A few lines in true love to such that frequent the meetings of the people called Quakers and love to hear the sound of truth but are not yet come to obey the testimony of it, that they may also hear and learn to read at home : with a second addition as a confirmation of what the Lord requires at your hands.

A few Lines in true love to such that frequent the Meetings of the People called Quakers, and love to hear the sound of Truth, but are not yet come to obey the Testimony of it, that they may also hear and learn to Read at Home.

With a Second Addition as a Confirmation of what the Lord requires at your Hands.

FRiends,

hearing several Testimonies and Exhortations daily sounded in our Ears, concerning our Accustoming, Habit∣ing or Adorning our selves as becomes the Truth that we make profession of, there is a little in my Heart in the love of God to you ••hat frequent the meetings of Friends, and daily hear the sound and ••endency of Truth, as it is by one and another of the Servants of the Lord spoken amongst us, for this very end, that all may give diligent ••eed to the faithful and true witness of God in them, that by the Word and Power of God in them, the Word Preached may be so ••ffectually received, and mix'd with Faith in the appearance of the ••on of Gods love, that thereby it may take place in your Hearts, so ••s to separate your Minds and Desires from those things that the Truth is calling from, and also give you a sense of what the Truth ••s calling to, or otherwise all your outward hearing, although it be ••he Servants of the Lord who do speak in the power and demonstra∣••ion of the Spirit of God, will not do that work for you that God hath done for many of his Children and People, except you will give di∣••igent heed to his faithful and true Witness in you, which is always near to instruct you; and if you will retire, and listen to hear when you are in Meetings, you will find what of the Testimony doth be∣long to your inward State, and whether or no you are of that num∣ber that doth adorn your selves in those things which the Testimony doth condemn, or whether you are justifiable in the sight of the Great God. Friends, suffer me to tell you, there are some that frequently

come amongst the People of the Lord, that have not yet given dili∣gent heed to the witness of God in them, nor to the many Testimo∣nies of the Servants of the Lord that comes amongst them, but do sit carelesly as if they had no other concern but to Hear from one day to another, and do not consider the good end of the Lord, and his Faithful Messengers to them, which is that all should hearken, and so Hear and Obey, that thereby their Souls may live to God in that Life that doth adorn the Testimony of Truth, which they so often come to Hear: And it is as a Lovely Song to many that are not yet come to sing the Song of the Redeemed from the Corruptible things, but do seem to content themselves with hearing that there is Bread e∣nough in our Fathers House, but do not Partake and Eat so worthi∣ly, as that their Souls may live more and more to God, and less to the out-goings of that Mind which we see is gone into many vain and ungodlike things: And may it not be said to such, why do you love to Hear? Do you not desire to be of that number that quakes and trembles at the Word of the Lord? If any should say yea, then let me tell you, it was no less than the Word and Power of God that did first take place amongst the People of the Lord, which made many to quake and tremble, when it first struck at the lifeless Profession that many were in, in a form of Godliness, without a sense of that invi∣sible Life and Power of God that raises and quickens the Soul, by which it comes to be made capable of Worshipping and Serving the True and Living God aright in the newness of the Spirit, and in the Truth, for which end he hath given every one a Measure to improve and profit withal. Therefore dear Friends, let none that are convin∣ced of the blessed Truth, and comes amongst the People of the Lord, set down as unconcerned, or content with Hearing or Professing, with∣out desiring to be made Possessors of the vertue of that invisible Life and Power of God, by which you may be made Partakers of those Glorious and Heavenly things that you so often hear spoken of; which you can never do, except you Retire, Consider and Hearken to the Voice of the Lord at Home in your selves, every one apart; for the Promises are all, yea and Amen to the Seed Christ, and all that Hear and Obey the Word of Life in themselves, their Souls shall live.

Then in obeying the Word of God, which is the promised Seed that is to bruise the Head of the Serpent in you, you will find it will lead

you contrary to that ungodlike Life that too to many do live in, and some under a Profession of Religion. But the pure Religion is the same as ever it was; and as you come to be acquainted with it, it will keep you from the Spots of this ungodly World, Vanities and Follies that are committed therein. Friends, are you not sometimes touched with a Sense of the goodness of God to you; then what doth it call for from you? doth it not call for Circumspection in adorning and demeaning your selves in that Moderation that becomes your Christian Profession. Friends, my tender desires are for you, and I am concerned for you, that you may see what it is that hath led out your Minds into many things that the Truth doth daily exhort you from; and by that means you will come clearly to see the one thing need∣ful, which is to set at the Feet of Jesus, where you may hear those gracious Words that proceed from his Mouth, and hearken and hear what the Spirit saith unto the Churches in this our Day; which is calling for Purity and Holiness, that ye may be as Gods peculiar People.

Therefore every one to an inward hearkening, to hear that Voice that calls behind you, saying, This is the way walk in it; which also calls us to be a People of one Heart and Mind, in those things that will shew forth our Love to God, and his blessed Truth, and one to another, in which we shall feel the Condescendings of his Heavenly Power, to draw all that are truly Religious together, and will make them desire to appear as Children of our one Heavenly Father, whose care is still over us, and his prolonged Mercies still held out amongst us, for which I can do no less than bless the Lord in the renewed Sense of the same, which I feel upon my Spirit at this time, desiring that I with you, and you with me, may so in Faithfulness approve our Hearts to the Lord, that not one amongst us may be found of that number that are drawing down the Judgments of God, by a careless and disregardful Mind of the many Mercies that we have and do yet enjoy: But rather let our approachings be in that, in which we may stand in the Gap, and interceed with the Lord for this the Land of our Nativity and Country in which we dwell; for which dear Friends, let us increase the number of true Breathings, tender and fervent Supplications, such as may find acceptance with the Great God who is Lord of Lords, and King of Kings, and ought to be the only Ru∣ler in every one of our Hearts: To whom belongs all Honour, Glo∣ry,

Reverence and Godly Fear; and to him let it be given at this time, and for ever, Amen.

A. F.