Let your rejoicing be in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which ye are crucified unto the world, and the world unto you; ye lambs of my Father's fold, with whom I lie down and am safe, even in the endless rest. Oh rejoice, ye who are freely given up to follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth, in this the day of trial; "wherein he will thoroughly purge his floor, and gather the wheat into his garner, and burn the chaff with unquenchable fire." In which day the wolf is seeking to worry you, and the ravenous beasts to make a prey of you; and wherein the spoiler may be suffered to take away that which you enjoy as to the outward; yet again I say unto you, rejoice; as one whom the Lord hath made sensible of your state, as being a member of the same body, for the stirring up of the pure mind in you, that you may be more sensible of his love in your trial, and that you may answer the same by pure obedience: Praise and magnify the God of your salvation, by walking in obedience to what he requires of you, or suffers to come upon you, for the trial of your faith, who are as those having nothing yet enjoying all things to the praise of the Lord. Yea, truly, my Friends, this can I say to your comfort, that in whatever ye suffer freely and willingly, for holding the testimony of Jesus in righteousness, you shall receive an hundred fold in this world, though it cannot be beheld with an outward eye, and in that which is to come, everlasting life.

Blessed are your eyes that see, and your ears that hear, and your hearts that understand the things of God aright, for you shall hear and receive the things that belong to your peace. Yea, as you diligently hearken to that still small voice in you, which is the voice of the true Shepherd, who calleth the sheep of his pasture into his fold, who know his voice, and the voice of a stranger they will not follow. As you keep close unto this, which leadeth into the low valleys, where fat pasture is, you shall receive strength, whereby you will be enabled to stand in and go through the greatest trials, and leap over the highest mountain that shall arise in your way. So shall you finish your testimony for the Lord, and his pure way of truth and righteousness, in the faith of Jesus Christ, in which you did begin; which is to make a blessed and happy end and finishing; for such as continue and persevere unto the end, in all faithfulness, shall be saved. Unto which the Lord preserve you all, bold and valiant, and faithful for the truth, while yet upon the earth,

FOR FRIENDS OF PARDSAY-MEETING, OR ELSE-
WHERE IN CUMBERLAND; ΤΟ BE READ
AMONG THEM, IN THE FEAR OF THE LORD.
Dear Friends,

THE foundation of God standeth sure, and they whose building is thereupon, dwell in safety, where the enemy cannot come. Dear Friends, keep the watch, that nothing may have any entrance into your hearts, but the beloved of your souls, whose love hath been so prevalent with you, that by it a willingness hath been wrought in you to part with all for his sake. Oh! therefore, press on towards the recompense of reward, always following him, so that you may feel sweet peace with him in your bosoms; for behold he cometh quickly and his reward is with him; who can deliver, both out of the fire, and out of the water.

Let none think it strange concerning the fiery trial, in which the Lord hath seen it good to try you, among the rest of his people, as though some strange thing had happened; but all be faithful to the Lord unto death, and you shall receive a crown of life. It is not they that have begun well, and sit down by the way, who receive this recompense of reward; but they who in faithfulness continue unto the end, who know the saving health of Israel, and are cured of all their infirmities.

Let none suffer that to have place in your hearts, which would say, Why is it thus? or why hath the Lord suffered it thus to come to pass? But all keep the faith and hold fast your integrity, and be steadfast in your minds, for ere the day be over, the trial must be greater, before the dross be separated from the pure gold; for the Lord our God is about to work a thorough work in the earth, to make you clean vessels for his use, by which he will get himself honour and make you shine who are faithful.

Blessed and happy are all you, my dear Friends, who honour God in your generation; and woe to them who dishonour him in their lives and conversations, who would seem to honour God with their mouths and lips, and yet their hearts are far from him, in the earth. And all that are given to tattling, and talebearing, and of a whispering spirit, and busy mind, are for judgment; and in what bottle soever these things are retained, it will burst, and must be broken to pieces.

Therefore, watch against every appearance of evil, both within and without, with an eye for good, over one another; that where there is an evil eye, it may be plucked out; and so Is the breathing and travail of my soul, in ten- the eye being single, the whole body will be der love to the Seed of God in all. filled with light, by which the darkness comes to be expelled. And they whose abiding and

JOHN BANKS.

only counted you worthy to believe in his name and truth, but to suffer for him; Oh suffer joyfully the spoiling of your goods: wife, or husband, whoever it be, part with and freely give up each other, whether to a prison, or the spoiling of goods, or to be spoken all manner of evil against. The servant is not

dwelling place is here, know that it is a pleasant thing to dwell together in unity. "It is like the ointment that was poured upon Aaron's head, which ran down his beard, to the skirts of his garment; yea, as the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Sion; for there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life for ever-greater than his Lord; as they have done unto more."

Dear brethren, dwell together in unity, that this blessing may be witnessed among you, even life for evermore. And that this everlasting dew may be felt to be distilled among you, that so you may all be members of that body that is fitly framed together by joints and bands, which the Lord God hath prepared to do his will.

me, saith Christ, so will they do unto you; who suffered even unto the death upon the cross, through the counsel of the chief priests, scribes, pharisees, and hard-hearted Jews.

Dear Friends, consider the everlasting love of God unto you, who spared not his only Son for your sake, that by him, to wit, by his death and suffering, you might be redeemed out of your miserable state, and lost and undone condition. By this love, the Lord your God hath wrought a willingness in your

more; that so in a true sense of the same, you may be preserved, to the tendering of your spirits in true unity and fellowship with him and one with another. In a blessed inward feeling of that love, life, and heavenly unity which are at this time in my heart, I take my leave of you; and breathe unto the Lord, that we may all be preserved unto the end.

And all my dear Friends, in the Lord Jesus Christ, who have kept your garments unspotted of the world, and who have borne a faith-hearts; and oh! that he may work more and ful testimony for him in this trying day and perilous time, peace be unto you: the love of God fill your hearts, and his living unity tie you together for evermore; with whom I am truly bound up, in that bundle of love and life that can never be broken. Surely my soul loves you, and I am truly one with you, in that love and unity, of which length of time, distance of place, and wide seas can make no breach or separation. Oh! be you all encouraged to follow the Captain of your salvation, who hitherto hath before gone and you pleaded your cause with your enemies, both within and without. Surely you have good experience how he hath spread his banner over you, which is love; which unto you hath been as a covering from the heat, and a hidingplace from the tempest and the storm. Yea, it is even so, for there never hath been any weapon yet formed against you which hath prospered, as you have stood in his pure counsel.

Therefore, whatsoever the Lord may yet suffer to come to pass for the further trial of your faith, fear not, ye little flock, for it is his good pleasure to give you the kingdom. And though the waves toss themselves, yet need you not be troubled, for he that delivered Daniel out of the lion's den, and Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, out of the fiery furnace, is the same as ever he was. "I am the Lord, I change not, therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed," but preserved, and that to his praise and glory, even all who are of that seed and offspring. And blessed are all you that suffer for truth and righteousness sake, who count nothing too hard, too near, or too dear to be parted with, for this righteous cause of your God; great is your reward in heaven, even life everlasting, world without end. And as the Lord your God, hath not

Your brother in the living truth, that changeth not.

From Malloe in the county of Cork,
in Ireland, the 19th day of the
Sixth month, 1671.

JOHN BANKS.

WHICH ARE

THE TESTIMONY OF TRUTH, AGAINST ALL
THE CUSTOMS, FASHIONS, WAYS, WORDS,
WORSHIPS, CARRIAGES AND BEHAVIOURS
THAT BE IN THE WORLD,
OUT OF THE TRUTH;
With an exhortation and warning to all that pro-
fess the truth, and come amongst God's people,
and yet are found in the said customs, fashions,
ways, words, &c., and plead for them.
people of God, in scorn called Quakers do
deny and have no fellowship with such unfruit-
ful works of darkness, but rather reprove
them, because the testimony of truth is against
them.

The

FASHION not yourselves like unto the world, for the world passeth away, and the glory of it as the flower of the field; and the world by wisdom knows not God, nor the things of his kingdom, for its wisdom is from below, which leads and draws down into the beggarly eleThe carnal-minded ments and rudiments. man knows not the things of God nor his kingdom, even those things that belong to the soul's peace; for they are foolishness to him,

in

proud antic fashions; which is the cause why their ways are crooked and unclean.

ness.

because they are spiritually discerned. The
carnal mind and wisdom lead out into carnal,
visible things, to feed on the husks among the The way of the people of God, whom he
swine; for without are dogs, sorcerers, &c; hath redeemed out of the world, is but one
and that spirit which rules in the hearts of straight and pure way, in which they follow
the children of disobedience, leads into divers the Lamb in the regeneration, who leads them
lusts, pleasures, customs, fashions, idle talk-out of all uncleanness, into purity and holi-
ing, foolish jesting, lying, swearing, pride,
and drunkenness. Such discern not the Lord's
body, but crucify him, and say, as some did
of old, they will not have this man, even
Christ, to rule over them; because by his
light, he reproves them for their evil deeds. So
they crucify the Son of God afresh and put
him to open shame, by sinning against him.
And in such, who bring forth these fruits, the
just suffers by the unjust.

The words of the people of the world, are many, needless, and unsavoury.

But the words of God's people are few and savoury.

The worship of the people of the world, who deny the true light, is in darkness, and their prayer therein is not heard, nor answered; for in praying, they cry, Lord forgive us our sins; and yet they do not believe they can be freed from them; and the people they preach to, live in their sins and so are never the better.

For these are the fruits of the flesh, and of those who preach and teach for doctrines the precepts of men, and are found in the many inventions; in outward washings, eating and The worship of the people of God is in drinking, under a pretence that God requires Spirit and truth; they pray with the Spirit these things at their hands; when as he saith, and with the understanding, and their prayers "Who hath required these things at your hands?" he hears, and answers; they preach, being These things do not so much as make clean sent of God, and so profit the people; and the outside; and so are far from making or such receive the end of their hope, the salvakeeping the heart or conscience clean, or void tion of their souls, by Jesus Christ the righteof offence towards God. All such ways, wor-ous. ships, customs and fashions, truth's testimony And now unto you who profess the truth, is against; for these things are practised and assemble amongst God's people, and yet amongst them who say they are erred and are not in reality what you should be, either strayed from the way of God, like lost sheep; in your words or practice, in many things; mitted and so upon good ground God's people dissent but are loose and unfaithful; in love to your souls, this is written as a faithful warning, being the testimony of truth.

H

from them.

The practice of the world, is to change from fashion to fashion, in pride of apparel, meats and drinks, to see who can exceed each other in pride and high-mindedness; to the end, their eyes and minds may look out, one after another.

The practice of those who truly fear the Lord, is to be plain and decent in their apparel, not given to change, as they of the world are, nor to wear anything but what becomes the truth, and may tend to adorn the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Where God hath endowed with much, they are not to be extreme because of that; nor they who are endowed but with little, to strive to set out the fleshly part beyond their ability; for both in rich and poor, this is to cause the eye to look out, and the mind to wander. But the people of God strive who can exceed each other in good example; both in meat, drink, and apparel, only using what is decent and comely; to the end every eye may be turned inward, and all learn to be lowly minded.

Take heed both old and young, who are fashioning yourselves according to the world in extremes, beyond the bounds of truth, either in your apparel, words, carriage, or behaviour. What! cannot you set the people of the world an example according to truth, and if they will not come to that, never go you to join with, embrace or follow their vain and antic fashions.

And you that are old men and women, both as to convincement and years, set a watch in the fear of God against hastiness, rashness, peevishness, and crossness of spirit, for this is an ill example to your children, and to such who are young and weak in the truth. But be ye grave and temperate, as nursing fathers and mothers; and set a watch before your lips, that you may not offend with your tongue.

And both old and young, who make a profession of the truth, take heed that you do not utter unsavoury words in your communications, and using the name of Lord and God in The ways of the world are many, crooked your common talk, as is the manner and cusand unclean; and they run to and fro in lying, tom of the people of the world. This is swearing, and drunkenness; idle, vain, need-taking the name of God in vain, and such he less, unsavoury words; vain customs, and will not hold guiltless. It is evil communica

tion that corrupts good manners. "Ye are the salt of the earth," said Christ Jesus to his disciples, "but if the salt hath lost its savour, it is good for nothing, but to be cast out and trodden under foot of men." Wherefore have salt in yourselves. Friends, you know that from the time you were first convinced, the truth would not allow nor admit of any of those things above; and it is the same now as ever; therefore consider from what root it is these things arise, for they are all out of the truth and disowned by the children of light; and the testimony of truth is against them.

You who are parents of children, train them up in the fear of the Lord, as becomes the truth, and give no liberty to them, nor indulge them in word or action, that is contrary to the truth of God. Teach them the plain language of thee and thou, to every single person; and to name the days of the week, and months in the year, according to the testimony of the holy Scripture; for this is according to truth; and not, as the people of the world do, after the names of the heathen's gods. And beware, both old and young, of taking liberty, and presuming to do such things as you call little faults, until greater evils break out; for then will shame come openly to such, and God's truth and people

suffer.

And let none join with the people of the world, in their customs of marriages, feastings, or set drinkings, sports, pleasures, or vain >shows whatsoever; but take heed unto the light of the Lord Jesus Christ, which makes manifest all things that are reprovable and for condemnation.

of the world, in their vain, loose discourse, in their communications. This is the inlet of many evils; for we cannot join with the spirit of the world, that leads into vanity and excess, without there is first a going from the Spirit of Truth in ourselves, for light hath no fellowship with darkness. Hence when the mind is gone from the pure light and all-sufficient grace, the eye is abroad after many things, which should be inward to the Lord; and so that eye and mind being too much one with the world, such begin to spy out which is the newest and finest cut and fashion, and the minds of such are restless until they have it; being gone from the truth in themselves, in which is the true rest and peace.

And yet you would be owned and called Friends: "You are my friends," said Christ, "if ye do whatsoever I command you." And he says, "Learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart." His grace teaches not to be proud, or high-minded, for that is the enemy's work, and the spirit of the world joins with it, but not the Spirit of Truth.

But some are friends to the world, and enemies to God; so consider whether you are friends of Christ, or of the world; for according to the blessed apostle Paul, "Be not deceived, God is not mocked, such as you sow, such must you reap; they that sow to the flesh, shall of the flesh reap corruption, but they that sow to the Spirit, shall of the Spirit' reap life everlasting."

Now it is plain and clear to every one who knows what it is to have their eye in their Head, (which is Christ) that they who follow and join with the world, in their needless and extravagant fashions, sow to the flesh, and the wrong spirit; for some of which the prophet Isaiah, in chap. 3d, from ver. 16th to the end of it, reproves the haughty carriage and behaviour of the daughters of Zion.

Beware all you who profess the blessed truth, of being overcome with strong drink, or other liquors, for by such the truth will suffer great reproach. Take heed of idle talking, foolish jesting, or fair speeches, for Wherefore I say unto you, away with your pleasing your relations in the flesh, for an round tire, like the moon, (as said the prophet) earthly end, more than the truth will allow of, and setting your dresses high above your that is a deceitful thing; neither be ye found brows with your powdered hair; but adorn back-biters, tattlers, nor tale-bearers, to stir up yourselves in modest apparel, with shamestrife, or busy bodies in other men and wo-facedness and sobriety, not with broidered men's matters. hair, or with gold or pearls, or costly array,

Be watchful in the fear of God, and care-but, which becometh women professing godlifully mind and obey his teaching grace, and ness, with good works, as said the apostle holy Spirit; the Spirit of Truth that leadeth Paul, 1 Tim. ii. ver. 9, 10. And for further into all truth. And as this is kept to, we can-proofs, read Jer. x. 2, 3. 1 Cor. vii. 31. not in conscience join with the people and 1 Pet. i. 14. and Ch. iii. ver. 3, 4, 5. and there spirit of the world, for that spirit leadeth out you may see how many fashions the apostles. of the truth, into the broad way which name. leads to destruction. So all who in any measure have known your garments washed and made clean, from the pollutions of the world, have a care that they be not spotted and defiled again, by being familiar with the people

The fashions too many of you are found in the practice of, had you not your example from the people of the world, and were taught by the spirit of it to uphold and plead for them, and not from those who truly fear and