A testimony for the Lord and his truth given forth by the women friends, at their yearly meeting, at York, being a tender salutation of love, to their friends and sisters, in their several monthly meetings, in this county, and else where, greeting.

A WARNING to all friends, who profess the everlasting truth of God, which he hath revealed and made manifest in this his blessed day, whether on this side, or beyond the seas.

Dear friends,

IN tender bowels of love do I feel, from the Lord, a warning spring in my heart to you, that you all may be kept low in his humble self-denying life, where safety is to be found; for, as∣suredly, the great and notable day of the Lord is at hand, in which he will arise in the greatness of his strength, to plead the cause of his suffering seed with all its enemies, whether within or without.

So all dear friends be faithful under your several dispensations; for in our Father's house are many mansions. Keep in the low vallies, for there will be your safety, there will the green pastures of God's love be partaken of, and with such will he delight to dwell. So, all friends, keep to your watch, that the day of the Lord come not in an hour you look not for it, and so you receive the unfaith∣ful servant's reward; for indeed, friends, my soul is in a great travel for the prosperity of Sion, that her walls may be builded, her breaches repaired and made up; for, for many months, yea some years, hath my spirit been bowed down, and groaned under the sense of an easeful, selfish, lukewarm

spirit, that hath crept in upon many for want of watchfulness, and keeping to the daily cross of Christ Jesus, and in the narrow way and savoury life, that only will bring honour and praise to the name of the Lord. And how to be eased of these weights and burdens I did not know: my cry was to the Lord, that he would give me wisdom and strength to do his will. And it pleased him to lay his hand upon me, and bring me near to the gates of death, so far as I saw; and was pleased to hide himself from me, and my soul was in a languishing condition, and my cries were great unto the Lord, that he would not hide his face from me, but let me feel of his wonted goodness and mercy, by which I had received daily comfort and satisfaction from him in his unerring path, in which he had been pleased to lead me. And, at length, the Lord ap∣peared, and said he would be my physician, and cure my disease, and came in and comforted my spirit with his overcoming love, which greatly revived me. And in the openings of the bowels of his end∣less love, he shewed me a terrible day drew near, even, as one may say, at the door, and laid it up∣on me, to go warn his people in this city, and else∣where, to depart from all filthiness both of flesh and spirit, from all lukewarmness, from the fa∣shions, customs and friendships of this world; from pride, covetousness, and every sin that separateth from the Lord, and brings dryness, barrenness and deadness upon many, and makes as unsavory salt, that is good for nothing, but to be cast forth and trodden upon.

And to warn them not to delay time, but come into the true humility, lowliness of spirit, and self-denying life, that the Lord might be a hiding place to them, for terrible will that day be to all the unfaithful and disobedient. All the sinners in Sion shall be afraid, fearfulness shall take hold on the hypocrite, dread and horror shall surprise them. O whither will you unfaithful fly! Would you not be glad that either rocks or mountains could hide you from the presence of the Lord, and the wrath of the Lamb? O this will be a terrible day indeed unto all those that have had a form of god∣liness, but denied the power that would have saved them out of all defilements and pollutions of this world.

For long hath the spirit of the Lord been grieved with these, who have long come and sitten among God's people, as if they had been of them, but never came to sink down to the heart search∣ing light of Christ Jesus in them, that by it they might be cleansed from all secret and open sins, from every Dalilah that lodgeth in the bosom, as pride and covetousness, which often the one at∣tends the other; covetousness, saith the servant of the Lord, is the root of all evil, and advised them to fly from it; but who abide not in the spirit of judgment, and of burning, which God hath pre∣pared to purge away the filth of the daughter of Sion, their filth hath not been purged or done away, which causeth many miscarriages, blots and stains, and great reflections have such brought up∣on

the blessed truth, and much dirt hath been thrown on the pure, holy, and undefiled way of the Lord, which he hath cast up for the ransomed to walk in, and so through the unfaithfulness and uneven walking of such, the name of the Lord hath been greatly dishonoured, his spirit grieved, and the hearts of the righteous made sad. And many a wounded soul there is among the Lord's people, who are bowed under these weights and pressures; but assuredly the day hastens that every one must bear their own burden, and the Lord will ease his innocent ones, who have been bowed down before him, and have mourned and groaned under these things; yea the day hastens, that the unfaithful and disobedient shall bear their own burdens. And the Lord will arise for his own name and glory sake, and will ease him of his enemies, and avenge him of his adversaries, and take to himself his great power, that he may reign and rule in the hearts of his, that faithfully labour in his work, and order their conversations aright be∣fore him. His glory shall rest upon them, for he will not give it to another seed or birth, but to Christ Jesus the seed of the woman, who was given to bruise the serpent's head; he hath born the iniquities of all, and been pressed under them as a cart with sheaves; his face hath been more marred than any man's, and his voice not heard in the streets, no beauty nor comliness seen in him; and, because he hath been a man of sorrows, and ac∣quainted with grief, therefore hath he been passed

by, and not regarded, but the Lord will make him the joy of many generations, and his Sion the praise of the whole earth.

Therefore, dear friends, love him with all your souls, and be you delighted in him above all en∣joyments whatever, that you may lie down in the bosom of his love, and be nourished by his side, as children of our heavenly Father, begotten by the immortal word of life, to live and reign here in it, and, when time shall be no more, enter into that blessed rest prepared for all those that have obeyed his glorious gospel; and though as yet we be but as the gleaning of the vintage, yet the Lord hath many to gather, yea the number∣less number shall be gathered, and great will be the work of our God, which he is bringing to pass in this his blessed day; it cannot be declared as it is seen and felt in the spirit.

So, friends, be faithful in the work of your day, be valiant for the Lord and his blessed truth; come up in the nobility of his life, and stand faithful witnesses for him; for we are the city set upon a hill, yea battle axes in God's hand, though our weapons are not carnal, but spiritual and mighty, through the power of God, to the pulling down the strong holds of sin and satan. Friends, we are they whom the Lord hath raised to hold forth Christ Jesus, whom he hath given for an ensign to the nations, unto whom all the ends of the earth must come for salvation.

So, dear friends, let your light shine forth be∣fore

men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your heavenly Father, so that by your godly life and holy conversation many may en∣quire the way to Sion.

All friends be faithful, and keep your meetings in the fear of the Lord; be diligent in his work, for the woe and curse belongs to them that do the Lord's work negligently, or with careless minds, and it is come on some already, and will come more upon others, if by speedy repentance they return not unto the Lord. So be zealous for the Lord and his truth, and, as much as in you lies, gather orderly together as near the time as possible, that the meeting is appointed at; for disorderly coming hath been a hurt and burdened the faithful, who dare not be negligent in the Lord's work, and often they have waited a considerable season, and God's power hath been felt, and the manifold grace of God been dispensed among us and then others come in and miss of the counsels, admoni∣tions and refreshments, which the Lord, by the operation of his blessed spirit, hands forth to his people, and so, for want of zeal in coming duly to meeting, especially on the week days, truth hath not grown in them, but such have long travelled in the wilderness, and many carcases fallen there, and so, for want of zeal and faithfulness, the ene∣my hath crept in, and darkened many minds, where once there was tender good desires raised after God. So all have need to be faithful, and wait di∣ligently every opportunity the Lord gives you to

feel your strength renewed; for in the world are many incumbrances and intanglements, some on one hand, and some on another, to draw the mind from God, and but one to draw it to him; so there is great need of holy zeal and diligence, in observe∣ing the time to wait upon the Lord to feel your strength renewed, to help through the many things, and his power to strengthen and support, that in your families, and all your undertakings, you may be a good savour to the Lord, being guided by his wisdom to rule and order your chil∣dren and servants, and he will give authority to stand over every thing that is contrary to his wit∣ness. And in the fear of the Lord I warn and ex∣hort all parents not to wink or connive at any sin in your children, as you tender their everlasting well being; let no sin go unreproved or uncor∣rected, but take the wise man's counsel, who saith, Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of correction must drive it out, and he that corrects his child shall deliver his soul from death. So, friends, train up your children in the blessed truth and fear of the Lord, so may you have hope they will not depart from it when they are old. And take heed of giving way or suffer∣ing them to get into pride, and the vain and foolish fashions, which are a shame to sober people, and a great inlet to many evils, for they are prone to that by nature, and it may soon be set up, but hard to get it down. So, friends, keep the yoke upon that nature that is proud, stubborn, or dis∣obedient

to parents, break that will in them be∣times which comes from the evil one, and bend them while they are young, lest when they grow up you cannot. And then you may sorrow greatly when it is too late; for by your overlooking their folly or pride, the wrong nature grows in them to a strong head, whereby you have helped them forwards in the broad way which leads to destruction, and their blood may come to be re∣quired at your hands. Ah, friends! friends! as much as in you lies keep down the evil, and the good will arise, then there will be room for the tender seed to grow up in them, and they will bless the Lord on your behalfs, for your love and care of their immortal souls.

And all masters and mistresses of families, keep in the dominion of truth, that in it you may rule over every unclean thing, and wrong spirit, that is contrary to the Lord, that you abiding in him who is the highest power, and higher than the powers of darkness, may in it keep your autho∣rity in your families; and look that all be kept sweet and clean out of the condemnable state, first in yourselves, and then in your families, to see that all wildness, wantonness and rudeness, be kept under by the power, yea every thing that would blot or stain the precious truth. And then if the Lord requires any service or testimony of any of you, for his name and blessed truth, that all may be clear in yourselves, and justified by God's wit∣ness,

that you have stood in his counsel and autho∣rity in your families, and been good examples in life and conversation, by keeping your own houses in order, and ruling there for God; then may you openly with boldness appear for the Lord, and thresh down sin and every evil way, in the pow∣er and authority of his life, that none may have any thing to accuse any of you on the accounts above mentioned. And, dear friends, all keep in the savoury life; but more especially you who are drawn forth to bear publick testimony for the Lord and his blessed truth, keep you to the watch, that at all times, places, and on all oc∣casions, your lives may preach for God, by a clean unspotted conversation, which is the crown of all the faithful, who labour in the work of the Lord, and are upright before him; his glory shall rest upon them, and their reward is sure.

Now unto all you young people, sons and daughters, apprentices, men or maid servants, all that are convinced of God's truth, and the way that leads to everlasting life and happiness, be you all faithful to God's witness in you, and mind the motions and operations of it, that thereby you may be changed, and all judge out what's con∣trary to his pure witness; let not your minds wander, neither look at the vanities in this world, for Christ's kingdom is not of it, nor to be found in pride, wantonness, and lust of the flesh, the fashions, customs, and friendships of this world,

for the devil is the king of pride, and all its an∣tecedents, that lead to the gates of hell and ever∣lasting destruction, where there is woe and mi∣sery, and that for ever more, where the worm never dies, the fire never goes out; so all you young and tender ones, where desires are begot∣ten after God, keep you low in his fear, and to the daily cross, that all the contrary may be cru∣cified, and all the enmity slain upon it. For every one that will be a disciple of Christ Jesus must come into the self-denying life. You can∣not have two kingdoms; so my advice to you all is, stoop to Christ's appearance in you, he who invites all to come and learn of him, who is meek and lowly, and you shall find rest to your souls. So all be faithful in your several places and the exercises you may be under, that you may grow in grace, and in the fear and wisdom of God. Let not your eyes look out at others, but mind your own conditions; for, if you do, it will spy many faults in others, and may be overlook more at home. This hinders the growth of many, so all wait low within to feel your growth in the blessed truth, and know how the work goes on, and whether thou feel God's love, mercy and goodness, renewed to thee day by day, or not; for your accounts will be for the deeds done in your bodies, and not for others, so every one is to labour to know your calling and election made sure.

And you that are apprentices keep in the truth, love and obey it, for it will keep you faithful in your places, and out of every deceitful way, performing them not with eye service, but with singleness of heart, as unto the Lord, from whom you must receive a reward. And if the ene∣my entice, consent not, though he come in with never so fair pretences, That thou mayest de∣ceive thy master, and it will never be known, &c. or purloin or waste his Goods: believe him not, he is a liar, and the father of lyes; for there is an eye that sees in secret, which will bring all the hidden deeds of darkness to light, and every work to judgment. So as thy work is, shall be thy reward. But fear the Lord and obey his voice in thee, and he will deliver thee out of every unclean way and polluted path, by his dear son Christ Jesus, whom he hath given for a high way of holiness, and a restorer of paths to dwell in. Glory to his Name for ever saith the redeemed, who are now returning unto Sion with songs of deliverance in their mouths, and everlasting high praises are sounded unto him, by those whose garments are made white in the blood of the Lamb, for Sion's redeemer is come, the taker away of sin and iniquity is made mani∣fest, the mourners in Sion comforted, the weary travellers are refreshed, the feeble knees are strengthened, the broken spirit bound up, and the wounded soul hath oil poured in: who can

but rejoice and be exceeding glad? for he hath put a new song in our mouths, he hath given his people beauty for ashes, and, instead of heaviness, the spirit of praise. All that know him will speak well of his name, for all the noble acts he hath brought to pass for his children. My soul is greatly affected in the remembrance of the Lord's numberless mercies (to me) and a little remnant whom he hath plucked as brands out of the fire, to shew forth his praises, and declare of his goodness in the land of the living, to hold forth Christ, the way to the Father, to the nations, that his scattered seed may be gathered from all the ends of the earth.

So I have cleared my spirit of what hath long lain upon me, and discharged my conscience, in delivering the Lord's message faithfully, according to the ability he hath given me. And so am clear in my spirit: The Lord set it home upon every heart whom it may concern, and that it may be received in the same bowels of love it was given forth. Then shall I have my reward, and the Lord his glory. And so shall return to my tent, and enter into the hole of the rock, where safety is to

be found, till the indignation be over past; and in the endless unchangeable love of God do I salute you, and bid you farewel in the Lord.

MARY WAITE.

York, the 10th of the 2d month, 1679.

Let this be read in friends meetings, when they are gathered together, in the fear of the Lord, and in his weighty savoury life.

FINIS.