temple), in it they are born again of the spirit. So Jerusalem that is above is the mother of them that are born of the spirit. And so they that come, and are come, to heavenly Jerusalem, are those that receive Christ (and he giveth them power to become the sons of God), and are born again of the spirit. So Jerusalem is their mother. And such do come to heavenly Mount Sion, and the innumerable company of angels, and to the spirits of just men made perfect: and are come to the church of the living God, written in heaven; and have the name of God, and the city of God, written upon them. So here is a new mother, that bringeth forth a heavenly and spiritual generation.

There is no schism, nor division, nor contention, nor strife, in heavenly Jerusalem, nor in the body of Christ; which is made up of living stones, a spiritual house. And Christ is not divided; for in him there is peace. Christ saith, "In me you have peace.' And he is from above, and not of this world. But in the world below, in the spirit of it, there is trouble. Therefore keep in Christ, and walk in him. Amen.

G. F. And Jerusalem was the mother of all the true christians before the apostasy. And since, the outward christians are broken into many sects, and they have gotten many mothers. But all they that are come out of the apostasy, by the power and spirit of Christ, Jerusalem that is above is their mother (and none below her), who doth nourish all her spiritual children.

Dear Friends,

G. F.

London, the 4th of the Fourth Month, 1691.

We being appointed by dear George Fox, and the Yearly Meeting, to consider of a method for the printing his books, papers, epistles, and manuscripts, desire you will make search in your Quarterly and Monthly Meeting Books, and among Friends, what books, papers, epistles, or manuscripts you have of his; and send up the titles and dates of them that are dated, and the first and last words or sentence of each book, paper, or manuscript; that we may the better distinguish one from another, of all books, papers, or manuscripts, written or printed.

So not doubting your care and diligence herein, with our dear loves, we rest, your Friends and brethren.

John Whitehead,

Benjamin Antrobus,

Thomas Lower,

Thomas Ellwood,

John Field.

EPISTLE XV-1692.

Dear and Faithful Friends and Brethren,

We salute you in the Lord with very dear and tender love, which lives in our hearts towards you all, and God's whole heritage; which we earnestly desire the prosperity of, in that pure life, love, peace, and concord in Christ Jesus, which will endure; being truly comforted and refreshed, as heretofore, to hear of truth's prosperity, and the Lord's work going forward, and of the faithfulness and love that is among Friends in this and other nations of the world. And we have great cause still to bless the name of our God, for his preserving and supporting us by his power to this day; and for that blessed immediate sense thereof, and reviving and comforting of many thereby, in our solemn assemblies at this time.

The most material things of concern agreed upon, as desired by this meeting, and many faithful Friends and brethren, we do hereby faithfully recommend to your godly care and observation, as heretofore.

Being sensible how incident youth is to be corrupted, and how liable to corrupt and hurt one another by evil example and liberty, it is earnestly requested, that all parents among Friends take all godly and christian care in the education of their children,and be good examples to them, and not to allow them in any thing that may gratify a vain mind, in immodest apparel, or foolish garbs, or other extravagancies, tending to their hurt, and reproach of our holy profession, and incurring God's displeasure and judgment, which stands against the pride of life and haughtiness: but sincerely to use their best endeavours to train them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, in sobriety, modesty, and plainness in apparel, language and conversation, as becometh our holy profession and christian religion.

And that Friends be careful and diligent to keep up their ancient christian testimony against the oppression of tithes: for the more faithful and unanimous Friends are therein, we are really persuaded the Lord will the sooner make way for our ease and deliverance from that burden. And Friends to be careful to record all the sufferings in that and other cases for the truth: for we understand that Friends' sufferings do increase in divers places; we having now account of one hundred and eleven prisoners, chiefly for non-payment of tithes, besides nine prisoners deceased since last Yearly Meeting.

And to prevent reproach and division in the cases following, it is advised and earnestly desired, that the payment of just debts be not delayed by any professing truth beyond the time promised and agreed upon: nor occasion given of complaint to those they deal with, by their backwardness of payment where no time is limited nor any to overcharge themselves with too much trading and commerce beyond their capacities to discharge a good conscience towards all men: and that all Friends concerned be very careful not to contract extravagant debts, to the endangering the wronging others and their families; which some have done, to the grieving the hearts of the upright: nor to break their promises, contracts, or agreements, in their buying and selling (or in any other lawful affairs), to the injuring themselves and others, occasioning strife, contention, and reproach to truth and Friends. And it is advised that all Friends that are entering into trade, or that are in trade, and have not stocks sufficient of their own to answer the trade they aim at, be very cautious of running themselves into debt, without advising with some of their ancient and experienced Friends among whom they live; and more especially such trading as hath its dependance upon sea adventures.

And that in all cases of controversy and difference, the persons concerned therein either speedily compose the difference between themselves, or make choice of some faithful unconcerned Friends to determine the same, and they to stand to their determination or otherwise, if they cannot agree upon the choice, to submit to the Monthly Meeting's choice of certain persons meet to inspect and determine the controversy, and to stand to their award and final determination thereof; that such controversies may not be continued to cause a stink and reproach; for they are a great shame and scandal.

And that care be taken for the speedy ending of all controversies and differences among Friends; and all Friends to take heed of being parties with one or another for the prolonging thereof. And such persons as refuse to submit to truth's order, or to hear the church of Christ, are to be disowned and testified against, according to Christ's doctrine on that behalf.

And all Friends and brethren to be careful and watchful against all whisperings, backbitings, and tale-carrying, to the defaming of Friends or others, and to put a speedy stop thereto; and pass righteous judgment upon all whisperers and backbiters, who appear instruments of division and offences, contrary to that peaceable truth and gospel we profess.

And that where any have received offence from any other, first

to speak privately to the party concerned, and endeavour reconciliation between themselves; and not to whisper or aggravate matters against them behind their backs, to the making parties, and the breach wider.

And concerning Friends' marriages, with respect to the usual, due, orderly and commendable proceedings therein (being a matter of very great and weighty concern to the whole body of Friends in general, as well as in particular, for which we have been and are yet liable to be called to an account by the government, there having been several great endeavours to provide a severe law against clandestine marriages, not yet brought to an issue, and great care among Friends to vindicate our method to authority, that nothing might be enacted to affect Friends in that case to their injury or suffering), we therefore advise, that all such as profess the truth among Friends, do publish their intentions of marriage at two sundry Monthly Meetings at least, or at two sundry Two-weeks Meetings, in such places where they are settled, before they solemnize the same; that convenient time may be allowed Friends concerned, for inquiry and satisfaction concerning the consent of parents and guardians, and their clearness from all scandal and pre-contracts; that Friends may own and stand by their proceedings before the government, and all in authority; which otherwise they cannot, if they proceed not in the due and orderly publication and method of truth settled among Friends; it being a matter greatly inquired into, truly warrantable, and to be stood by.

And we signify to you, that though great endeavours have been used for Friends' relief from the burthen of the imposition of oaths, which a large progress has been made in, and yet hitherto disappointed of the good ends of Friends' endeavours; howbeit, there is so much preparation and way made already for farther endeavours for Friends' relief in that case, that this meeting has consented and agreed that when the Lord is pleased to open a way for Friends' ease and relief in that case, further endeavours may be used to obtain it; and the Meeting for Sufferings here is to take care therein.

And this meeting was well satisfied and very glad in the sense they had of the, innocency and peaceableness of the body of our Friends in general, towards the civil government under which we live, and enjoy our present liberty in the peaceable exercise of our tender consciences towards Almighty God; to whom we are humbly thankful for the same; being obliged to demean ourselves not only as a grateful people, but, as a christian society, to live peaceably and inoffensively under the present government,

as we have always done under the various revolutions of governments ever since we were a people, according to our ancient christian principle and practice; in which we hope we shall ever persevere to the end of our days, according as we are injoined by our peaceable Saviour Christ Jesus, and the christian advice of his faithful servants and ministers among us; we being a people clear in the sight of God from all evil designs, plots and conspiracies whatsoever; and hope in God that we shall continue a people always quiet in the land, having nothing but love and goodwill to all men. For which end we earnestly desire and hope that a christian care may not be wanting among you, for the preservation of our whole society in that innocent life and peaceable conversation, which is agreeable to our christian principle and profession; wherein we have from the beginning found our safety and peace with God, and him to be our defence; being fully persuaded, that this our ancient christian testimony (publicly owned among us) none can gainsay, nor any faithful Friends to God or Christ can ever decline it; being assured that our God will in his own due time remove all offences and causeless jealousies and reproaches, tending to cloud our innocency, and will set his own power, and the peaceable kingdom of his dear Son, over all.

We further intimate to you, that we had at this our Yearly Meeting divers seasonable and tender epistles from our Friends in foreign and remote parts of the world, beyond the seas; as Barbadoes, Jamaica, Maryland, West-Jersey, Bermudas, and also from Scotland, intimating the progress and prosperity of truth, and God's love to Friends in those parts. And also

An epistle from Amsterdam, signifying the prosperity of truth in those parts; and that at Dantzick there are now no prisoners; and that the Duke of Holstein has put forth a declaration for liberty of conscience; and also that they have received what was last year sent them, for the relief of Dantzick Friends; and that they still stand in need to be supplied by Friends; which care is taken to answer accordingly. They desire to have some epis tles from Friends here, which would be very acceptable to them. One of them, Nicholas Rust, a faithful Friend of Dantzick, who has been a great sufferer there, being now at liberty, is come over to visit Friends here; who, though he understands not our language, yet is sensible of and refreshed in Friends' love and tenderness towards him.

Several letters from Friends who still remain in their long and sore captivity in Mequinez, to divers Friends here, were read; intimating the state of things with them, and that they received our epistles from our last Yearly Meeting; and acknowledged