due time Christ died for the ungodly; and God hath set forth his Love towards us, that while we were yet Sinners Christ died for the ungodly, Rom. 14.9. To this end Christ both died and revived, that he might be Lord both of quick and dead, Rom 8.34. It is Christ that died, ye rather that is risen again, who is also at the right hand of God making intercession for us.

And whereas many scandals have been cast upon us, as that we deny Christ above the Stars, Sun, Moon and Elements.

To this we say, all Power in Heaven and Earth is given to Christ; if all Power in Heaven and Earth [Mark] be given unto him, then he must needs be above the Sun, Moon and Elements, and yet he will dwell in his people; for he ascended far above all Heavens, that he might fill all things, Ephes. 4.10.

The second false Accusation is that the Quakers denies God above the Elements, Sun, Moon and Stars.

Answ. God we own who is a Spirit, and to be worshipped in Spi∣rit and Truth, and Heaven is his Throne, and Earth is his Foot-stool, and he fills Heaven and Earth, and the Heaven of Heavens is not able to contain him, and he upholds all things by his Word and Pow∣er, and is in all, through all, and above all, God blessed for ever; and so then he must needs be above the Sun, Moon, Stars and Ele∣ments which are the works of his hands, he being Maker and Crea∣tor of all things; and Christ who was with the Father before the World began, by whom all things were made and created, and this is the Word, and the Word was God, Iohn 1. And so we do know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an un∣derstanding to know him which is true, and we are in him that is true, that is in his Son Jesus Christ, this is the true God and Eter∣nal

Life, Ephes. 2.16. That Christ might reconcile both unto God in one body by the Blood, his Cross, and slay Enmity thereby, and so making of twain one new man, and so making peace: And so people ought to walk in love, as Christ hath loved us, and given himself for us, to be an Offering, and a Sacrifice, a sweet smelling savour to God: and so not another Gospel do we preach but the Gospel which is the Power of God unto Salvation to them that be∣lieve, Rom. 1.16. and so through Christ Jesus we come to God out of old Adam, and in Christ we please God; and Christ is our Mediator, who makes peace between us and God; and he is the new Covenant, the Covenant of Light to the Gentiles, and in this Covenant of Light all is to walk, which brings them out of the old Covenant which vanisheth away, and through which Covenant we have peace with God in the Covenant of Light and Covenant of Life; and so Christ is our Rock, who is the Life which all must be built upon, and no other Foundation can any man lay, then what is laid already, Christ Jesus who is the Foundation of the Prophets and Apostles; and for this purpose was the Son of God made ma∣nifest to destroy the Devil (and his works) who led man from God; and so he is the Way to God to walk in, and as every one hath re∣ceived Christ the Life, they must walk in him, and he is worthy of all honour and glory, who is the Lamb slain from the Foundation of the World: the Lamb must have the victory, Christ Jesus the Ema∣nuel, God with us, the First begotten, full of Grace and Truth, whom all the Angels must worship; and as the Law came by Moses, so Grace and Truth came by Jesus Christ; and God will judge the World in Righteousness by the man Christ Jesus according to the Gospel which is the Power of God, who would have all men to be saved, and to come to the knowledge of the Truth, who desires not the death of a Sinner, but rather that he should repent; for this the Lord binds with an oath; As I live, saith the Lord, I desire not the death of a Sinner, but rather that he would repent and live, and often cries, Why will ye die? And whereas its said the Quakers hold forth Free-will, we answer, no, for God worketh in us both to will and to do according to his good pleasure; and we do know it is the Devil that worketh in people to will and to do that which dis∣honoureth God, Hebr. 9.14. Christ offered himself through the Eternal Spirit without spot to God, and by his Blood purges our

Consciences from dead works to serve the Living God: and must not people come to feel his Blood in their Consciences, and so come to eat his Flesh, and drink his Blood? and except they eat his Flesh, and drink his Blood they have no Life in him; and now God is writing his Law in peoples hearts, and putting it into their minds, by which all shall come to know the Lord from the greatest to the least, and shall not need to say to his Brother know the Lord; for the Knowledge of the Lord shall cover the Earth as waters cover the Sea: and so Christ is come to cleanse from sin, and to purge from sin, and to make an end of sin, and to destroy the Devil and his works, who bruises the Serpents head, and abolishes death, and brings in Life and Immortality to light through his Power the Gos∣pel: So not that people should name Christs Name and live in ini∣quity, and live in unrighteousness and sin, and ungodliness; but they should live to Christ Jesus, and walk in him; for did Christ die for Sinners that they should live in sin? nay, but that they should be cleansed from sin, and their Garments made white in the Blood of the Lamb, and so come to be heirs of Christ and Salvation, and to sit down in the Heavenly places in Christ Jesus, and not sit down in the old Adam. And true belief, is it not to believe in the true Light, as Christ commands, and so to become Children of the Light, and of the Day, and not children of Darkness? and so he that believes is born of God, and he that is born of God overcomes the World, for greater is he that is in them, then he that is in the World; so the greater overcomes the less: and so he that believes passeth from Death to Life, and he that hates his Brother abideth in Death, and what kind of belief is that? and he that envies his Brother is a Manslayer, and no Manslayer hath Eternal Life abiding in him; and therefore Christ commands you Christians should love one another, and love Enemies, which was a mark they were Disciples of Christ; and he that saith he loveth God which he never saw, and hateth his brother which he hath seen, what saith the Scriptures of such a one? And he that saith he knoweth God and Christ, and keeps not his Commandments is a Lyar, 1 Iohn 2.4. but he that keeps his Word, in him is the Love of God perfect, which he that doth not keep the Word, the Love of God is not perfect in him; and so we know that Christ by one offering hath for ever perfected

them that are Sanctified: and so all people to mind the Grace of God which brings Salvation, that hath appeared to all men, which teaches the Saints, and establishes their hearts, and seasons their words, and teaches them to live godly and soberly in this evil present World, and to deny ungodliness, unrighteousness, and and the lusts of the World; and the Spirit of God is given to every man to profit withal; and the Lord gave his good Spirit (Neh. 9.) to people, yet they rebelled against it, and so they quenched the Spirit, and vext it, and grieved it by yeelding to the evil spirit and its work, so his Servants they are whom they do obey; and Christ is the true Light who enlightens every man that comes into the World; one loves the Light, and the other hates it, and he hates it because his deeds are evil, and will not come to it, because it re∣proves him; and this is the condemnation that Light is come into the World, and men love Darkness more then the Light, because their deeds be evil; and they that love the Light bring their deeds to it, that with the Light they may see that their deeds be wrought in God; and so as people walks in the Light, as he is in the Light, they have fellowship one with another, and the Blood of Christ clenseth them from all sin; and so with the Light they see the Blood, and him that cleanseth them. And the Spirit of Truth which leads into all Truth is come according to Christs Promise, and this Spirit reproves the World of sin, of righteousness and unbelief, and of judgment; and God hath poured forth his Spirit upon all Flesh, and his Sons and Daughters do prophesie, and young men shall see visions, and old men shall dream dreams, and upon his Handmaids and Servants he will pour out of his Spirit, and so every one shall have something whereby they may have a sense of God, the Word being sown upon all grounds: and Christ where he speaks of his Talents, speaks of a measure given to every one according to his ability. So as it is said in Hebr. 1.8. and to the Son he saith, Thy Throne, O God, is for ever and ever; a Scepter of Righteousness is the Scepter of thy Kingdom: thou hast loved Righteousness, and hated Iniquity; wherefore God, even thy God hath anointed thee with oyl of gladness above thy Fellows. And so [mark] the Fruit of Righteousness is sowed in peace of them that make peace, James 3. and such as are heirs of this Righteous∣ness,

are heirs of Christ, the Righteousness it self: And Christ who his own self bare our sins in his body on the Tree, that we be∣ing delivered from sin should live in righteousness, by whose stripes you are healed: so it is plain, people, you should not live in unrigh∣teousness; and its clear through the Righteousness of our God and Saviour Jesus Christ we have obtained the precious Faith, 2 Pet. 1.1. and 1 Iohn, 2.29. Every one that doth righteousness is born of God: and 1 Iohn 3.7. he that doth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous, little children let no man deceive you: and who∣soever doth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother, verse 10. 2 Cor. 2.15. all that profess themselves Christians ought to be a sweet savour, For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ in them that are saved, and in them that perish. Ephes. 5.2. And people ought to walk in love, even as Christ hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an Offering and a Sacrifice of a sweet smelling savour to God. And we have seen and do testifie that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the World, 1 Iohn 4.14. And so to the only Wise God our Saviour be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and for ever, Amen, Jude vers. 25. and he is able to keep us faultless before the Pre∣sence of his Glory with joy. And we being justified by the Blood of Christ, we shall be saved from wrath through him, Rom. 5.9.10. For when we were Enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son; much more being reconciled we shall be saved by his Life: And the God of our Fathers hath raised up Jesus whom the Iews slew, and hanged on a Tree, him hath God raised up by his right hand, to be a Prince and a Saviour, and who is a Prophet like unto Moses, whom all must hear; and this is my beloved Son hear ye him: and learn of me, saith Christ; and God hath anoint∣ed him to preach, to bind up the broken-hearted, &c. And so that people should live in all godliness and honesty, and lead a peaceable life, this is acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour, 1 Tim. 2. And wherefore was, and is, there hatred against the true Christi∣ans, but because they trusted in the Living God? who is the Savi∣our of all men, especially of those that believe: and Christ came not to destroy men lives, but to save them, 1 Tim: 4.10. Hebr. 7. Christ is able to save to the uttermost all that come unto God by

him 1 Tim. 1.15. This is a true saying, and worthy of all accep∣tation, that Jesus Christ is come into the World to save Sinners, of whom I am chief, Gal. 3.••3. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the Law, being made a curse for us, Rev. 5.19. and Christ hath redeemed us to God by his Blood; and so we know that we are not redeemed by corruptible things from our vain conver∣sation, but with the precious Blood of Christ; therefore people are not to live in their vain conversation, that are redeemed. And therefore people are to redeem the time because the dayes are evil; and be not unwise, but understand what the Will of God is, Col. 4.5. we are of him in Christ, Jesus who of God is made unto us Wis∣dom, and Righteousness, Sanctification and Redemption, 1 Cor. 1.30. and we are justified freely by his Grace, through the Re∣demption that is in Christ Jesus, Rom. 3.14. and Christ gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purge us to be a peculiar people unto himself, zealous of good works; and so not that people should live in iniquity and bad works, Col. 1.20, and God by Christ reconciled all things to himself, to set at peace thorow the Blood of his Cross, both of things in Earth, and things in Heaven; therefore all people is to mind this reconci∣liation, Hebr. 2.17. wherefore in all things it became Christ to be made like unto his Brethren, that he might be a mercifull and faithfull High Priest in things pertaining to God, that he might make reconciliation for the sins of the people: so this is not that people should live in their sins, and unrighteousness, and ungodli∣ness, to dishonour God: For if you should redeem a man from Turkey, from being a Slave, would it not grieve you for that man to go into Turkey to be a Slave again, after you have paid a great Ransom for him? so Christ redeeming people from sin and iniquity, from unrighteousness, which is from the slavery of the Devil, by his Blood, and Death, and Offering, and this is Gods Love to Mankind thorow Christ Jesus: and doth he redeem from iniquity, ungodliness, sin and evil, that they should go into it again, and so into slavery? will not this grieve God and Christ? and will he not render vengeance in flames of Fire upon all them that doth not obey the Gospel of Christ? and what will become of them that holds Truth in their ungodly and unrighteous minds, that is, the

truths of God, and the truths of Christ, and the truths of the Por∣phets and Apostles? So, all People, the Scriptures were given forth to be read, believed, and fulfilled, and not to make a trade of, and to keep people alwayes teaching of them, that they may be always paying of them; and to make merchandize neither of people, nor them; so it is the Spirit of Truth that must lead you into all Truth of them; for they were given forth by holy men, as they were moved by the holy Ghost; and the same holy Ghost must ••ead you into all Truth of them: and so they are profitable for re∣proof and for instruction, and for correction, in righteousness: and unto them also that are contentious, and disobey the Truth, but obey unrighteousness, shall be indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish upon the Souls of every man that doth evil; upon the Iews first, and also upon the Gentiles: but glory, honour and peace shall be to every man that doth good; to the Iew first, and also to the Gentile.

Postscript.

ANd this is to clear us from all those Pamphlets which are spread and scattered up and down among people, that we should deny the God-head, his Eternal Power, or his Offering, or Blood; or that we should not he bought with a Price; For is pleased the Fa∣ther, that in him the Fulness of the God-head should dwell bodily; and the Father, and the Son, and the Spirit, we do own. And so let all them stop their Mouthes, that say the Quakers Principles are hid till now; for we have manifested our Principles, both in our printed Books; and would that all People knew our Inside, as they did know our Outside; and we do know (and also others know it) that we have an esteem of Christ's Sufferings, and Death, and Blood, and the Scriptures of the Prophets and Apostles more then any other people; for we do know that they were all Sufferers for speaking forth the Scriptures.

George Fox. Ellis Hookes.

THE END.