them to tremble, whereby good desires are begotten and the query raised, What shall we do to be saved; though before they have been persecutors and afflictors of God's people. They whose care it is thus to walk and show forth a godly conversation and example in doing or suffering, so as to reach to the witness of God in people's consciences, though in the inner prison, as Paul and Silas were, have not only cause to bless and praise the holy name of God, for accompanying them by the angel of his presence, but also to sing and make melody unto him in their hearts.

Dear Friends and suffering brethren, though the Lord our God see it good to try your faith and patience, to see how you will trust in him, in the hour of temptation and time of trial, and men are permitted to take your goods, and also separate you from your nearest relations, your dear wives and tender children, and put you in prison; yet this is your joy and comfort, being sensible of the cause wherefore you suffer, and that man with all his power and rage, cannot separate you from the pure enjoyment of the presence of the Lord; but it reaches unto his dear suffering lambs, though in a dungeon. If it were not so, we were most miserable; but now above all people we are blessed and happy; blessed and praised, and magnified for evermore be the holy name, and great power of our God, by which he doth carry through all his faithful children and people; for he is for ever worthy of all praise, honour and glory: unto him alone be it given, both now and for evermore, Amen.

and faithful testimony, whether in doing or suffering, in body or goods, may be borne unto the truth, and for God, and his pure holy worship, and against all oppression and unrighteousness, that the same may be left upon record to after ages as a confirmation to their faith, and may tend to their encouragement; as the example of those faithful witnesses who have already finished their course in the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, and are gone to their rest, doth greatly tend to strengthen the faith, and encourage those who are now travelling in the same way.

In that same love, pure life, and true tenderness, into which at first you were begotten, and raised to bear a faithful testimony for the Lord, his truth and glory, though but in little things, when nothing was too near or dear for you to part with, may you all persevere; that He who was known to be the first, may carefully be kept unto, and be known to be the last; the Alpha, and the Omega; the begin ning and the ending; the same to-day, yesterday, and for ever; who is from everlasting, to everlasting; that so the crown of life and immortal glory may be set upon your heads, which is laid up in store for all who in faithfulness continue unto the end: Unto which, the Lord God of life, by and through the greatness of his own power, preserve you all faithful in life, and unto death, Amen.

JOHN BANKS.

From my prison-house, in Carlisle, in
Cumberland, the 17th of the Fifth
month, 1684.

AN EXHORTATION TO FRIENDS, ETC.
Dear Friends,

MANY have been the mercies, privileges and deliverances, of which the Lord your God hath made you rich partakers, as you have stood faithful, ever since he gathered you out of the world, by an arm of mighty power stretched forth.

And first of all, let me put you in mind of his love and good-will towards you, in so calling and gathering you; and it hath been through his fatherly care over you, that you have been preserved until now. For ever prize the same, in all humility before Him, for he is worthy.

Dear Friends, put on courage and boldness, in the name, fear and power of the Most High, as an armour, faithfully to follow your Captain, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will never leave you nor forsake you, except you first leave him, who will lead through good and bad report, fire and water, and in every trouble and exercise, will be your preserver, who upholds all by his word and power. In faithfulness follow your Leader whithersoever he goes; for as you with diligence follow him, he will bring you forth in his own time; and happy are they that patiently wait till then; though in as great trial as ever any of his people suffered. Yet, if you be steadfast in the faith, he will bring you forth, and make And now, dear Friends, you know the good you more bright and pure, holy and clean; end of the Lord in calling and gathering you for the fiery trial makes so; concerning to be a people to himself, was not only, that which, as the apostle Peter said, "Think it not strange, concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: but rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy:" So a true

you should believe in his name, but that you should also suffer for truth and righteousness. And a great work the Lord hath wrought in you, and also for you, by his power and holy Spirit of Life, in order to prepare and furnish you, and give you strength, that you might run the race set before you, without weari

someness or fainting; where you meet within the time, when as to outward appearance, many conflicts by the enemy within, and deep you might have wept and mourned, because exercises, and hard trials without, so that the of your deep exercises, have not you even saying is fulfilled in you; Through many then been made to rejoice and give praises tribulations you must enter the kingdom: unto God, who did not only count you worAnd yet, notwithstanding the danger on every thy to believe in his name, but to suffer for hand, that caused fear and trembling some- truth and righteousness, and say with patient times; and notwithstanding the rod of the Job also, The Lord gives, and takes away, &c., wicked was laid heavy, and with sharp strokes or suffers it to come so to pass: blessed and upon you; yet through all, the Lord your praised be his holy name, and great power God, by the same power with which he gath- for evermore. ered you, and brought you through all these things, hath wrought your deliverance, and brought you to your desired haven.

And these the mercies, favours, and deliverances which you received from His hand, are never to be forgotten. Many times they were little expected, either inwardly, or outwardly; and in both respects, when your travel and exercise was great; when a little peace was given, and ease from burthens felt, how sweet and precious was this unto you; and how did it tend to humble you before the Lord, and lay you low before him, to the renewing of your fellowship and communion with him, and one with another.

Dear Friends, always keep these things in your remembrance, that like so many good householders, you may be found bringing forth out of the good treasure of your heart, things both new and old, and yet all sweet and savoury.

Oh Friends! let these things be had in remembrance by you, while you have a being. For how hath the Lord gone before you as a King and Captain, to lead you on, who have counted nothing too near nor dear to part with, that in faithfulness you might freely and fully follow him, as Caleb and Joshua did, notwithstanding the winds and tempests. And how hath he also followed you with his mercies, blessings and favours, when great spoil and havoc hath been made of your goods, and of what the earth brought forth and afforded you; yea, how hath the Lord caused these things to grow and increase again abundantly, so that you have had good cause to say, You have been blessed in basket and in store; and though some have had but little, yet having meat, drink, and clothing, let such therewith be content, for so we learn by the teachings of the grace of God, which is sufficient in all states and conditions.

O the inexpressible love and kindness of the Dear Friends, let these things come often Most High! in calling and gathering you, in under your consideration, when you lie down quickening and giving life unto you, by his and rise up, go forth and come in; so shall eternal spirit and power, and in causing his you feel your spirits wrought more and more heavenly light to shine out of the darkness, to into true tenderness and brokenness, to lay to give you to see your way out of the same; in heart what the Lord hath done since his heawhich waiting, you might witness life more venly day dawned. May not I say to such as and more. And great was his love and Fa- can read and understand, One hath chased a therly care, in feeding, refreshing, and nour-thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight: ishing you; causing his gracious showers to the work is the Lord's, the praise and glory fall upon you, his plantation, that the seed of thereof belongs unto him, to whom it is due, life and righteousness might grow in you, in both now and for evermore, Amen. freshness and tenderness.

And now, dear Friends, the Lord in his Oh, the love, mercy, and good-will of your kindness and good-will to you, after a long God unto you, who have stood faithful in your time of cruel sufferings, tribulations and deep testimony-bearing, for him and his pure truth: exercises, hath suffered a day of ease and liberIn the day of your trial, he hath borne up ty to come unto you, according to the desire of your heads, over all his and your enemies, your hearts; which was not to be expected as that you might not sink in the midst of trou- to outward appearance, which hath freed you bles; and hath filled your cups, and main-from your suffering condition, both in body tained your cause, and returned an hundred and goods, in many places. And although fold of joy and peace into your bosoms, even it doth not reach to free me from my bonds, when the body was in prison, and the goods yet the Lord knows, I am truly content with spoiled, and husband separated from wife, and wife from husband, sometimes unto death: hath not the Lord, in all these things, been as a husband unto the widow; and more to the wife, than she could either ask or think; and as a father unto the fatherless children; and

my condition, and no more weary than I was the first day I entered the same: and my heart is glad, and my soul rejoiceth, upon the account of what is extended unto many Friends.

One hour of such a day and time, once, by many, would have been greatly valued, when

prisons were full, houses and shops broken up, goods spoiled, and meetings greatly disquieted by wicked informers, and others; surely such a day as now is, or one hour of it, would have been greatly prized as a mercy from the Lord, and no doubt was much desired by many, and laboured for with much care and diligence by others.

And is the day and time now come and yet continued, how long, I shall leave to the Lord, of so large liberty and freedom as I need not to mention; and is it not prized by all as a great mercy, favour, and deliverance, seeing that many prison doors are set open, and the wife enjoys her husband again, and children their parents, and our meetings are continued unto us in a most peaceable manner: praises to God on high for ever. I say, is not this prized by all? I hope it is by many; and my desire is, it might be by all; for what a pity were it, that such a rich mercy should be undervalued by any, or not considered and prized according to the worth of it, or what it may produce, if made right use of.

But I fear, and have a godly jealousy, that there are some who are so inconsiderate and unmindful of the mercies of the Lord, that they rather requite him evil than good herein. Oh! let all take heed and beware, that because of the present time of liberty and ease, none may take more ease and liberty unto yourselves, in meeting, or out of meeting, than becomes those professing truth: No-no more ought you to take, than if it were a day of trial and deep exercise; for still you have an unwearied enemy to war with, that neglects no opportunity which may make for his purpose, by many temptations within and evil counsellors without.

And though it be not now a time for him and his, to rage and roar as though they would devour all at once, yet he will be creeping now in his cunning and subtlety more mysteriously and hiddenly to darken within, to hurt and hinder your growth in the truth, by presenting some delightful object without; and there is no way to have him discovered, nor to receive power against him, but by waiting and watching with diligence, and true fear, in the pure light of the Son of God. Therein power is received, whereby the power of darkness is trod down, and kept under; so that he will be known to rule and reign, whose right it is, who is God over all heaven and the whole earth, blessed for evermore.

It is the work of the prince and power of the air, that evil spirit, where it gets place and rules, to do what hurt it can amongst the tender plants of God, to hinder the work of God; as that rending spirit of separation in those that entertained it, hath used all its cunning

craftiness, by creeping in the dark, to hurt and spoil within, and so make breaches and separations without. For it is plain and evident, which may greatly tend to confirm all Friends against it, and to convince those that are of it, that this spirit and power, which pretends to be the Spirit of Truth and power of God, is not the Spirit of Truth nor the power of God; for though such be preachers, they never have been instrumental since they were joined with it, I am fully persuaded, to convince any of sin, or gather any out of the world. Their work has been, and still is, to deceive the simple, and the wise and rich, who love ease and pleasure more than God, his truth and people, and are got into a false liberty and looseness, because they love not to bear the cross, and live in self-denial; and because they who are of that spirit, like ease and liberty to the flesh and carnal mind. This present juncture of time might have served them to work in, but that they have already so far manifested what spirit they are of, to all whose eyes are open, by flying and hiding themselves in the time of persecution, and keeping Friends out of their meeting-houses. So that now they can do little more harm, though they creep here and there; for that serpentine-spirit hath shot its sting, and spent the greatest of its strength, so that any child of God now may tread upon it, without hurt or danger.

Dear Friends, how can it otherwise be, but all those things, rightly considered, shall greatly tend to confirm your faith against it, never any more to touch with it, nor them that are of it, and also open the eyes of others, taken as in a snare, to break the snare and come forth from them who are of that spirit, that such may be restored and healed: As many as have escaped, let them prize God's love therein for ever.

I say, they have never, since they received that spirit I have described, been instrumental to convince any of sin, or gather any out of the world to God; so it is plain such are none of his sending, nor preparing: no ministers of Christ, but of him that is opposite to Christ, speaking from a dark power and spirit which gathers into the darkness, out from the true light, where people cannot see the true way.

For the work of the true ministers of the everlasting Gospel is still to gather from darkness, into the true light and life, and so into the heavenly Man, who was before the power of darkness was, Christ Jesus the power of God, there to live, move, and have a being; where this earthly, separating, rending spirit cannot come, for it hath its power from below, out of the pit of darkness, where its habitation and dwelling-place is; out of which the

meek. It is such the Lord teacheth to prize and value every mercy and favour they receive from him.

Lord God of life, keep and preserve you all, rate me from the love of God that is in Christ my dear Friends, in your habitations of light, Jesus. So let all take heed, and keep low in there for evermore to live and dwell. the even way, the middle path, where no exLet all take heed and beware of the deceit-treme is, where you will be kept humble and fulness of the enemy's workings in the dark, who from the beginning still wrought man's misery by getting an entrance by his lies, contrary to the knowledge God gives by his light and grace. He undoubtedly will now persuade to fleshly ease, careless security, worldly-mindedness, to seek self and its inter-rare in such, as for a man and woman to

It is very rarely those prize liberty and ease to the worth thereof, who never knew bonds, trouble, and suffering: Yea, it is as

man.

Then was the day of weeping, and mourning, and trembling; then did the earth tremble at the presence of the Lord. The way of Sion's redemption being through judgment, love it still, and dwell in a sense of it to the end, and the enemy shall never prevail against you; dwelling in Him to whom all judgment is committed, both in heaven and in earth, in Christ, the light, the life, and the quickening spirit.

And all who make not use, of this day's the enmity, and of twain to make one new mercy for that end and purpose wherefore the Lord hath suffered it to come to pass, which is to engage and establish his faithful people, it will rise up in judgment against them. Brethren and sisters everywhere, all be awakened unto righteousness to serve the living God, as you ought to worship and serve him, which is with all your hearts, your might and your strength, and with all you have and do enjoy, which is the Lord's. The Lord God of Israel keep and preserve you faithful in serving Him and one another in love, for the increase of life and unity amongst you; is the supplication and travail of my soul unto the Lord on your behalf, into whose blessed and Fatherly protection I commit you all; to be kept where safety and preservation is for evermore.

A

Who am your friend and brother, in the living and precious truth, though a sufferer in outward bonds, for the testimony of Jesus, and of a good conscience.

From my prison-house, in Carlisle, in
Cumberland, the 8th day of the
Seventh month, 1687.

JOHN BANKS.

Dear Friends, in a sense of the tendering love of God, let me ask you, who delivered and saved you, who hath kept and preserved you until now? Surely you can say with my soul, the Lord alone by his own power and strength; which he hath never failed to show for those that trust in Him. Therefore trust therein, and keep thereto, unto the end, and you shall be eternally happy.

And as you have known the travail of your souls, in passing from death to life, and out of darkness into light, which is the path that the younger generation who are coming up must tread in, you can tell them by experience, for their encouragement, that the Lord will never leave them nor forsake them, if they follow OF him in the way of his judgments, which he GOD, BUT MORE PARTICULARLY, IN CUM-mixeth with mercy, and which must be owned

GENERAL EPISTLE ΤΟ THE FLOCK

BERLAND.

Dear Friends and Brethren, Look to the rock from whence ye were hewn, and to the hole of the pit from whence ye were digged; that is to say, never forget from whence you came, no more than to what degree you are attained; what you were when the Lord first visited you; and what you still are of yourselves, without the assistance of his power; hold this fast in your remembrance, and it will greatly tend to humble you, and keep you little and low in your own eyes, in true self-denial: so shall the Lord alone be exalted, and his glorious power extolled over all.

It was the Lord who visited us with the dayspring of his love from on high, by the shining forth of his glorious light, in a land of darkness, a country where there was a famine, not of bread nor water, but of the preaching of the Gospel; and brought us to a country, where light and life are, and that flows with milk and honey. Forget not the way of your soul's travel; and you that have not known it yet, must tread the same path, before you can come to be sharers with those who have so done; who have known what it was when they entered on their journey, or the beginning of the work, to drink a bitter cup, even the cup of judgment, to bring down and burn up all that was contrary; and as a sword to slay

and loved, to bring down self, and whatever I would exalt itself above the pure witness. You can tell them, that when your hands did hang down, and your knees smote one against another; so that sometimes your hearts were fearful whether they should ever be lifted up or strengthened again; yet having faith, and being taught by the grace of God to have patience also to wait the Lord's time, he has appeared to lift up the weak hands, and strengthen the feeble knees, and make the fearful heart strong by the might of his power.

Yea, the Lord hath often wrought your deliverance, and done wonderful things for you, beyond what you then could see, so that you have been ready to say, I hope I shall never meet with such exercises, trials and temptations as heretofore. Yet if anything of self was set up, to glory above what was meet, because of what the Lord had done for you; hath not the only wise God seen it good, after all this, to try and prove you again, both without and within, that you might be kept truly humble and low before him, always depending upon his power, and on nothing of your own. Hath he not seen meet to try your faith and patience, and for a time hath hid his face from you; and given you but little either of spiritual bread or water; insomuch, that because of your weakness and faintness, the enemy hath been very busy to tempt you to despair