God rule in their hearts; to which all christians should be subject. The practice of this should be among all that profess christianity; and this peace is above that which Christ takes from the earth. Rev. vi. which is the peace of the wicked. The apostle saith to christians, "Be at peace among yourselves." 1 Thess. v. All christians should obey this command, and be as peace among themselves; not in wars and strife. Further, the apostle exhorts christians to "keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace." So this unity this bond of peace should be kept (and not broken) by all that bear that noble name, christian. They should keep the unity of the spirit of Christ in the bond of the Prince of princes', King of kings', and Lord of lords' peace, which is the duty of all true christians. Herein they may honour Christ, in bringing forth the fruits of peace, which are love and charity. For the apostle tells you, “The fruits of the good spirit are love, joy, and peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness," &c. Gal. v. 'The apostle exhorts christians, "If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men." This should be the endeavour of all christians. For it is no honour to Christ, that christians should war and destroy one another, that profess the name of Christ, who saith, "He came to save men's lives, not to destroy them." Christians have enemies enough abroad without them, and therefore they should love one another, as Christ commands, who saith, "By this ye shall be known to be my disciples, if ye love one another." Christians are commanded to love enemies, much more one another. And Christ saith, "As the Father hath loved me, so I have loved you: continue ye in my love." John xv. 8. "By this shall all men khow that ye are my disciples, if ye love one another." John xiii. 35. But if christians war and destroy one another, this will make Jews, Turks, Tartars, and Heathens say, you are not disciples of Christ. Therefore, as you love God, and Christ, and christianity, and its peace, all make peace, as far as you have power among christians, that you may have the blessing. You read, christians were called the household of faith, the household of God, a holy nation, a peculiar people: and they are commanded to be "zealous for good works," not for bad. Christians are also commanded not to bite and devour one another, lest they be consumed one of another. Is it not a sad thing for christians to be biting and consuming one another in the sight of the Turks, Tartars, Jews, and Heathens, when they should "love one another, and do unto all men as they would have men do unto them?" such devouring work as this will open the mouths of Jews, Turks, Tartars, and Heathens to blaspheme the name of Christ, the King of kings, and Lord of lords, and cause them to speak evil of christianity, for them to see how the unity of the spirit is broken among such as profess Christ and Christ's peace. All christians are to mind God's and Christ's teaching, who teach christians to love one another, yea, enemies; and persuade kings and princes to give liberty to all tender consciences in matters of religion and worship, they living peaceably under every government: so that for the time to come there may be no more imprisonment and persecution among christians for tender consciences about matters of faith, worship, and religion, that the Jews, Turks, Tartars, and Heathens may not see how christians are persecuting one another for religion. Seeing from Christ and the apostles christians have no such command, but, on the contrary, to love one another; and knowing that Christ said to such as would have been plucking up tares, "Let the tares and the wheat grow together till the harvest (which is the end of the world) lest they plucked up the wheat ;" and at the end of the world Christ would send forth his angels, and they should sever the wheat from the tares. So Christ tells you, it is the angels' work at the end of the world, and not men's work before the harvest at the end of the world. Hath not all this persecution, banishing, imprisoning, and putting to death concerning religion, been the pretence of plucking up tares? and hath not all this been before the harvest, before the end of the world? have not all these been actors against the express command of Christ, the King of heaven? all kings and rulers, especially those that call themselves christians, should obey their Lord and Saviour's command; "Let the tares and the wheat grow together till the harvest;" and the harvest is the end of the world. Also, Christ told some of his disciples, that would have had "fire to come down from heaven, to destroy such as would not receive him (in their zeal) that they did not know what spirit they were of :" and rebuked them, saying, “He came not to destroy men's lives, but to save them." Have all such as have destroyed men's lives concerning religion, and the worship of God, known what spirit they have been of? have they not done that they should not do? that which Christ forbade, who saith, "Lest ye should pluck up the wheat with the tares," and saith, "It is the angels' work at the end of the world?" hath not God showed unto man what is good, and his duty, to "love mercy, to do justly, and to walk humbly with his God?" which man is to mind. And the apostle exhorts christians to "follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord." Heb. xii. 14. Why should christians war and strive one with another, seeing they all own in words one King, and Lord and Saviour Christ Jesus, whose command is, that they should "love one another;" which is a mark that they shall be known by, to be Christ's disciples, as I said before. And Christ, who is the King of kings, and Lord of lords, saith, "As I have loved you, so love one another." John xv. 12. and John xiii. And the apostle saith, "christians ought to be patient towards all men.” 1 Thess. v. 14. From him who is a lover of truth, righteousness, and peace, and desires your temporal and eternal good; and that in the wisdom of God, that is pure, gentle, and peaceable from above, you may be ordered, and order all things God hath committed to you to his glory, and stop those things among christians, so far as you have power, which dishonour God, Christ and christianity! 'Amsterdam, the 21st of the 7th month, 1677.' G. F. END OF VOL. II. INDEX. The Roman numerals refer to the volume, and the Arabic to the page. Affections, lusts and desires, mortified, Aged Friend of 100 years old, i. 130; one Allegiance to the king, ii. 32, 35, and Banishment of G. F. in Scotland, i. 354. Baptism, i. 246, 307, 314. tists discoursed by G. F. i. 96, 179, 221. Ambassador with Irishmen come to dis-hamshire, i. 83. Baptists and Fifth-mon- Ambassadors at Nimeguen: G. F.'s epis- America, G. Fox's travels there, from Anointing within teacheth the believers, Antichrists. See false prophets. Apostates, backsliders, and false bre- Apostles were tradesmen, ii. 350. Appeals of London Friends tried, ii. Apprentices put forth by Monthly Meet- Arminians, strangers to the spirit of the Assizes of G. F.'s trials at Carlisle, i. archy-men prophesied of Christ to come i. 433. ii. 27. Believers are born of God, i. 71. which forbids swearing, ii. 48, and teaches Bonds for good behaviour, ii. 156. answered by G. F. ii. 52, 66, 167, 170. 49 Bread and wine. See Papists. Butchers and rude people bind them- Calvinists, i. 436. C. Cambridge, scholars' rudeness, i. 228. Carlisle in an uproar, i. 179. G. F. in Cartmeil Wapentake Court, ii. 250. Cheat discovered by G. F. ii. 75. The Rest. ii. 273. Sun of righteousness, Of Rome degenerated, i. 372, 435; per- Of England's faith, i. 381. Climate's sudden change and variety in Cloisters, monasteries, &c. there is no Coldbeck steeple-house; Robert Wid- Colleges cannot make ministers Collegians, ii. 192, 195. of Committee of safety, &c. their pro- Conjuror (so reputed) reproved by G. Conscience, a witness to truth, i. 378 to Contentions not to be in meetings, ii. 225. Conventicle act is, not to do as they Convincements, in the nation in the be- ginning, i. 82, 83, &c. 189, 191, 195, 196, Convincements in Oliver Cromwell's Cromwell, Oliver, his discourse with G. Cross, the power of God, i. 76, 79, S71. Cutpurse at sessions searching Friends' D. Dangers and perils of G. F. i. 92, 98, 136, Day of judgment coming upon persecu- Deceivers beyond the priests that stand Declaration of G. F.'s offered by him to Devil, he was not made of God, i. 224, Disputes at Leicester, i. 83. with the Dispute of James Nayler with eight Dogs did not move their tongues against Do unto others as you would have others, Dreams relied on by a people, i. 72. Dwarfs not to come nigh the altar of Egyptians afflict Israel till the Lord over- Election and reprobation, i. 129, 178, Enemies, who are the worst to truth, the same spirit as the apostles had, i. 436. Errors pleaded in Margaret Fell's indict- Examples. See judgments. Excommunicated Friends in Scotland, spoken and preached from, i. 151, ii. 172, 179. F. Faith gives victory over sin, i. 350. Fanatics, who and what they are, i. 392, Fashions, and vanities of the world tes- Fast of G. F.'s, i. 161, 173. Of a wo- Fasting and prayer, ii. 372, 373. Feasting and sporting, whilst others Fees, Marshal's, i. 419, ii. 60. G. F. could i. 294, ii. 13. |