EPISTLES AND PAPERS OF WILLIAM EDMUNDSON. An epistle to Friends, written in Jamaica. in his plantation, and to walk in his garden, and to water it in due season, and not have cause to reject or cast out any, as a withered and unfruitful branch, through unworthiness. 1671. As you have received and believed in the precious truth, so live in it to God's glory, and walk upright in the freedom and Let all walk worthy of God's love, visitaliberty of the truth and Gospel of peace, in tion and mercies, and take heed of turning which you will have peace with God. Go again unto such things, as truth judged, led not back into the liberty of the world, for out of, and caused us to deny at the first, in that will bring you into bondage, and the old trading or otherwise; for truth changes not. leaven will steal in by little and little, which Therefore keep the first love and principles, leavens into the love of the world, draws spotless and blameless in the sight of God from the love of God, hinders the incomes of and man, and remember the children of Is his love in your souls, and draws the mind rael, whom God took by the hand to bring into great incumbrances, and sets the affec- from the bondage of Egypt, and to give them tions on things below, to mind earthly things the Land of Promise, how many of the first more than heavenly. This becomes a yoke generation fell, and came short by looking of bondage, and will make you look down back through unbelief, and tempting and into the earth, and keep you from looking up grieving the Lord in the time of their trial. to the Lord, who saith, Look unto me. All Also Lot's wife, who looked back, was set for stand fast and firm, therefore, in the freedom an example. And are not we a kind of firstand liberty of the blessed truth. Let none fruits, and a generation whom God hath visitlose the heavenly image, lest the earth and ed, and taken by the hand to redeem from the earthly image steal in and come over again; earth, and from the world, after a long night and like the grave swallow up, or like the of apostacy and falling away? Let all take thorns choak all that is good, and so stain and heed and be circumspect; for there is much spoil the beauty and comeliness, which you upon my spirit concerning these things, hard have in the everlasting truth. to be uttered, and harder to be borne by some. See that none leave either hoof or horn in Egypt, for then the mind will be towards it. Friends, in the name of the Lord Jesus, shake yourselves from the dust, and from the earth, being quickened and raised from the Therefore all arise, and come forth with grave, and from the earth, by the spirit and the Seed royal, that all we have may be in power of the Lord. Sow not among thorns, the hand of the Lord, as an offering and sabut plough up the fallow-ground, and keep a crifice to him, which is but a reasonable serdiligent hand at the plough, that as the axe vice. We are but stewards of what we have, hath cut down the branches, so the plough and must give an account to God; wherefore may tear up the roots, that the roots of cor- take heed of being married to your shops, ruption, earthly-mindedness and covetousness, and trades or merchandize, whereby you are which is the root of all evil, and the root of encumbered and hindered from coming to bitterness be not left unrooted out through ne- meeting, serving the Lord and doing his glect; and so those old roots spring up again, work, as though your work and business and choak the good, and make the garden un- must be done first, and the Lord's last. fruitful to God. Must not his people be as a Would not you blame and be angry with fruitful field, and as a pleasant garden to bring your servants, who would prefer and do their forth, much fruit, to be a sweet smell and a own work and business before yours, and be sweet savour? And so, all Friends, see that so encumbered and busy therein, that your the fields and gardens of your hearts be kept business is neglected? Be ye therefore careful clean, and the roots hacked up as well as the that the Lord's business be first done, and his branches; that you may flourish in the new-truth and the concerns thereof preferred becovenant, as the field of the Lord, and as his fore all, that you may receive an answer from garden, give a sweet smell and savour of life the Lord of "Well done, good and faithful unto life, and of death unto death; and as his servants." For if any be linked and married fruitful plantation, bring forth much fruit to to the world, and to the earth, their shops, his praise and glory, who is the chief Planter merchandize or trading, and have their deand Workman, that he may delight to dwell lights there, how are they God's freemen and JOURNAL OF THE LIFE OF WILLIAM EDMUNDSON. Christ's spouse, married to him? Must not they, who are married to Christ, be free from the world through the cross of Christ, the power of God, and walk as freemen, having the earth under them, and not over them? Be ye therefore good merchant-men; prize the precious truth, the precious pearl, and the preferment of it above all, that the love of the world enter not, and work as the old leaven, by which the streams of God's free love in your hearts may be stopped. Prize the love of God and walk worthy of it; for as a tender Father He gave his Son for us, even the Son of his love, whom he hath made heir of all things, that we through him may be heirs of an everlasting inheritance, and not go after other lovers, or have the heart carried away with them, who will not stand instead, nor can they save in the needful time. WILLIAM EDMUNDSON. Jamaica, the 24th of the PART OF A LETTER TO HIS WIFE. I have had several meetings here with Friends; the Lord's heavenly presence was with us, and many were well refreshed. I desire that all may be careful of God's honour, and the fame of his blessed truth, which is more than all, that occasion be not given whereby truth may be evilly spoken of. My love is to all our children with thee; and my desire and charge to them is, to fear God, love his truth and people, and love one another; live in peace and walk soberly to all; for the fear of God will keep their hearts clean, and by it they will learn wisdom towards God and men, which will adorn and commend them before men, and in the end produce both peace and comfort. My dear love is to thee, as a true and faithful husband, which thou mayest assure thyself of, wherever I am, or however I may be disposed of; and my tender love is to all honest-hearted Friends, as if I named them, and rest Thy loving husband. 171 have ye sought that which was lost. But with force and cruelty have ye ruled them, and they were scattered. Therefore I come against the shepherds, saith the Lord: I Ezek. xxxiv. 2, 3, 4, 5. will require my sheep at their hands: and cause them to cease from feeding the sheep; neither shall the shepherds feed themselves any more; for I will deliver my sheep from their mouths, that they may not be meat for them. Ezek. xxxiv. 10. COME all you who have assumed the title of shepherds, and overseers of the flocks of people of all sorts in Christendom: you have had the oversight, and ordering of the people for a long time; and the Lord hath been as a man in a far country, but now he is coming to call you to account, and will require the flocks at your hands; the time is near when you must give account of your charge, and receive a recompense of reward from him according to your deeds. This is a warning to you all, to have your accounts ready, and see that the flocks are in good order, and that nothing is wanting; for you will not permit any to meddle with the flocks but yourselves, therefore at you hands the Lord will require them. Have you kept a diligent watch night and day, with carefulness for their souls? Have your locks been wet with the dew, and the hairs of your heads with the frosts, to preserve their feet in the way of peace, from the devourer, and out of all filthy unclean ways? Have you been good examples before your several flocks in all things, walking before them as good patterns? ye not Have ye led them to the pastures of life, and fed them in due season? Or have played the careless idle shepherds, sitting in your fat places, and lying at ease upon your soft pillows, feeding with the fat, and sporting yourselves in your day and time, whilst the poor flocks go astray in the by-paths, and are scattered in the barren wilderness, as sheep wanting a shepherd, and as a people without their guide, where their souls are starved for want of the bread of life? Have ye led the flocks to the fountain of living mercies and well-spring of life, where they might drink freely, without money, and thereby be refreshed, and all become fruitful; or are they not dried up for want of the springs of life, and so unfruitful in anything that is good? Have you not also in this condition led and driven them, by your example and persuasion, to the dirty puddles of sin and uncleanness? Have you not persuaded the flocks, that this is what they must drink, whilst on this side the grave? Are not your flocks, as Wo be to the shepherds that feed themselves; should you call them, by that means, fallen into gross not the shepherds feed the flocks? Ye eat the fat, and ye diseases, as rottenness of heart, unsoundness clothe you with the wool; ye kill them that are fed; but ye feed not the flocks. The diseased have ye not strength of mind, blindness and deafness, from seeing ened, neither have ye healed that which was sick; neither their salvation, and hearing the voice of the have ye bound up that which was broken; neither have ye brought back that which was driven away; neither Lord Jesus? Are they not fallen into lame A letter of examination to all who have assumed the place of shepherds, and overseers of the flocks of people of all sorts in Christendom, to see if your accounts be ready, and what order the flocks are in: with a few lines of good news to the several flocks. ness of feet and hands? So that they cannot walk upright in the just man's path, which is a shining light, but stumble at it; nor can they handle the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God; by which they should war against the man of sin, and break down his strong holds. ought to do, that none be wanting? Or have you neglected this duty also, save at fleecing times; like the hireling, who cares not for the flocks, but for the fleece? Have you endeavoured to keep the flocks, over which you pretend to be overseers, marked with the Lamb's mark in their foreheads, that they And by drinking iniquity, sin and unclean- may be known to be his? For if they be not, ness, are not the flocks fallen into gross dis- but marked with another mark, will he not eases; that there is no health in them, and say, "Depart, I know ye not?" Have you become weak in the faith, wherein they should acquainted the flocks with the fold of peace resist the devil and overcome him: and have and safety, and with the way to come into it lost their taste, smell and savour in the things gently, and to rest in meekness and quietof God; so that everything that is seasoned ness? Or have you not been negligent, and with his spirit and power, becomes loathsome let them grow wild, as the wild goats upon to their taste, by reason of disease, wanting the mountains, and as bullocks unaccustomed salt in themselves, by which they should be to the yoke, or as heifers snuffing up the the savour of a sweet smelling sacrifice to God, and be able to season the earth? And through want of it, is not the earth corrupt, and the creation burdened? Doth it not groan, and wait to be delivered from that bondage? wind? Have you not left the office of a shepherd, and are not many of you turned hunters, who hunt the Lord's little flock, which he hath gathered by his power into his spirit, and put under the hand of the true Shepherd, who feeds them in due season? Do you not hunt them as a partridge, and make it your game and sport to spoil and destroy them, as the flock of your prey, and prepare your tongues like bows, and your words like arrows, to destroy and cut them off, whom you know by the Shepherd's mark, from all the flocks in Christendom, so called? What have you in your flocks to offer to the Lord, that may find acceptance with him? Will he accept of the unclean, the sick, lame or blind? Must not the church, that is presented to God, be without spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing? Nothing that is unclean can enter into his kingdom. Have you looked carefully to your several flocks, to keep them from the spots of the world? Or are they not run over with a scab, as with a leprosy? And have Do you not sound the horn of envy and you not played the lazy shepherds, to look no persecution, to awaken and stir up all of like better to the flocks? Or the empirics who mind with you, to hunt and spoil the Lord's have said, you have the care and cure of little flock, as though they were not worthy to souls, and are the physicians; and yet let feed and live upon the earth, with the rest of your flocks fall into such gross diseases and the flocks; or as if the earth were yours, and uncleanness? Are not you the careless shep- not the Lord's; and that he might not have herds, and physicians of no value? Would a flock upon earth, as well as you, or as not you blame and be angry with the herdsmen of your flocks, and require your flocks at their hands, or throw them into prison till they made satisfaction, if they dealt so badly with you, concerning your flocks and herds? And will not the Lord do so by you? Is it not just and equal, that he require the flocks at your hands? For you have been well paid for looking to them, as you very well know, and the nations can witness. Have you kept one certain voice, as the good Shepherd doth, that the sheep might hear his voice and come together, and not stray and fall into pits? Or have not your voices been variable as the wind, giving an uncertain sound? And your flocks not finding a certain voice among you, are scattered into sects and parties, pushing one another into the pit and mire, instead of helping out of it. Again, have you been careful to count the flocks morning and evening, as shepherds though he had no right, but all were yours? Think you that the Lord seeth not this, and will it not kindle his wrath, and hasten him to call you to an account, and reward you ac cording to your works? May not he justly hunt you, who have been the chief hunters of his flock, and prepare his bow and arrows against you, and mark you out, and make you a hissing, and a by-word to the nations? Is it not just for him to take the flocks from you, who have been careless, and neglected your service and duty; and now will not let his flock be quiet, but rend and tear them? Is it not justice and equity for him to rend the flocks from you, who will not suffer them to receive the law at his mouth, whom he hath ordained a priest for ever, and whose lips preserve knowledge? Will not the just principle in you answer to his justice, when it comes upon you to take the flocks, and lay you aside, and put them under the hand of his Son, Christ Jesus, the good Shepherd; who will bring them to the venly ordinances in the church, baptizing into fresh pastures of life, and feed them in due one spirit and into the one faith, that works by season, and cause them to hear his voice, and love and purifies the heart, giving a white to know it, and to come to his fold and lie stone, and in it a new name, and feeding them down in it in quietness, meekness and pa- with the sincere milk of the word. He fills tience, where none shall make them afraid, the priest's office in the church of the Firstpreserving from the storm and from the heat. born, preparing the altar and spreading the He will bring them to the well of clean water table with fine white linen, which is his righteand fountain of living mercies, and cause ousness; and prepares the bread for his them to wash and be clean, and to drink and church, and fills their cup with the new wine, be refreshed, that they may no longer be bar- that they may all drink of the cup of blessren in fruits of holiness, but bring forth to ings, which is the communion of his blood; God's glory; and anoint their eyes with eye- and may all eat of the one bread, which is the salve, and open their blind eyes. Then they communion of his body, and his body is bread will see you to be blind guides, and bless the indeed, and his blood is drink indeed. This Lord who redeems them from you. He also is that which gives life; and without it they will give them precious ointment, even the cannot have life; and this is free without movirtue that goes out of Him, the good Physi-ney, wherewith the Lord's table is furnished, cian, that will cure their spots and leprosy, and he is inviting the people and gathering which ran over them whilst under your hands, the nations to it, from your costly tables; for and will purge their corruptions, and cure the you have sold them bread, wine and water at diseases of sin, by which death hath had do- a dear rate. But he will freely feed them minion. He will give them saving health, heal with all things necessary, as an household of their backslidings, and open the mysteries one faith, and as one family. Christ Jesus, of his kingdom to them; circumcising their who is greater than Solomon, their Lord and hearts and ears, and causing them to un- Master, shall govern them, setting up and rederstand those secrets which are hidden from newing family duties among them, to stand on the wisdom of this world, and bring them out their watch, to resist every appearance of evil, of the many ways, into the one way, Christ and to pray with the spirit and with the unJesus the way to God; and out of the many derstanding, and to sing with the spirit and sects, divisions and parties, which they are with the understanding also. And he shall fallen into, and have been entangled with, in rule, whose right it is, and the government is the cloudy and dark day that hath been over upon his shoulder, whose kingdom is everlastthem, whilst under your hands. He will set ing, and of his government there shall be no His name and his Father's name upon them, end. The Lord will do this, to reform the and give them the seal of the new covenant, nations, and bring them to uniformity and true that they may know and be known that they conformity in his dear Son. are his, whom he hath purchased with his precious blood, and redeemed, searched and sought out; and as a good Shepherd, who neither sleeps nor slumbers, He will bring WILLIAM EDMUNDSON. Jamaica, the 24th of the them to the mountain of the house of the God Part of a Letter written by William Edmundof Jacob, and teach them of his ways, and watch over them. He will work a reformation in the nations, and bring them to the one true church, which is in God, founded and built upon the sure foundation that God hath laid as by the hand of a wise workman, into the fellowship of the one body, whereof Christ Jesus is the head; who supplies the whole body with all things needful to build them up in their most precious faith, which gives them victory over the man of sin, and renews into the true worship of God, in spirit and in truth, and a true conformity thereto, by his law of the spirit written in the heart. There Christ is Priest according to the appointment of the Father, Minister and Bishop of the soul, who ministers life, peace and comfort unto them, and renews his holy and hea son, at Barbadoes, to Friends in Ireland; dated the 8th of the First month, 1675. My love is to all dear Friends. It is not distance or length of time, tribulations or peril by sea or land, though many, that can make me unmindful of you; for you are sealed in my heart in an everlasting remembrance of true and unfeigned love, in the holy Spirit and covenant of the Father's love, where our unity stands with the Father and his dear Son, and one with another. My earnest desires are to the Lord, that in it you may all be kept faithful to the Lord in all things, without spot or blemish; and that truth may be loved and preferred before all, in you all, and by you all in all things. Though it be my lot to be as one separated from that, which may be as dear and near to me as other men, and as one cast out from above three hundred men, six or seven capthe enjoyment of wife, children, or other bene-tains slain, and many officers. They of Bosfits and comforts in this life, as the off-scour ton have sent out fresh men, and it is supposed ing and forsaken, liable to good report or evil have fought again by this time. Great fears report, to be received or rejected, in plenty or surprize the people, and their hearts fail them, in want, liberty or bonds, safety or perils by that they want courage when they should look sea and land, life or death, to take my lot, as their enemies in the face. The guilt of the it may fall by night or day, in house or wil-blood of the innocent shed by them lies on derness, among friends or enemies, I must be them, and the Lord hath given them blood to content for the Gospel's sake; a dispensation drink. It is said, that several of their priests of it being given to me, and a necessity laid in Boston colony had a meeting to inquire of upon me to preach it; for which sake my the Lord, what the reason is that he is delife is not dear to me, so that I may finish parted from them, and goes not forth with the work committed to my trust, with joy, their armies; and their return is for many and in the end stand in my lot among the causes, but this the chief, viz: Suffering the justified. Quakers' meetings among them. Thus persecution makes men blind, that they run headlong to their own destruction; but many of the people are dissatisfied, and believe it is the killing and persecuting of the Quakers, that is the cause of their distress; and they are distracted and confused among themselves, with fears on every side, and great jealousies, that all the Indians in those parts of America will be in arms this next summer. Now my Friends, will not the consideration of what you enjoy, provoke you to love and good works, to be diligent in the Lord's business, and prefer it before all your own? For you are partakers with me of the same riches of God's love, which is to constrain us all to love him. Consider the benefits you enjoy, and let them be as obligations upon you, to serve the Lord and his truth in faithfulness in your places, and one another with fervent and unfeigned love, and not to slight matters where truth is concerned; but keep all things sweet and clean, appertaining to your pure religion, which in itself is unspotted. For you know that truth is pure, innocent and peaceable, and holiness becomes the house of God, who loves holiness, but hates uncleanness and will not dwell with the unclean. So dwell in the love of God, and in the peace of our Prince of Peace, and be at peace one with another, that the love of God in Christ may dwell in you, and abound among you. By this all my dear Friends may know, that I am very well and have had good service for the Lord in this island, and the Lord is with his testimony, and blesseth and prospers his work; many are convinced, and meetings so full that the meeting-houses cannot contain the people. Many of the blacks are convinced, and several of them confess to truth, and things here are peaceable, and in as good order as can well be expected at present. James Fletcher and companion came here about a month after me, and this day took shipping for the Leeward Islands, and intend to go to Bermudas, and so to New England. I am ready to leave this island the first opportunity for Rhode Island or New York, which I expect may be about two weeks hence. John Haydock landed here two days ago from New England, and is well, and that country is much distressed by the Indian wars. They had a sharp fight this winter, in which, they say, the English were beaten and lost It is likely to be troublesome and perilous travelling, but the Lord can preserve and deliver out of all, unto whose will I am given up, whether it be to suffer for his name, or to live or die for his truth, his will be done; and I hope my life will not be dear to me to part with, if he see it good; and I do not doubt but he will give me strength, in the inward man, to bear what the outward man may suffer for his glorious Gospel. These tidings do not affright or amaze me, for the glory of the recompense of reward to the faithful is before me, and doth out-balance all fears. Your prayers to the Lord on my behalf may help me in my various trials and exercises, who desire to be in your daily remembrance, even as you are in mine, never to be forgotten, for my spirit is with you, and the overflowing of the love of Christ in my heart dearly salutes you all; and as we live in this, we shall never die, but shall meet again, if not in this life, yet in the life to come. Finally, dear Friends, I cannot but put you all in mind, to walk as freemen in the truth, and in the liberty of the Gospel, and be not too careful, or too busy, or encumbered with the things of this life; but be ready for sufferings, which may attend that nation before many be aware, that we may all be ready, as Christ's freemen, to drink that cup which the Lord is pleased to put into our hands, for the trial of our faith, which is more precious than gold. My dear and true love is with you all, in the power of an endless life, wherein I am Your friend and brother, WILLIAM EDMUNDSON. |