M 
 
 It 1918 
 
 BX 7795 .M3 1844 
 Marshall, Charles, 1637- 
 
 1698. 
 The journal 
 
• 
 
THE JOUENaI^,^ 11 1918 
 
 TOGETHER WITH SUNDRY 
 
 EPISTLES AND OTHER WRITINGS 
 
 OF 
 
 CHARLES "mAESHALL, 
 
 A MINISTER OF THE GOSPEL 
 
 IN THE 
 
 SOCIETY OF FRIENDS; 
 
 WHO DIED IX THE YEAR 1G98. 
 
 " Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from 
 the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning 
 shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in 
 the Father." — 1 John ii. 6. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 Printed by 
 
 RICHARD BARRETT, 13, MARK LANE. 
 
 1844. 
 
ADVERTISEMENT. 
 
 The present volume contains the writings of 
 Charles Marshall, as published in the year 1 704, 
 (under the title of " Sio/is Travellers comforted, 
 and the Disobedient warned/'' ) v^ hh. the exception 
 of a very few pieces, which eitlier apply particu- 
 larly to the circumstances of the times in which 
 the author lived, or are of similar import to 
 other parts of the work. Various slight verbal 
 alterations, not affecting the sense of the author, 
 have also, for the sake of perspicuity, been made. 
 — In this republication the work is divided into 
 chapters : such of the Epistles and other Pieces 
 as have dates affixed to them, are placed in order 
 of time, next following the Journal ; and after 
 them, those without dates, according to the order 
 in which they stand in the first edition. 
 
 As the honourable character of Charles !Mar- 
 shall, and the instructive tendency of his writings, 
 are fuUv set forth in the Preface and the Testi- 
 monies which follow this Advertisement, the 
 
 a2 
 
IV 
 
 ADVERTISEMENT. 
 
 editor does not consider it needful for him to 
 offer much by way of introduction. He would 
 therefore only add, that he has been induced to 
 undertake the reprint of this work, from the 
 conviction, that it is well calculated to afford 
 comfort and encouragement to the sincere tra- 
 veller Zion-ward, in this our day ; and to " stir 
 up the pure mind," by exhibiting in the life 
 and labours of the author, the genuine fruits 
 of christian zeal, charity, and self-denial ; also 
 under the influence of an affectionate desire, that 
 the impressive cautions herein contained, against 
 false liberty, the love of the world, and other 
 snares, (whereby some, even of the early pro- 
 fessors of our principles, lost their standing in 
 the truth,) may promote amongst us, a diligent 
 observance of the injunction given forth by the 
 great Head of the Church, " Watch ye therefore, 
 and pray always, that ye may be accounted 
 worthy to escape all these things, — and to stand 
 before the Son of man.'' 
 
 Thomas Chalk. 
 
 Kingston-on- Thames, 
 Fourth Month, 1844. 
 
THE PEEFACE. 
 
 By WILLIAM PENN. 
 
 I MUST needs say, it is with some sadness that I 
 remember the departure of so many of the Lord's 
 worthies, as a little time hath deprived us of; but I 
 have sometimes comforted myself in this, that the 
 Lord intends to take his Church more immediately 
 under the care and ministry of his own blessed Spirit, 
 whereby that loss would be more than repaired ; and 
 also yet raise up more of his servants, and bestow 
 upon them such measures of the Holy Ghost and 
 power from on high, as to be thereby amply qualified 
 to gather home the residue of the dispersed of Judah, 
 and scattered of Israel, to the hill and city of God : 
 and though they should not attain to the first rank 
 of the Lord's worthies, yet that they may deservedly 
 be reckoned among the rest that served God, and 
 David their King, valiantly. 
 
 The person, whose least part of his works and 
 labours follow, having abounded much more in a 
 fervent ministry than writing — was brought up in 
 the nurture of religion, among the most seeking and 
 enlightened people of his time, in the city of Bristol ; 
 and was therefore a prepared vessel to receive with 
 joy, the glad tidings brought out of the north by 
 those eminent servants of the Lord, John Audland 
 
Vi PREFACE. 
 
 and John Camm, at their first visits to the aforesaid 
 city, with the testimony of light and salvation, and of 
 the coming of the power and kingdom of Christ, to 
 the inhabitants of this age of the world ; where his 
 zeal and godly conversation greatly recommended 
 him to God's people. But in some time after, not 
 contented to eat his bread alone, being filled with 
 love and a religious concern for the good of others, 
 he found himself engaged in the name and power of 
 God to visit the meetings of His people throughout 
 this nation, the land of his nativity ; and he con- 
 tinued a faithful labourer and minister in the vine- 
 yard of Christ to his end. By his travels and labours, 
 as many were turned to righteousness, so divers were 
 quickened in their gifts to the ministry j for he was 
 not one that affected words or laboured an elegancy 
 of speech, or leaned upon memory or former openings ; 
 but one that waited for the feeling of God's living 
 and heavenly power, to carry him forth in his minis- 
 terial exercises, whereby, like a right gospel minister, 
 he often refreshed the family and heritage of God. 
 As for what regarded himself in a more particular 
 manner, I can indeed say, he was a great composition 
 of love and zeal, of meekness and affability, singular 
 uprightness and simplicity ; very compassionate and 
 helpful ; serious in his converse, and inoffensive in 
 his freedoms ; fervent against the troublers of Zion's 
 peace, yet tender to the mistaking and relenting. 
 He was naturally of a lively, but kind and friendly 
 temper, and where he professed a friendship, very 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 vii 
 
 faithful as well as affectionate : and as the Lord had 
 been with him from the beginning, and gave him an 
 honourable place in the hearts of his people that are 
 Israelites indeed, so did he continue his strengthening 
 and comforting presence with him to his end. For 
 visiting him with divers Friends but a day or two 
 before his departure, as one filled with the love, life 
 and power of Christ, he prayed after a very earnest 
 manner, " that the Lord would preserve his people, and 
 carry on his work among them, and exalt his Truth 
 and even as in an agony of spirit said, " The eternal 
 and everlasting God bless and prosper thee and all 
 his people, and stand by you and carry you through 
 all opposition ; the eternal God and Majesty on high 
 be with you with much more in the same fervent 
 manner ; remembering his love to all his dear friends 
 as opportunity offered. 
 
 Thus the Lord carried him through the labours of 
 his life, as well as weakness of his body, till he took 
 leave of us and it, to receive a more during and 
 eternal mansion in the kingdom of glory. And 
 reader, in this I write my knowledge of the author of 
 the following book, upon an ancient, as well as very 
 intimate acquaintance j for I must say, his friendship 
 and society were always grateful to me, for the sake 
 of that love, peace and piety that did adorn his con- 
 versation : and I beseech Almighty God, his following 
 labours may be a seasonable and an effectual memorial 
 of those many former personal ones, that were so 
 beneficial and acceptable among the Lord's people. 
 
viii 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 Indeed his writings that were made public, are not 
 many ; however they are too many and sensible to be 
 lost ; and if the reader peruse them in seriousness, 
 they will demonstrate from what fountain they sprang, 
 even that of heavenly love and zeal, for the stirring 
 up of those that read them, to the fear, love and 
 service of the everlasting God, and that truth, unity, 
 peace and concord may increase and be multiplied 
 among the Lord's people where they come. 
 
 And I would add what I earnestly desire, viz : 
 That Friends would be diligent in stirring up their 
 children and families frequently to read the Holy 
 Scriptures ; also the writings of our ancient departed 
 Friends, which are an eminent vindication of the 
 divine authority of that blessed book, upon the 
 experience of those faithful ministers and servants of 
 Christ ; and that all who make profession of the holy 
 and blessed Truth in the inward parts, would make 
 the lives and labours of those worthies of the Lord 
 their lively and constant examples, in their known 
 seriousness, retirement, silence, self-denial, temper- 
 ance, humility, meekness, tenderness, brotherly kind- 
 ness and sincerity to God and his people ; that so 
 there may be a succession in sobriety, righteousness, 
 and godliness, which is the very sum and substance of 
 religion j and that one generation may become heirs 
 in holiness to another, till days be no more, and time 
 be swallowed up in eternity. 
 
 W. Penn. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 George Whitehead's Testimony concerning Charles 
 Marshall, and Postscript by the ^Morning fleeting xiii 
 
 John Freame's Testimony xvii 
 
 Ditto by six Friends . . . xxi 
 Hannah Marshall's Ditto xxiii 
 
 JOURXAL. 
 
 Chapter I. — Charles Marshall's birth— His early 
 religious impressions — He associates with some 
 who devoted one day in the week to fasting 
 and prayer — John Audland and John Canim's 
 visit to Bristol — The effect of their ministry 
 on Charles ^Marshall — Various exercises — The 
 importance of humility and retiredness of spirit 1 
 
 Chapter II.— His call to the work of the ministry — 
 Exercises consequent thereon — His concern 
 to visit Friends throughout England — Names 
 of the places visited — Remarks relative to 
 this engagement — Providential escape from 
 drowning II 
 
 Chapter III. — A warning to the cities of London and 
 Bristol— Remarkable protection from persecu- 
 tion during his travels through the nation — 
 His sufferings at some other times— Great 
 com-incements Avhich resulted from his Gos- 
 pel labours— Notice of the apostacy of John 
 Wilkinson and John Story, and exercises occa- 
 sioned thereby — The designs of the separatists 
 defeated — Charles ^Marshall is imprisoned in 
 London — Remarks on his Gospel labours and 
 other service — His last illness and decease . . 22 
 
 h 
 
X 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 EPISTLES, &C. 
 
 Chapter IV.— A Testimony to the Love of God . 35 
 
 Chapter V. — An Exhortation to the Quarterly, 
 
 Monthly, and other Meetings 47 
 
 Chapter VI. — An Epistle to the Flock of Christ, 
 [reminding them of the Lord's gracious deal- 
 ings with them, and containing sundry exhor- 
 tations and warnings] 50 
 
 Chapter VII. — The Way of Life Revealed, and the 
 
 Way of Death Discovered — 67 
 
 Section 1. Man's happy estate before the fall . . 71 
 
 2. Man's miserable estate in the fall ... 72 
 
 3. The way of restoration out of the fall, 
 
 into the image of God again, in which 
 man was before the fall, &c. ... 78 
 
 4. The by-paths, crooked ways, wiles, and 
 
 snares of the enemy discovered . . 93 
 
 5. The utter end and final destruction pro- 
 
 phesied, of all false professions, which 
 have had their rise in the night of 
 apostacy 103 
 
 6. A call, in the tender bowels of the love 
 
 of God, shed abroad in this day, age 
 and generation, unto all the scattered 
 sheep, &c 105 
 
 Chapter VIII.— A V\^arning unto the Rulers and 
 
 People of England 114 
 
 An Epistle to Friends [under sufferings] . . .119 
 
 Chapter IX. — An Epistle to Friends coming forth 
 
 in testimony 122 
 
 Chapter X. — An Epistle to the Women's Half- 
 yearly Meeting, 1677 126 
 
 * An Epistle to Friends in and about Bristol . .128 
 
 ♦ Another Epistle to the Flock of Christ, [exhort- 
 
 ing to self-denial, stillness, watchfulness, and 
 earnest prayer for the establishment of uni- 
 versal peace] 130 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 xi 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Chapter XI. — A tender Visitation of Love to the 
 
 called of God 13^' 
 
 An Epistle sent to Oxford 141 
 
 A general Epistle to Friends and Professors of 
 the Truth, [on the necessity of the new birth] 143 
 » An Epistle to Friends, chiefly at Bristol . . . 147 
 
 Chapter XII. — A tender Visitation in the Love of 
 
 God 150 
 
 Chapter XIIL— A Call to the scattered Sheep . .166 
 An Epistle to Friends, [exliorting to self-exami- 
 nation, and warning against false liberty] . .169 
 An Epistle to the "Women's Meetings . . . .173 
 
 Chapter XTV. — A general Epistle to Friends, [cau- 
 tioning against the spirit of the world, and 
 recommending watchfulness, unity, humility 
 
 and stillness] 1 
 
 Chapter XV. — Concerning the precious L'nity of 
 
 the Spirit * . . I Sl 
 
 Chapter XVI. — An Epistle to Friends in Pennsyl- 
 vania 18S 
 
 • A Salutation to the Men's and Women's Meetings 
 
 about the city of Bristol 190 
 
 An Epistle to the Captives 192 
 
 • An Epistle to Friends of Charlecot 194 
 
 • A Letter to Friends of Falmouth 196 
 
 Chapter XVIL — An Epistle to Friends, exhorting 
 
 them to wait on the Lord ISS 
 
 Chapter XVIII. — An Epistle to the Men's and 
 Women's Meetings in and about the City of 
 London 204 
 
 Chapter XIX.— An Epistle in the Love of God to 
 Friends everywhere, [exhorting them to jier- 
 
 severance] 210 
 
 - An Epistle to Friends, [recommending them to 
 wait for, and live under the power of the 
 
 Lord] 213 
 
 An Epistle to Friends, [exhorting them to walk 
 in the light, warning tlie disobedient, and 
 recommending inwardness of spirit, humility 
 
 and diligence] 217 
 
 b2 
 
ERRATA. 
 
 Paae 14, line 16, for " Camberwell," read ' Coraberwell." 
 
 15, line 26, 1st column, /b/- *' Absoni," read "Topsham." 
 
 \h, line 33, Isi column, for *' Trisren Jervis," read " Tregangeeves." 
 
 15, line 28, 2nd column, /lyr " Woodbury," read " "W'oodbridge." 
 
 83, line \S,for "is an objection," read " as an objection." 
 
 8a, line 23, read '* is, whether." 
 
GEORGE WHITEHEAD'S TESTIMONY 
 
 COXCER>-I>G 
 
 CHARLES MARSHALL, DECEASED. 
 
 What the Lord our God promised by holy prophets, 
 of the pouring out of his Spirit upon all flesh, and 
 that his sons and daughters should prophesy, and 
 declare his name in the earth ; and that when he 
 gives his word, many become the publishers thereof ] 
 — this truth the Lord hath renewed, and is fulfilling, 
 even in our day ; so that a great cloud of witnesses, 
 he hath been pleased to raise up even in these latter 
 days ; and they have truly concurred in their blessed 
 testimony, for the convincing, converting and con- 
 firming many in the faith of the everlasting gospel 
 of our Lord Jesus Christ ; wherein this our well- 
 beloved brother, Charles Marshall, had a share and 
 effectual service in his day and time, through great 
 labour, travels and exercises. To whose memory, 
 with that of many other faithful servants of Christ 
 Jesus who are at rest in Him, we owe such tender 
 respect, as truly to commemorate them, their service, 
 and testimony for the name and power of the Lord our 
 God, and his dear Son Jesus Christ, and to recom- 
 mend the same to posterity ; for that " the righteous 
 shall be in everlasting remembrance." I knew this 
 our deceased brother, in his young years ; wherein, as 
 the Lord was pleased religiously to incline his heart 
 and mind to virtue, and to the knowledge and love 
 of the blessed Truth, as it is in Christ J esus, in spirit, 
 
xiv GEORGE whitehead's TESTIMONY 
 
 life, and power, lie received and retained the love of 
 tlie same when discovered unto him; and accordingly 
 his love was sincere to Christ's ministers and ser- 
 vants, who were instrumental for his 'and many 
 others' information, and the good of their immortal 
 souls. And his sincere love and regard to Christ'^ 
 ministers and messengers, appeared to be a good and 
 necessary preparation, for him to be a witness and 
 partaker of the same ministry and testimony of Christ 
 Jesus, and to have a share in the work of the same 
 blessed, spiritual ministry of the gospel of the grace 
 of God, which wrought in his heart for the same end ; 
 and which accordingly the Lord was pleased to make 
 him instrumental in, as a minister of the spirit, and 
 not of the letter, to turn people from the flesh to the 
 spirit, and from darkness, sin and Satan, to Christ 
 the true light ; and from the barren and empty forms 
 of religion, to the power of godliness. And as he was 
 a loving and tender-hearted man, he was truly tender 
 and zealous for the glory of God, and the honour of 
 his holy name and Truth ; and retained unfeigned 
 love to his brethren in Christ, and regard to the lively 
 and comfortable fellowship of the Holy Spirit, wherein 
 we M ere often comforted together. He was not one 
 of them that would turn aside from the flocks of the 
 Lord's companions, whom Christ esteems as his own 
 brethren. He often zealously testified against the 
 spirit of division and separation, and against treach- 
 erous apostates and soAvers of discord ; and often 
 endeavoured to alarm and awaken the careless people, 
 out of the sleep of sin, carnal security, fleshly liberty 
 and ease therein ; for which end he laboured hard, 
 and took great pains, as one given up to spend and 
 be spent in the Lord's work and service. I truly 
 loved him for love's sake, (for none ||^s lost between 
 
CONCERNING CHARLES MARSHALL. XV 
 
 US,) and as one who kept the faith, and retained the 
 unfeigned love of the brethren, and true love to all 
 the faithful in Christ, even to his ^vhole heritage. 
 And the Lord did not only make him truly compas- 
 sionate and helpful by his spiritual ministry to poor 
 souls under affliction and distress ; but also because 
 of his tender-heartedness to such as were afflicted 
 in body, or any ways indisposed as to their health, 
 and his readiness to sympathize with them, and to 
 help them in his physical practice, I believe, the 
 Lord did the more bless the same for the help, ease 
 and relief of many who had laboured under bodily 
 weakness and distempers, as they have confessed. 
 
 And as an ancient Friend, in great tenderness, true 
 love and affection, declared at his funeral his being 
 then in paradise, I really believe he is written in 
 heaven, and recorded in the Lamb's book of life, with 
 all the faithful in Christ, the redeemed from the earth, 
 who keep their integrity in the truth to God, and 
 their faith in Christ, and love to all his saints ; even 
 those who are faithful unto death, for whom the crown 
 of righteousness, the crown of life and glory is pre- 
 pared and reserved in heaven. 
 
 And though I have not had the opportunity to 
 peruse all the writings, books, and papers relating to 
 our holy profession of this good man, our deceased 
 brother, I hope nothing will be found in them 
 offensive, to the unprejudiced readers, or inquirers 
 after the way to life eternal ; considering the validity 
 and weight of his known evangelical ministry, and 
 spiritual testimony. 
 
 London, tlie loth of the Xinth Month, 1703. 
 
 POSTSCRIPT. 
 
 [With] the fii^egoing testimony concerning our dear 
 
xvi POSTSCRIPT TO G. WHITEHEAD'S TESTIMONY, 
 
 brother Charles Marshall deceased, his great labours 
 and service in the gospel of Christ, and his zeal for 
 God, and the spreading of the truth ; his unfeigned 
 love to his brethren, and his great regard for the 
 preservation of God's people in the unity of the spirit 
 and bond of peace — we have true unity. 
 
 And having known him many years, and been 
 witnesses of his labours, and having laboured with 
 him in the same work ; in christian respect to his 
 memory, and in real esteem and value for his faithful 
 testimony, [we] do testify, he was an evangelical 
 minister, and faithful servant of Christ, and hath left 
 many seals of his ministry; for the Lord greatly blessed 
 his labours, and filled him with his divine power, and 
 attended him with his glorious presence, even unto the 
 end j for he enabled him through all his exercises, to 
 finish his course in peace : and we are fully satisfied, 
 the Lord hath given him the crown of righteousness. 
 
 And we doubt not but all who shall read impartially 
 his following writings, will find that he was what we 
 testify concerning him, viz. a sincere man, of a tender 
 spirit, full of love and zeal for God and his truth ; 
 [one who] laboured in his day and time for the good of 
 souls, in the gospel of our Lord J esus Christ ; to whom 
 be glory and dominion for ever. 
 
 Signed at our Second day's Morning Meeting, the 
 22nd of the Ninth Month, 1703. 
 
 Ambrose Rigge. John Bowater. 
 
 John Field. John Kent. 
 
 John Vaughton. Theodore Ecclestone. 
 
 John Butcher. William Robinson. 
 
 Thomas Pitstow. John Tomkins. 
 
 Edward Bourne. George Bowles. 
 
 John Padley. Samuel Waldenfield. 
 
 William Hornoull. William Warren. 
 
 Joseph Baines. ♦ 
 
JOHN FREAME'S TESTIMONY 
 
 CONCERXISG 
 
 CHAKLES MARSHALL. 
 
 Although the several testimonies, relating to our 
 deceased friend Charles Marshall, may sufficiently 
 testify concerning him, yet I having had the benefit 
 of his conversation for many years, think myself 
 engaged to say something of him, in [that] true 
 love and respect which I bear to his memory; he 
 having entertained a particular kindness to me from 
 a child, and continued his friendship stedfastly to the 
 end ; affording me much of his company for the last 
 ten years of his time, whereby I came to have a par- 
 ti (5ilar knowledge of him. 
 
 And I can truly say, that he was a faithful and 
 true Friend ; having often observed, where he pro- 
 fessed friendship [to any,] it was so in reality, and 
 not in show only ; being ready to serve such to the 
 utmost of his power, not forsaking them in a time of 
 adversity. 
 
 He was a faithful labourer, and true minister of the 
 gospel, and had an eminent service in that respect, 
 having been made a happy instrument for the con- 
 vincement of many. 
 
 He was a zealous reprover of such as made pro- 
 fession of the Truth, and walked contrary thereto in 
 life and conversation ; but very tender to those under 
 
xvlii 
 
 JOHN FREA3IE's TESTIMOXT. 
 
 exercise of spirit. His ministry was such as effectually 
 reached the divers states and conditions of people, [he] 
 being skilful in dividing the word aright ; so that 
 he was both a planter, as well as a waterer in God's 
 vineyard : and there are many can say they have sat 
 under his doctrine with great delight ; having been 
 thereby comforted and greatly refreshed. 
 
 He was also eminent for an innocent life and 
 exemplary conversation ; which being attended with 
 good nature and a kind disposition, rendered his 
 acquaintance and conversation both edifying and 
 acceptable. 
 
 He was of a peaceable spirit, making it his con- 
 cern to keep up love, unity and concord ; and, as 
 occasion offered, frequently exhorting thereto : his 
 demeanour was such, both in this and other respects, 
 as made him an elder in the church, that deserved 
 double honour : and it may be truly said of him, 
 that he was a peace-maker, he being often [engaged 
 in] performing that office of true friendship, by 
 endeavouring to reconcile those that were at differ- 
 ence ; and as he was no favourer of that spirit t^at 
 endeavoured to sow discord amongst brethren, so he 
 was no encourager of such as would be secretly lessen- 
 ing the esteem one of another ; always looking upon 
 such things to be of pernicious consequence. 
 
 He was a real sympathizer with those in exercise 
 or affliction, often visiting them in the time of their 
 greatest need. 
 
 And thus he continued until the time of his [last] 
 sickness, which he had a sense of before it came upon 
 him ; for a little before he was taken ill, he signified 
 to me, that his departure was at hand ; and desired, 
 amongst other things, that his Journal, Epistles, and 
 other writings, might be collected, in order to be 
 
JOHN FREAME's testimony. 
 
 XIX 
 
 printed after his decease ; and earnestly pressed me 
 to take some care therein. 
 
 I was frequently with him in his sickness, and 
 observed him attended with great patience, and in 
 a sweet composed frame of spirit, resigned up to the 
 will of God : and although towards his latter end he 
 grew very weak, yet he had still a care for the wel- 
 fare of the church, and good of the poor, as appears 
 by the following expressions, spoken to some minister- 
 ing Friends that came to visit him ; and I being- 
 present, and perceiving an earnest desire in him that 
 the same should be communicated to Friends, com- 
 mitted them to writing presently after ; which were to 
 this effect, viz : — 
 
 " I have loved the brotherhood ; I have sought the 
 unity and peace of the church for these forty years ; 
 and to my great comfort, never did anything tending 
 to the breach thereof. 
 
 " I have two things that lie upon me to Friends, 
 which I desire may be communicated to them : the 
 first is, that they gather down into the immortal Seed 
 and Word of Life in themselves, and be exercised in 
 it before the Lord ; and duly prize, and set a right 
 value upon the many outward and inward mercies, 
 blessings, and heavenly visitations, that the Lord has 
 eminently bestowed upon them, since the morning of 
 the day of his blessed visitation ; then shall they 
 grow, and be preserved in a living freshness to him ; 
 and the Lord will continue his mercies to them, and 
 they shall not want his divine, refreshing presence in 
 their meetings together before him. 
 
 " The second thing is, that those Friends that the 
 Lord hath given great estates unto, ought to cast their 
 bread upon the waters, and do good therewith in their 
 life-time ; for those that are enjoy ers of such things 
 
XX 
 
 JOHN FREAME's testimony. 
 
 should see that they are good stewards thereof. 0 ! 
 the many poor families that such persons might be a 
 help to ; how easily might they with a little, assist 
 many a family to live in the world ; and what a com- 
 fort would it be for such to see the fruits of their 
 charity in their life-time. " 
 
 After which he grew daily weaker and weaker, and 
 departed in great stillness and quietness of mind, being 
 taken away from divers troubles and exercises, to 
 possess and enjoy an incorruptible inheritance that 
 will never fade away. 
 
 John Freame. 
 
 London, the 25th of the 
 Eighth Month, 1703. 
 
A TESTIMONY 
 
 CONCEKNING 
 
 CHARLES MARSHALL. 
 
 We understand that the memory of our ancient and 
 faithful friend and brother, Charles Marshall, is likely 
 to be revived by the publishing a collection of his 
 writings. As to his conversation and character, this 
 testimony lives in our hearts for him, viz., that he was 
 known to be a lover of the Holy Scriptures, and early 
 sought after the knowledge of God, by whom he was 
 prepared to receive the testimony of Truth, which he 
 soon received in the love of it, and became an able 
 minister for the turning many from darkness to light. 
 
 And as he was a true believer in Christ, so he was 
 a sufferer for his name and testimony ; and he under- 
 went [sufferings] with patience and cheerfulness. 
 
 His endeavours were, where he came, not only to 
 keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace, 
 but also to press to the same ; well knowing, that as 
 the character of a disciple of Jesus was love, so by it 
 unity and peace here, and happiness hereafter, would 
 be secured to us. 
 
 He was indefatigable in his labours for promoting 
 universal charity, but especially on behalf of the poor, 
 for whom he was a constant advocate ; charging the 
 rich not to put trust in their riches, nor shut their 
 ears against the complaints of the necessitous. 
 
 In short, he was a loving husband, a tender father, 
 
Xxii TESTIMONY CONCERNING CHARLES MARSHALL. 
 
 a good neighbour, a true friend, and a zealous and 
 faithful minister. 
 
 He was for following after those things that make 
 for peace, as well in his natural temper, as by a divine 
 qualification : he had a very great sweetness in his 
 conversation, which had a general tendency to the 
 promoting of love and good works ; in which we 
 believe he continued stedfast to the very last : and 
 having left this troublesome world, is translated to 
 a better place, where he is at rest with the Lord. 
 
 Thomas Callowhill, Richard Snead, 
 William Smith, Charles Harford, 
 
 Benjamin Coole, Charles Jones. 
 
 Bristol, 22nd of the Tenth Month, 1703. 
 
HAN^s^AH MARSHALL'S TESTIMONY 
 
 COXCERNI>G HER HrSBAXD 
 
 CHAELES MARSHALL. 
 
 Dear Friends, 
 It is a Christian obligation, as well as a commend- 
 able practice, for survivors to transmit to posterity 
 something concerning the deceased, especially of such 
 as have been exemplary in their lives, and whose 
 death proves the church's loss, though their own 
 eternal gain. Such are of that righteous generation, 
 whose memorial is never to be forgotten. 
 
 Amongst these, my dear deceased husband was one 
 who yielded early obedience to the visitation and call 
 of God, persevered in his fear, and finished in his love. 
 The testimony he bore for the Lord and his blessed 
 Truth, was in the authority of divine life; and it 
 often reached the witness of God in many hearts. He 
 was zealous for God, tender of the good in all ; ter- 
 rible against the works and workers of iniquity. In 
 the exercise of his gift, he was grave and reverent ; 
 his testimony was full of reproof and conviction, but 
 in that meekness which made the same truly edifying : 
 his doctrine was sound, and sufficient to stop the 
 mouths of gainsayers, flowing from that living foun- 
 tain and divine spring of light, life and heavenly 
 wisdom, which the wisdom of this world could never 
 comprehend. 
 
Xxiv HANNAH MARSHALL'S TESTIMONY 
 
 He was often drawn forth in prophecy, which was 
 attended with a suitable concern in himself, and which 
 also affected those that heard him ; nor did the con- 
 cern terminate when he had declared what was upon 
 his mind, but in long and deep travail of soul would 
 he plead M^ith the Lord to hasten the good, and avert 
 the evil ; often with great brokenness of spirit beseech- 
 ing God to bring over this land of his nativity a 
 Nineveh-repentance, that thereby his judgments might 
 be averted. In such travails as these did he spend the 
 days of his strength, and prime of his years, whereby 
 his outward man has often been weakened and made 
 feeble ; such was his zeal for God, and his love to 
 mankind : and the Lord was pleased many times to 
 answer the desire of his travailing soul, which he 
 always thought a good recompense for all the labours 
 and sufferings he went through on that account. 
 
 0 ! dear Friends, let none quench the Spirit in 
 themselves nor others ; nor despise prophesying^ where 
 the Lord by his Spirit raises up servant or hand-maid 
 in it ; such that do, are slighters of their own mercies. 
 
 My dear husband was a great sympathizer with the 
 afflicted in soul, and with the mourners in spirit : he 
 was a great lover of the brethren, and peace of the 
 church, whose tranquillity he sought ; and knew right 
 well the body could be edified in nothing but love ; 
 often pressing the professors of Truth to keep to the 
 precious unity of the Spirit, as the only bond of their 
 peace. Nor did this tenderness with which he was 
 wont to treat the weak, lead him into foolish pity to 
 the ^diful ; for no man was more zealously concerned, 
 when any went about to rend or divide ; nor few men 
 more willing to sling a stone at them ; which he often 
 did with great success, it being done in the authority 
 given him of God over such spirits ; always continuing 
 
CONCERNING CHARLES MARSHALL. 
 
 XXV 
 
 in that Christian frame of spirit, that could forgive 
 upon their repentance and return, which he often 
 prayed for. 
 
 Nor did the heat of persecution hinder him from 
 making a general visit to the churches through the 
 nation, which he began in the year 1670, and which 
 was richly blest : the Lord so ordered it, that scarcely 
 any Friend suffered loss of goods upon that account ; 
 and the meetings were generally quiet where he came, 
 as may be more particularly seen in his following 
 Journal. As his work was great, so was his faith ; 
 and the power of God in which it stood, was greater 
 than the power of the enemies of Truth. He was freely 
 given up to the expense of substance, time, and 
 strength, in that journey and service ; as indeed he 
 was at many other times, when concerned to visit the 
 churches of Christ, and heritage of God, especially for 
 twenty years ; in which time, though I enjoyed but 
 little of his company, the Lord bears me record, I 
 never dared to murmur, but was kept in resignation 
 to the will of God, in which I found peace. 
 
 Thus was the Lord pleased in the riches of his love, 
 to make known his ancient way of Truth unto him ; 
 and he with many brethren, were made able ministers 
 of the gospel of salvation, and willing to run to and 
 fro, that knowledge should be increased amongst the 
 people, after a long night of error and apostacy, where- 
 in the ancient path of Truth and Life had been de- 
 parted from, the world had become as a wilderness, and 
 the glory of the church obscured and eclipsed : many 
 ran from one barren mountain of profession to another, 
 seeking the living amongst the dead, and their bread 
 in desolate places : I say, then did the Lord appear, 
 and concern a remnant whom he had chosen and 
 made vessels fit for his own use, to testify in his 
 
 c 
 
XXvi HANNAH MARSHALL'S TESTIMONY 
 
 name, that the teachers of the people had caused them 
 to err ; and that the true primitive and apostolical 
 religion and ministry they were strangers to ; feeding 
 themselves, not the flock, and seeking their gain from 
 their quarter, instead of seeking the lost sheep. Nor 
 could these for conscience' sake comply to pay for the 
 support of such a ministry. For this testimony my 
 husband suffered with cheerfulness, and valiantly bore 
 the imprisonment of his body, the loss and spoil of 
 goods, standing over the power of the oppressor, in 
 the authority of Christ, whereby others were affected 
 and strengthened to be faithful, in keeping up their 
 testimony against tithes. I pray God his example in 
 that, and all other branches of his testimony, wherein 
 he was kept faithful unto death, may be a motive to 
 all to follow the Lord fully ; then will God have his 
 honour, and our souls the everlasting comfort. 
 
 And as he was thus given up for the spiritual wel- 
 fare of all, so was he made instrumental of much 
 temporal good to many. He was a lover of the poor, 
 and a friend to the rich ; often putting the latter, at 
 their well-furnished tables, in mind of the former ; 
 recommending self-denial and hospitality, instead of 
 high living. Nor was he wanting in example, any 
 more than in advice ; often visiting and inspecting 
 poor families ; always sympathizing with them in 
 tender compassion, and true Christian charity, which 
 were inseparable companions in him ; supplying the 
 sick with advice and physic ; the hungry with 
 bread, and the naked with clothes, according to his 
 ability ; so that with Luke, who was both evangelist 
 and physician, he was made serviceable in his gene- 
 ration, in both respects, to the relief and comfort of 
 the souls and bodies of many. 
 
 He was a man of a self-denying life : he would not 
 
CONCERNING CHARLES MARSHALL. XXVii 
 
 be moved by abuses or injuries when offered, imput- 
 ing tliem to ill nature or ignorance, which he did not 
 think worthy of possessing the mind. He approved 
 himself a long-suffering, patient, meek and humble 
 man, as became a minister of Christ ; always trusting 
 in the goodness of God, to whom he delighted to pour 
 out his supplications, in full assurance of faith, that 
 he would have regard to the oppressed, to the afflicted 
 and bowed in soul and spirit ; and that he would 
 bring them into the divine bosom, where their souls 
 should be filled with heavenly joy, [and enabled] to 
 praise, magnify and bless his holy name. 
 
 What shall I say ! He was a loving husband to 
 me, and a tender father to his children, for whose 
 welfare he travailed in spirit night and day, in a 
 great sense of the design of the enemy upon them 
 and the offspring of Friends, to obstruct the pros- 
 perity of Truth ; often being drawn forth, with the 
 apostle Paul, in great concern for his kinsfolks after 
 the flesh, that they might be made partakers of the 
 goodness and mercy of God. He was a kind master 
 to his servants, an affectionate friend, well respected 
 and of good report in his neighbourhood. 
 
 It pleased the Lord, after his return from visiting 
 Friends of Bristol and the western parts, to afflict 
 him with a long sickness ; and notwithstanding his 
 physicians had hopes of his recovery, yet he often 
 declared his distemper would prove mortal ; which 
 indeed ended in his death. 
 
 Thus was his life finished, (after about four months' 
 sickness,) in sweetness and the enjoyment of divine 
 life. In this long sickness, although attended with 
 extreme pain, he had his senses continued to the last ; 
 in which time I accompanied him night and day, 
 hardly allowing time for necessary refreshment, and 
 
XXviii HANNAH MARSHALL'S TESTIMONY, &C. 
 
 heard the weighty expressions that fell from him 
 upon the visits of Friends and otherwise ; some of 
 which I shall here add, they being some of his last 
 words, viz. that he had not handled the word of the 
 Lord deceitfully, nor done his work negligently ; ear- 
 nestly desiring, that Friends might live in love, and 
 keep in the unity of the Spirit, as the only bond of 
 their peace ; and signified, that though some might 
 put the trying day he had seen and declared of, afar 
 off ; yet it would come, and on such as a thief in 
 the night. 
 
 As his last moments drew near, he closed his eyes 
 with his own hand, and with cheerfulness and com- 
 posure of mind, as one that had the sting of death 
 taken away, resigned his soul to God, the loth of the 
 Ninth Month, 1698, in the sixty-second year of his 
 age. Well ! he is gone to his rest, which he often 
 desired he might, before me ; and I may say, he was 
 taken from the evil that was to come. However it will 
 be but a little [time,] if we continue faithful in our 
 measures, ere we shall arrive at the same haven of 
 rest, and port of joy, where all sorrow, sighing, and 
 tears will be done away ; which is the travail and 
 desire of my soul for all the visited of God, 
 
 Who am your ancient and deeply afflicted Friend, 
 
 Hannah Marshall. 
 
 London, the \st of the 
 Ninth Month, 1703. 
 
JOTJENAL 
 
 OF 
 
 THE LIFE AXD TRAVELS 
 
 OF 
 
 CHARLES MARSHALL. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 Charles MarshaWs Birth — His early religious impres- 
 sions — He associates with some who devoted one day 
 in the week to fasting and prayer — John Audland 
 and John Caram's visit to Bristol — The effect of 
 their ministry on Charles Marshall — Various exer- 
 cises — The importance of humility and retiredness 
 of spirit. 
 
 I WAS born in the city of Bristol, in the Fourth 
 Month, 1637. My education and bringing up was 
 after the strictest manner of religion, my parents 
 being such as feared the Lord. I was kept much 
 from the company of other children, and attained 
 about the fifth and sixth years of my life to read the 
 Scriptures of Truth, in which, in a little time, I took 
 delight. In my very tender years I had an abhor- 
 rence of swearing and lying, and such like sins ; and 
 not only so, but many times I had inward desires 
 
 B 
 
2 
 
 JOURNAL OF 
 
 and breathings to know God ; so that about the 
 eleventh and twelfth years of my life, I not only 
 longed to know the true and living God, but also 
 sought after him, and loved and esteemed sober, 
 honest people, who feared the Lord. 
 
 I went with my mother to the Independents' meet- 
 ings, in the days of that people's tenderness and 
 sincerity ; and sometimes I went to the Baptists' 
 meeting, and in public, to hear those men who were 
 esteemed most zealous in their day. Among those 
 people, and in those assemblies, there were awakenings 
 inwardly, through the stirrings and strivings of the 
 gift of God, under the sense of which, living pantings 
 and breathings were in many of their souls, after the 
 true, spiritual knowledge of God who is a Spirit. But 
 they went out from that [state,] into a profession of the 
 saints' words, works and enjoyments, and left this pure 
 principle of light, life and truth behind. Now, as I 
 advanced in years, I grew more and more dissatisfied 
 with lifeless, empty professions and professors, feeling 
 the burden of the nature of sin, which lay on my 
 spirit ; in the sense whereof, I became like the soli- 
 tary desert, and mourned like a dove without a mate. 
 And seeing I could not find the living among the 
 dead professions, I spent much time in retirements 
 alone, in the fields and woods, and by springs of 
 water, which I delighted to lie by and drink of. 
 And in those days of retirement, strong, great, and 
 many were my cries unto the Lord ; and sometimes 
 being retired into places free from passengers, to ease 
 my heart, I did cry aloud, because of disquietness of 
 spirit. And I had openings of the miserable fall and 
 inexpressible degeneration of mankind, and the cap- 
 tivity and bondage which my soul lay in ; in the 
 sense of which state of bondage and thraldom, I cried 
 
CHARLES MARSHALL. 
 
 3 
 
 out, Oh, that mv soul might be eased from these 
 heavy burdens and loads of death and darkness ! that 
 out of this state of gross Egyptian darkness I might be 
 saved, and from the land of drought, a land of anguish, 
 a land of horrible darkness ! Oh, undeclarable fall ! 
 said my soul ; oh, inexpressible wall of partition and 
 separation ! Oh, gulf unutterable ! For the fallen and 
 undone state of the sons and daughters of men was 
 opened unto me, beyond all words to demonstrate. 
 And in those days, as I walked and beheld the crea- 
 tion of God Almighty, every thing testified against 
 me, heaven and earth, the day and the night, the sun, 
 moon, and stars, yea, the watercourses and springs of 
 the great deep, keeping in their respective places ; 
 the grass and flowers of the field, the fish of the sea 
 and fowls of the air, keeping their order ; but man 
 alone, the chief of the work of God's hand, [I saw 
 was] degenerated. Then cried I out bitterly, — Man's 
 state in the fall is worse than [that of] the beast that 
 perisheth ; for " the ox knoweth his owner, and the 
 ass his master's crib," but man, in this state, is igno- 
 rant of God his maker, and is become a stranger unto 
 him, walking in enmity and disobedience, serving and 
 obeying the devil, who neither created any thing, 
 nor can preserve any living thing ; and from the 
 beginning, his appearance against God hath been 
 mere enmity, altogether evil ; a destroyer and a mur- 
 derer. And such is the inexpressibly thick darkness 
 that over mankind is come and spread, that they give 
 up themselves in body, soul and spirit, to be led by 
 him. Oh, thick darkness ! that thus is come over 
 the families of the earth ! Here could I set my seal 
 to the truth of that scripture, " darkness covers the 
 earth, and gross darkness the people." 
 
 So in a deep sense of man's miserable state, and 
 
 B 2 
 
4 
 
 JOURNAL OF 
 
 particularly the sense of my own captivity, and share 
 in this inexpressible state of darkness, death, bondage, 
 misery, sorrow and amazement, I fell to the ground, 
 and cried unto God for deliverance and redemption 
 out of this state ; and, although the witness of God 
 thus stirred, and was the discoverer of this miserable 
 state, yet I saw not, neither had a clear knowledge of 
 that which thus discovered. 
 
 And in those times, viz., about the year 1654, there 
 were many [in these parts] who were seeking after 
 the Lord ; and there were a few of us who kept one 
 day in the week in fasting and prayer ; so that when 
 this day came, we met together early in the morning, 
 and did not taste any thing. We sat down some- 
 times in silence ; and as any found a concern on their 
 spirits, and inclination in their hearts, they kneeled 
 down and sought the Lord ; so that sometimes, before 
 the day ended, there might be twenty of us pray, 
 men and women ; on some of these occasions children 
 spake a few words in prayer ; and we were sometimes 
 greatly bowed and broken before the Lord, in humi- 
 lity and tenderness. 
 
 Unto one of these our meetings, in the year 1654, 
 came dearly beloved John Audland and John Camm, 
 messengers of the overliving God ; of whom a testi- 
 mony is recorded in an Epistle written by a servant 
 of the Lord, Alexander Parker, concerning dear 
 Josiah Coale, and prefixed to the said J. C.'s works, 
 after his death. 
 
 By this John Audland's powerful ministry, given 
 and committed to him by the Lord, was I reached 
 and turned unto the Spirit of God, which had dis- 
 covered my state unto me, as before-mentioned ; and 
 presently the testimony that was borne by the afore- 
 said messengers, was readily received ; and as I 
 
CHARLES MARSHALL. 
 
 5 
 
 kept unto tliis light, wliereunto I was turned, I saw 
 a separation made between liglit and darkness, the 
 day and the night, the precious and the vile ; and as 
 my mind loved the light, judgment was set up in my 
 heart, even laid unto the line, and righteousness to 
 the plummet. So was I brought into great dread, 
 fear and awe of God eternal, and had great esteem of, 
 and regard to God's messengers, who brought the 
 acceptable tidings of life and salvation. Through 
 them doctrine dropped as the dew, and was received ; 
 and as their words were gracious words, so was there 
 a great estimation in my soul of every word, and a 
 fear of rebelling against any part of that counsel I 
 received from them, either by word or writing. A 
 long travail I saw, through the ministration of con- 
 demnation, which indeed was glorious in its time : 
 and as I kept down to the judgment of the Lord in 
 my heart, the operation whereof was as a sword, fire, 
 and hammer, and the evil nature, in some measure, 
 came to be overcome, then something of divine re- 
 freshing streamed in, and love flowed, which refreshed 
 me in my travails. But now began the old subtle 
 enemy to lay snares, and hunt after my soul, which 
 was in some measure rescued out of the jaws of death ; 
 so that when I had precious, refreshing openings of 
 the way of truth, through which a secret hope and 
 joy sprang, the enemy led me out from sinking down 
 into a sweet enjoyment and treasuring up, to spend 
 my own bread in disputes for truth, against opposers ; 
 and to declare of it unto those who had some love for 
 it. But so it was, that after I had given and spent 
 my own bread, which was given me only to strengthen 
 my own soul, that when I came home and com- 
 muned with my own heart, and came to stillness, 
 then I saw myself quite empty, having leaked out 
 
6 
 
 JOURNAL OF 
 
 that which was given for my refreshment and con- 
 solation. My beloved was withdrawn ; then distress 
 took hold on me beyond all expression, and I was 
 greatly bowed down ; and having an understanding 
 of the cause, I was ready to promise and covenant, 
 that if I came to my former peace and refreshment 
 and feeding again, I would not run out prodigally 
 again, nor spend my portion, through which that 
 inward trouble and barrenness came over my spirit. 
 And here the enemy, that in his transforming work- 
 ings had thus led me out, would work subtly also in 
 the day of my trouble, to bring great discourage- 
 ments over my spirit, and unbelief Here my soul 
 hath in remembrance the great anxiety of spirit, and 
 sense of the withdrawings and hidings of [the Lord's] 
 face, and the vail that came over. I was thus 
 led out in a zeal not according to that knowledge 
 which the power gives in its leadings and guidings ; 
 and when I promised and covenanted, and then brake 
 covenant, I was pursued for a covenant-breaker. 
 But in time the Lord helped me through and over 
 this exercise, and I came rather to stand as a fool, 
 and to sit in silence before the Lord among his 
 people, than to wrong my condition and grieve the 
 Spirit of God. And when I thus kept obedient to 
 Wisdom's directings, a secret joy would spring, and 
 pure peace and inward ease ; yet when I came to 
 inward peace, and felt life and joy, for that the light 
 of the Lord shined on my tabernacle, for want of 
 keeping low in humility, where the growth in the 
 truth is, the enemy wrought subtly again, to per- 
 suade that there was not that need of such a severe 
 watch and inward exercise, as formerly ; through 
 which he sometimes prevailed, to lead into a liberty, 
 inward and outward, that had a tendency to lead 
 
CHARLES MARSHALL. 
 
 7 
 
 again into inward bondage : and I, through often 
 refreshings, openings, prophecies and promises, was 
 ready to conclude my mountain was immoveable. 
 But soon I found a withdrawing again of the Lord ; 
 then I knew a winter again, and the storms of the 
 enemy ; and not having yet learned the state of being 
 contented in want, as well as in aboundings, I not 
 only fell into a poor, wanting, murmuring state, but 
 also into great trouble, in a sense of this change, and 
 fears and doubts were ready to enter : I toiled in this 
 night, but could catch nothing which administered 
 any comfort that was lasting. Here I was willing 
 and running and striving, being in great fear and 
 sorrow ; and the more I toiled and laboured, kindl- 
 ing sparks of my own, the more my sorrow was 
 increased ; for as yet I had not learned the state of 
 resignation. And now, I was brought very low ; and 
 having mourned many days, in the sense of the 
 withdrawings of the presence, love and power of my 
 God, being in deep distress and amazement, Israel's 
 travels in the wilderness were opened unto me ; 
 how the Lord tried them with want of bread and 
 water, and that their happiness stood in their being 
 content and resigned up to the will of God, and in 
 the belief of the Lord's faithfulness, to have endured 
 the trial. But they murmured and repined, and 
 thereby grieved the Spirit of God ; so did I : yet 
 through the loving kindness of God, the state of 
 resignation was opened unto me, in which man stood 
 before he fell through transgression, into his own 
 Avorkings and willings. Now, when my understand- 
 ing was thus opened, my soul cried unto the Lord 
 my God, — Oh ! preserve me in pure patience and pas- 
 siveness, and in living, acceptable obedience, and I 
 will trust in thee. 
 
8 
 
 JOURNAL OF 
 
 And as I believed in tlie light of the Lord, and 
 thereby and therein was comprehended and resigned, 
 his pure power, love and life broke in as formerly, 
 Avhich greatly refreshed ; then the sun shined upon 
 my tabernacle, and I bowed before the Lord, blessing 
 and praising his holy, glorious name ; then he in- 
 .structedme, and his pure Spirit and power opened in 
 one the way of 2^reservatio7i, and that was, to centre 
 down into true humility. So then my soul began to 
 be as the dove that found a place for the soles of her 
 feet. Yet did the enemy continue to tempt by his 
 allurements, and so laid his baits and snares, that if 
 at any time I was drawn to look abroad, and went 
 out to view, as Dinah did, I was in great danger of 
 being defiled : for I found, if at any time I went out 
 from this pure, preserving power of God, that had 
 wrought in my soul through inexpressible travail, 
 and let in the spirit of the world and reasoned, and 
 thereby beheld a beauty in any fruit but what was 
 brought forth by the Tree of Life, then came over me 
 a wound, a stain and defilement. And if at any time 
 the enemy prevailed in the inward ground, to cause 
 any cleaving to his temptations, through the lusts of 
 the flesh, or the lusts of the eye, then was I afraid, 
 because of horror and inward wrath ; and then the 
 power of the Lord, in love to my soul, wrought 
 mightily, to sanctify and cleanse it again. This 
 inward exercise I passed through, when no friend nor 
 intimate acquaintance knew thereof. Oh ! I remem- 
 ber the nights of bitter sorrow that I passed through, 
 when no defilement could be discerned by any, I 
 walking blamelessly among men. For such was the 
 great love of God to my soul all along, in those days 
 of inward travail and exercise, that judgment followed 
 presently upon the outgoing of my mind : and as I 
 
CHARLES MARSHALL. 
 
 9 
 
 kept single to the Lord, and upright in heart, not 
 joining unto any iniquity, I found the Lord near at 
 hand in many exercises that happened in our city 
 and elsewhere. Also [during] the working of the 
 power of darkness in James Naylor, and the runnings 
 forth of John Perrot and others, God let me, a young 
 lad, see through all those subtle workings and trans- 
 formings, and by a secret hand preserved me. Of those 
 things and trying times I have not much upon me to 
 leave in writing at present ; known unto the Lord they 
 are, the ends, the causes, and permission, and letting 
 loose of the enemy ; and what therein hath been m 
 secret opened by the Lord, the Opener and Revealer, is 
 left. God hath willed tJie keeping low of his people in 
 every generation ; and he hath, by his power secretly struck 
 at every thing that hath a tendency to roh him of his 
 Iwnour. He delights in the humble, and dwells with 
 the broken-hearted and contrite in sjnrit ; and in this 
 state is safety and preservation to us m this age, and 
 will be the safety [of alt] in succeeding ages. And 
 now, through these exercises at which I have hinted, 
 in short, I have learned from the beginning of the 
 work of restoration and redemption, that every one's 
 preservation is in pure inward retiredness unto the 
 Lord ; and in his pure fear, awe and dread to keep 
 low ; feeling after his soul-redeeming, soid-preserving, 
 holy power, which quickens and enlivens ; and as it is 
 abode with and in, keeps alive in its own pure nature 
 and quality, over the world, its spirit and defilement. 
 
 And further, I have a sense upon my spirit, beyond 
 utterance, of the potent workings of the enemy, in 
 and through the generations of mankind, to accom- 
 plish his end, viz., that after the Lord God Almighty 
 hath appeared in any age, in the free dispensings of 
 his love unto mankind, and the breakings forth of his 
 
10 
 
 JOURNAL OF 
 
 power, and the making bare of his arm, in order to 
 restore man into covenant with Himself; then, I say, 
 hath the enemy appeared with all his power, mightily, 
 subtly, gradually, and hiddenly, to undermine and 
 anticipate the work of God ; and his great end hath 
 been, by different and manifold snares, to draw first 
 into a lessening of the estimation, in the visited people, 
 of the power and appearance of God, in this day, age, 
 and generation in which it is manifested ; and sub- 
 tly to [lead] the mind, by his transformings, into 
 an estimation of the manifestation that hath been, or 
 into a strange affectation of what may or is to appear ; 
 drawing the mind out of a due regard unto that 
 manifestation w^hich alone w^orks the eternal welfare 
 of the creature. This was the case [with Jerusalem 
 of old] to whom it was said, " if thou hadst known, 
 even thou, at least, in this thy day, the things which 
 belong unto thy peace." 
 
 So this I have learned of the Lord, and therefore 
 leave it, both to friends unto whom it may come in 
 this age and generation, and unto God's people in the 
 foUoAving generations of the world : more fully hereof 
 [may be seen] in my general and particular Epistles 
 to Friends, and in the book called The Way of Life 
 Revealed, ka. 
 
CHABLES MARSHALL. 
 
 11 
 
 CHAPTER 11. 
 
 His call to the worh of the ministry — Uxercises conse- 
 quent thereon — His concern to visit Friends through- 
 out England — Names of the places visited — Re- 
 marJzs relative to this engagement — Providential 
 escape from drowning. 
 
 After many years travail of spirit, as before in 
 short is hinted, in the year 1670, and the thirty- 
 third year of my age, God Almighty raised me up by 
 his power, which had been working in my heart many 
 years, to preach the everlasting gospel of life and 
 salvation ; and then a fresh exercise began : for the 
 enemy tempted me to withstand the Lord, to look to 
 my own weakness of body and spirit, and insufficiency 
 for such a great work. And such was the prevalency 
 of the enemy of my soul, that had not the Lord God, 
 in his inexpressible love, stood by me, borne with 
 me, and helped me, I had perished, after all, through 
 disobedience. For when the power of God fell upon 
 me, and a few words were required of me to speak in 
 the assemblies of the Lord's people in Bristol, I 
 reasoned they were a wise people, and how could it 
 be I should add to them ; also, that I might hurt 
 myself ; that imagination might be the ground of 
 such requirings, and that many wise men therein might 
 look upon me as forward, and so judge me ; and I thus 
 reasoned through some meetings, until I was in sore 
 distress. When those meetings were over, wherein I had 
 been disobedient, then great was my burden. Oh, then 
 
12 
 
 JOURNAL OP 
 
 I was ready to engage and covenant with the Lord, 
 that if I felt the requirings of his power again, I would 
 faithfully give up in obedience unto him. Yet when 
 I was tried again, the same rebellious mind would be 
 stirred by the power of the enemy : then hath the 
 Lord withdrawn the motions and the feeling of his 
 power, and all refreshment with it, and hid his face. 
 Then was I in great sorrow, having a sense of others 
 feeding on the bread of life in our meetings, and 
 drawing the water of life, but my soul was without 
 [refreshment :] great bars [were] over [me,] and as 
 it were, a sealing down under darkness ; I beheld 
 the displeasure of the Lord, and was bowed down 
 and in great affliction ; my soul cried to the Lord to 
 try me again with the breakings in of his power, and 
 to give me a clear, demonstrative knowledge of his 
 requirings, and I would obey him. Then the Lord 
 God of life heard my cry again, and opened my heart 
 that had been fast shut. And when I began to feel 
 the warming power of God stirring in my inward 
 man, I was glad on one hand, but very sorrowful on 
 the other hand, fearing lest T should be rebellious 
 again : and so hard was it for me to open my mouth 
 in those meetings at Bristol, that had not the Lord 
 caused his power so to be manifest in my heart, as 
 new wine in a vessel that wanted vent, I might have 
 perished. But the Lord had regard to my state, and 
 knew the people's state, among whom I was gathered, 
 and also first brought forth among : and when, 
 through the great and wonderful love and power of 
 my God, I had broken through, the enemy's snares 
 were manifest ; for which my soul praised the Lord 
 God of my life ; and I have been, and often am 
 broken in the sense of his goodness to me when a 
 child, nay, as a worm. And in the sense thereof, 
 
CHARLES MARSHALL. 
 
 at this time, even in tlie fresh remembrance of tliy 
 love, I bless, magnify and extol thy name, 0 Lord, 
 who art good, and doest good, and art worthy of all 
 fear, obedience, reverence, and honour, for ever and 
 ever. 
 
 After 1 had, through the goodness, love, and power 
 of God, gotten dominion in a measure, over that 
 which did let, I faithfully gave up liberty, estate, 
 relations and all, to my God, and was drawn forth in 
 his power, in the assemblies of his people in the city 
 of Bristol and places adjacent. And as I gave up in 
 obedience, I found my way made easier and easier, 
 and the enemy that would have hindered me, more 
 and more conquered j so in the year 1670, 1 received 
 this commission from God, — Eun through the nation, 
 and visit my breathing, bruised birth, which I begat 
 among my people, in the day of their first tender visi- 
 tation ; proclaim my acceptable year, and day of per- 
 fect deliverance to my breathing, tender birth, and my 
 day of vengeance to come upon all that have bruised 
 it, either among my people or in the world. Then 
 cried I unto the Lord, — How shall I visit thy people 
 in these times, when the rod of the wicked is upon 
 their backs ; and almost everywhere endeavours [are 
 used,] through violence, to scatter the assemblies of 
 thy people ! How shall I meet with them ! — And 
 the Lord said — Go, I will prosper thy way ; and this 
 present exercise which is over my people, shall be as 
 a morning cloud ; and 1 will be to them as the 
 tender dew, through the land of thy nativity. — Then 
 bowed I before the Lord, and travelled in obedience 
 to his command ; and from the latter end of the Tenth 
 Month, 1670, to the 20th of the Twelfth Month, 1672, 
 I was at about 400 meetings, the particulars whereof 
 follow. 
 
14 
 
 JOURNAL OF 
 
 About the latter end of the Tenth Month, 1670, I 
 visited the meetings in and near the city of Bristol. 
 
 On the 12th of the Eleventh Month, I went forth of 
 Bristol. 
 
 12thMo.23rd,Wishaw and 
 
 1670. 
 
 1 1th Mo. 13th,I had a meet- 
 ing at Calne, 
 and one at 
 Marlborough. 
 
 14, at Chippen- 
 ham. 
 
 15, Uridge Farm 
 and Corsham 
 Ridge. 
 
 16, Shaw Hill. 
 
 17, Camberwell. 
 
 18, Sutton. 
 
 19, Charlecot. 
 
 20, Charlecot. 
 
 21, Nailsworth. 
 
 22, Cirencester. 
 Then I came to Bristol, 
 
 out of Wiltshire, went out 
 
 again on the 5th of 12th 
 
 Month, 1670, [and was] at 
 
 the General Meeting at 
 
 Nailsworth. 
 
 12th Mo. 9th, Oldstone. 
 
 12, Pucklechurch. 
 
 14, Abington. 
 
 15, Ross. 
 
 16, Gloucester and 
 
 Cheltenham. 
 Tewksbury. 
 Evesham. 
 Campden. 
 Warwick and 
 Dordon. 
 
 17, 
 
 18, 
 19, 
 20, 
 
 24, 
 26, 
 28, 
 
 1671. 
 stMo.2nd, 
 5, 
 
 Birmingham. 
 
 Lin. 
 Trole. 
 Lancaster. 
 
 Kendal. 
 S war th more. 
 
 8, Franly. 
 
 9, Congleton. 
 
 12, Bradley. 
 
 13, Stourbridge. 
 
 14, Dudley and 
 
 Stourbridge. 
 
 15, Chadwick. 
 
 16, Worcester. 
 
 17, Pershore. 
 
 19, Evesham, two 
 
 meetings. 
 
 20, Tewksbury and 
 
 Gloucester. 
 Then to Bristol. 
 I wesnt again from Bristol 
 the 30th of the 1st Month, 
 called March, [O.S.] 
 
 31, at Cannings, (a 
 General Meeting.) 
 2nd Mo. 1st, Calne. 
 
 2, Foxham. 
 
 3, Cheverell. 
 
 4, Bugly. 
 7, Wallop. 
 
 9, Southampton. 
 11, Alton. 
 
CHARLES MARSHALL. 
 
 15 
 
 2nd.Mo,12th, Hedley. 
 
 14, near Guildford. 
 
 16, Gracechurch 
 Street. 
 
 18, Devonshire- 
 house. 
 
 21, Horsleydown. 
 
 22, Westminster. 
 
 23, WheelerStreet. 
 25, Devonshire- 
 house and Peel. 
 
 28, RatclifF. 
 3rd Mo. 2nd, Bristol, Men's 
 Meeting. 
 3, 5, 7, Bristol. 
 I went from Bristol on 
 the 9th of the 3rd Month, 
 1671, to visit the West of 
 England. 
 
 10, Hollowtrow. 
 ll,Shepton Mallet. 
 12, Street and 11- 
 chester. 
 
 14, Membury and 
 
 Honiton. 
 
 15, Absom. 
 
 16, nearNortonand 
 
 Launceston. 
 18, Falmouth and 
 near it. 
 
 22, Truro. 
 
 23, Thos. Lower's. 
 
 24, TrigenJervis'. 
 
 25, Thos. Mount's. 
 
 26, Menhinuick. 
 28, 29, Plymouth. 
 
 4th Mo. 1st, Coliton. 
 
 2, Ashton. 
 
 3, Thorncombe. 
 
 4th Mo. 4 th, Bridport. 
 
 5, Weymouth, and 
 
 at a village by. 
 
 6, Poole. 
 
 7, Ringwood and 
 Southampton. 
 
 8, Portsmouth. 
 
 9, Porchester. 
 
 10, Petersfield. 
 
 11, Guildford. 
 
 12, London. 
 
 13, A General Meet- 
 
 ing. 
 
 14, Another. 
 
 16, Peel. 
 
 17, Westminster. 
 19, Colchester. 
 
 22, Coggeshall. 
 
 23, Ibid, Quarterly 
 
 Meeting. 
 25, Hemmington 
 and Halstead. 
 
 29, Haverill and 
 Brick-house. 
 
 30, Felsted. 
 
 31, Colchester. 
 5thMo.2nd,Overbury-hall. 
 
 4, Woodbury. 
 
 5, Bucklesham. 
 
 6, Ipswich. 
 
 10, Mendlesham. 
 12, 13, Ibid, Quar- 
 terly Meeting. 
 
 14, Two [Meetings] 
 
 at Bury. 
 
 15, Snarehill. 
 
 1 6, Bamplingham. 
 
 17, Tivetsall. 
 
 18, John Barber's. 
 
16 
 
 JOURNAL OP 
 
 5tliMo.l9th, Norwich. 
 
 20, Stoke. 
 
 21, Wbittlesfeii,in 
 
 thelsleofElj. 
 
 24, Long Sutton, 
 
 Lincolnshire. 
 
 25, Wingolf. 
 
 26, West Wellow- 
 
 by,at William 
 Moince's. 
 
 27, Lincoln. 
 
 28, The Isle of Ax- 
 
 holm. 
 
 30, Garshop. 
 
 31, Sike. 
 6th Mo. 1st, Selby. 
 
 2, York, two meet- 
 
 ings. 
 
 3, Mai ton. 
 
 4, Scarborough. 
 
 5, Whitby. 
 
 6, Hinderwell, in 
 
 theBishoprick 
 of Durham. 
 
 7, Stockton. 
 
 8, Shotton. 
 
 10, Near Auckland. 
 
 11, Bowden. 
 
 12, Newcastle. 
 
 13, Darmonwater. 
 
 14, Arlington. 
 
 1 6, Matson. 
 
 17, Carlisle. 
 
 18, Scotby and 
 
 Morehouse. 
 ThomasStor- 
 dy's, within 
 two miles of 
 Scotland. 
 
 6th Mo. 20th, George Bu- 
 lie's, Cumber- 
 land. 
 
 27, Preston in 
 Westmoreland, 
 Morland. 
 
 30, Swarthmore. 
 
 31, Lancaster. 
 7th Mo. Warwick. 
 
 2, Barmel. 
 4, Franly. 
 6, Near StaiFord. 
 
 8, Coventry. 
 
 9, Warwick. 
 
 10, Lament-house, 
 and Cirencester. 
 
 11, Bristol. 
 
 ] 3, Winterborn. 
 
 20, Week. 
 
 21, Calne. 
 
 23, 24, Andover! 
 Then I went to London, 
 and through the Meetings 
 [of that city,] from the 
 26th of the 7th Month to 
 the 8 th of the 8th Month, 
 and from thence into Es- 
 sex, where I had three 
 Meetings, and so into Suf- 
 folk ; from thence I re- 
 turned to London in about 
 five days, and had two 
 meetings more. After 
 these two meetings,! came 
 from London to Bristol, 
 which was about the 20th 
 of the 8th Month, 1671. 
 
 I then spent some time 
 in visiting the meetings 
 
CHARLES MARSHALL. 
 
 17 
 
 in and about Bristol, and 
 almost all the meetings 
 in Wiltshire, and part 
 of those in Gloucester- 
 shire. 
 
 I went again from Bris- 
 tol on the 2nd of the 11th 
 Month, 1671, [and attend- 
 ed meetings as follows.] 
 11 th Mo. 4th, at Cirencester. 
 0, Gloucester. 
 7, Nailsworth. 
 9, Sutton-under- 
 Braylis. 
 
 11, Siddington, 
 
 Cirencester. 
 
 12, Cricklade, and 
 
 a village a mile 
 fromCricldade. 
 14, Sutton-under- 
 Braylis. 
 
 16, Warwick. 
 
 17, Coventry. 
 
 18, HinckleV- 
 
 19, I went to see 
 G.F. 'smother 
 in Leicester- 
 shire. 
 
 21, Badgiej. 
 
 22, Swanington, 
 Castle Dun- 
 nington. 
 
 23, Nottingham. 
 
 24, Seatly. 
 
 26, Little Nor- 
 manton, at 
 Thos. Broke- 
 shaw's. 
 
 2 8,nearDerbyshire, 
 
 nth Mo. 2 9th, near Derby. 
 
 30, Sileby. 
 
 31, Kirby, (Lei- 
 cestershire 
 Quarterly 
 Meeting.) 
 
 12th Mo. 1st, Leicester, at 
 Samuel Wil- 
 son's. 
 2, Black Ashley, 
 Hartshill, at 
 Nathaniel 
 Nutton's. 
 
 4, near Leicester, 
 at Wm. Wells'. 
 
 5, Long Clanson, 
 in the Vale of 
 Bevor, at Ed. 
 Hallum's. 
 
 Ibid, had a great 
 Meeting at 
 night. 
 
 6, Oakham, Rut- 
 landshire. 
 
 7, Farndon, near 
 Market-Har- 
 borough. 
 
 8, Northampton. 
 
 9, Wellingbo- 
 rough. 
 
 11, Kings-Rippon. 
 
 13, Earith, which 
 took in friends 
 of Cambridge- 
 shire and the 
 Isle of Ely. 
 
 14, Ash well. 
 
 15, Hitchin and 
 Baldock. 
 
18 
 
 JOURNAL OF 
 
 12thMo.l6tli, Hertford. 
 
 1 8, LondoiijGrace- 
 church Street, 
 and Peel. 
 19, The Men's 
 Meeting. 
 
 26, I set forward 
 
 towardsKent. 
 
 27, Frinsbury. 
 
 28, Canterbury. 
 
 29, Dover. 
 1672. 
 
 1st Mo. 1st, Deal. 
 
 2, Sandwich. 
 
 3, Warasted. 
 
 4, Swing-field. 
 
 5, Masom. 
 
 6, Tenterden. 
 
 7, nearCranbrook. 
 
 8, Staplehurst. 
 
 9, Frinsbury and 
 
 Gravesend. 
 
 10, London, Bull 
 and Mouth. 
 
 11, Sarah Sawyer's. 
 13, Peel, and so 
 
 from meeting 
 to meeting in 
 that city. 
 
 21, Alban's. 
 
 22, Kensworth. 
 
 24, General Meet- 
 ing for Buck- 
 inghamshire. 
 
 26, Marlborough, 
 and the next day home, 
 where I remained four 
 days, and had a meeting 
 at Charlecot, another at 
 
 Gotaker, and four meet- 
 ings at Bristol. 
 2nd Mo. 4th, at Chippen- 
 ham. 
 
 5, Marlborough. 
 
 6, Sutton. 
 
 29, Gloucester. 
 
 30, Ross. 
 3rd Mo. 2nd, Ross. 
 
 3, Hereford. 
 
 4, Leominster. 
 
 6, Almesly. 
 
 7, Shrewsbury. 
 
 8, Edgmond. 
 
 9, Shrewsbury. 
 10, Bradley in Staf- 
 fordshire. 
 
 12, Lin. 
 
 13, Birmingham. 
 
 14, near Dudley. 
 
 15, Birmingham, 
 
 Warwick. 
 
 16, Banbury. 
 
 17, Hooknorton. 
 
 18, Nornewton. 
 
 20, Bugbrook. 
 
 21, Northampton. 
 
 22, Wellingborough. 
 
 23, Sherrington. 
 
 24, Kensworth. 
 
 25, Albans. 
 
 2 6, Winchmore-hill. 
 
 27, The General 
 Meeting in 
 London. 
 
 28, I went out of 
 London. 
 
 29, Colchester. 
 
 30, Coggeshall. 
 
CHAELES 3IAESHALL. 
 
 10 
 
 3rd Mo. ai st,0verbui7-liall 
 in Suffolk, at 
 Ann Doyly's. 
 4:th. Mo. 3rd, Mendlesham. 
 4, Ann Doyly's 
 
 uncle's. 
 6, "Witham. 
 
 7, Manningtree. 
 
 9, Colchester. 
 10, HinginghanL 
 
 13, Felstead. 
 
 14, 16, Plaistow, 
 near London. 
 
 18, Croydon. 
 
 19, Burmeg. 
 
 20, near Reigate. 
 
 21, near Grinstead. 
 24, Warbleton. 
 26, LeNves. 
 
 28, The great house 
 in Saine, and so through 
 Surrey and Hampshire, 
 home, where I remained 
 ill about two months, and 
 was, in appearance, at the 
 brink of the grave ; but 
 was raised by the power 
 of God. 
 
 After my recovery, I 
 visited Friends about 
 Wiltshire. 
 
 On the 4th of the 8th 
 Month, 1*372, I took ray 
 journey for London, hav- 
 ing a particular requiring 
 to visit that city. 
 8th Mo. 4th, [I attended] 
 Devizes Quar- 
 terly Meeting. 
 
 8th Mo. 5th, Marlborough. 
 6, Reading. 
 
 8, Reading. 
 
 9, Henley-upon- 
 
 Thames, and 
 had a dispute 
 with the Bap- 
 tists. 
 
 10, Windsor. 
 
 11, London. 
 
 13, Gracechurch 
 Street, and 
 Sarah Saw- 
 yer's. 
 
 15, Peel. 
 
 16, The new meet- 
 
 ing-house, \iz. 
 Savoy. 
 
 17, Westminster. 
 
 18, Peel. 
 
 20, Bull and Mouth 
 and Horsley- 
 down. 
 
 22, Witham, in Es- 
 
 sex. 
 
 23, Colchester. 
 
 24, Halstead. 
 
 25, Manly. 
 
 26, Overburv Hall, 
 
 in Suffolk. 
 
 27, Colchester. 
 
 28, CoggeshaU, 
 
 Ibid, night. 
 
 29, came into Lon- 
 
 don. 
 31, Devonshire- 
 house. 
 9th Mo. 1st, Ratcliff. 
 3, PeeL 
 c 2 
 
20 
 
 JOURNAL OF 
 
 9tliMo.4tli, Gracechurcli 
 Street. 
 
 5, Devon shire- 
 
 house. 
 
 6, Wheeler Street. 
 8, Sarah Sawyer's. 
 
 Then I was sick a week. 
 15, Gracechurch 
 
 Street and 
 Devonshire- 
 house. 
 Then was I moved to 
 visit the city of Bristol ; 
 came out of London on 
 the 16th. 
 
 17, Reading and 
 
 Newbury. 
 19, I came home, 
 and stayed until the exer- 
 cise of parting with my 
 child was over : I had 
 three meetings, and then 
 went to Bristol. 
 11th Mo. 13th, Tethhury. 
 
 14, Badmington. 
 
 15, Nailsworth. 
 
 16, Painswick. 
 18, Cirencester, 
 
 two meetings. 
 
 20, Cricklade. 
 
 21, Gloucester. 
 
 nth Mo. 22nd, Ross, 
 
 23, Leominster, 
 
 25, Almley. 
 
 26, Year Island. 
 
 28, near Leomin- 
 ster. 
 
 29, Hereford and 
 Ross. 
 
 30, Gloucester. 
 12th Mo. 1st, Gloucester. 
 
 4, Cirencester. 
 
 5, Shipston. 
 
 6, Sutton-under- 
 Braylis and 
 Tadmerton, 
 
 10, Banbury. 
 
 11, Adderbury. 
 
 12, Banbury. 
 14, Charlbury. 
 16, Two at Oxford, 
 20, Calne. 
 
 And on the 21st of the 
 12thMonth, 1672, 1 came 
 home again, where I was 
 ill about thirteen days ; 
 and after visiting a few 
 meetings in Wiltshire, I 
 went to Bristol, was at 
 several meetings there, 
 and in the country ad- 
 jacent. 
 
 Now in my foregoing travels many were convinced, 
 and the mouths of gainsayers stopped : the Spirit of 
 God fell on divers that have now a testimony to bear 
 for his name. I was many times brought very low 
 in my body, even to the brink of the grave ; yet God 
 Almighty, in loving-kindness, raised me up again, 
 particularly twice, in a marvellous manner. Great 
 
CHARLES MARSHALL. 
 
 21 
 
 were the trials, sorrows, difficulties and jeopardies, 
 inwardly and outwardly, that I w^ent through in this 
 travel, which God Almighty only knows ; and great 
 were his deliverances many ways ; one particular 
 instance of which here followeth, to wit ; in going 
 over the sands, near Margaret Fox's, in Lancashire, 
 I was wonderfully preserved with four more : for 
 being come down to the sea-shore, in order to cross 
 the sands, two persons that lived on the other side 
 informed us, we might go over safely ; and nothing 
 appeared to the contrary : but when I attempted to 
 go, I was stopped in my mind ; and waiting a season 
 on the Lord, I was forbid to go ; and it was showed 
 me, that if any attempted to go at that time, they 
 w'ould perish ; which caused me to hinder passengers 
 from going : and in about an hour the sea over- 
 flowed ; so that if we had gone, in all likelihood we 
 had perished ; which w^hen some that were there saw, 
 they were greatly tendered, and magnified the name 
 of the Lord. 
 
22 
 
 JOURNAL OF 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 A warning to the cities of London and Bristol — Ee- 
 marhable protection from persecution during his 
 travels through the nation — His sufferings at some 
 other times — Great convincements which resulted frmn 
 his Gospel labours — Notice of the apostacy of John 
 Wilkinson, and J ohn Story, and exercises occasioned 
 thereby — The designs of the separatists defeated — 
 Charles Marshall is imprisoned in London — 
 Remarks on his Gospel labours and other service — 
 His last illness and decease. 
 
 When visiting the city of London, I left a paper, a 
 copy whereof here followeth. 
 
 " A warning to the people that have lent their 
 ear to the declaration of the truth, and have not 
 received it in the love of it. 
 
 " A warning to those convinced of the truth, who 
 have not subjected themselves thereto, in pure, living 
 obedience. 
 
 " A warning to all who have begun in the Spirit, 
 and set their faces Zionward, that they neither return 
 into Egypt, (spiritually so called,) nor sit down by 
 the way. 
 
 " The dreadful day of God's vengeance proclaimed, 
 in which all professors and professions shall be tried, 
 the floor thoroughly purged, the wheat fanned, and 
 the gold tried ; and the day of God [shall come] upon 
 all images and likenesses. 
 
CHARLES MARSHALL. 
 
 23 
 
 " A treading down of all tliat which is risen 
 through a loss of the ancient, eternal power. 
 
 " A day of calamity, misery, amazement and dis- 
 tress, to come upon the inhabitants of the city of 
 London, and the begirdings of sorrow upon the nation 
 of England ; and after this day, the day of gathering 
 through nations, of the dispersed of Israel and the 
 scattered of Jacob." 
 
 In the name and authority of God Almighty, I 
 also cleared my conscience of the city of Bristol, and 
 have not kept back his counsel from them ; but in 
 the power and demonstration of his Eternal Spirit, 
 and in all manner of plainness, I have declared the 
 truth as it is in Jesus, manifesting the many snares 
 of the enemy that do attend Friends of that city ; and 
 I am clear of the blood of the inhabitants thereof, 
 and of all professing truth therein ; and am assured 
 that a day of deep trial will come upon many of its 
 inhabitants ; for, as was my testimony to the city of 
 London, so was it to the city of Bristol. 
 
 Now, in this day of my travel through the land, there 
 "were many attempts made for my imprisonment ; 
 but the Lord was with me, as often it was his word, — I 
 am with thee ; — and the word of the Lord was as a fire 
 in my bones, [constraining me] to run through the 
 land : and he helped me often in the spiritual battle 
 with the enemy of the souls of the sons and daughters 
 of men. And so it was, that although the laws were 
 then put in execution against dissenters, which em- 
 powered the magistrate to fine twenty pounds for the 
 house wherein was a meeting, five shillings for every 
 person present, and twenty pounds for the preacher ; 
 and those that were accounted able, were to pay the 
 fines of the poor ; and the informer to have a third 
 part thereof ; yet in this time of sore persecution, in 
 
24 
 
 JOURNAL OF 
 
 all my passage through cities, towns, and all the 
 counties in England, no man was suffered to lay 
 hands on me to stop my way ; neither did any man, 
 that I know of, lose five pounds on my account, 
 throughout the nation. This short account I leave 
 to posterity, not out of any glory to self, but to mag- 
 nify and exalt the holy power and arm of the Lord ; 
 and that many travellers yet to be raised up, may be 
 refreshed, and trust in the Lord Jehovah, in whom is 
 everlasting strength. For although He call to hard 
 things, yet is he not a hard Master, but giveth power 
 unto all that believe in his Arm and trust in Him ; 
 his glorious power and right arm of salvation hath 
 done glorious things in our day : unto Him, through 
 generations, be given and rendered everlasting praises, 
 honour, holy thanksgiving and renown, [even] unto 
 Him w^ho liveth for ever and ever. 
 
 [Although Charles Marshall was, as he observes, 
 whilst engaged in the above-mentioned extensive ser- 
 vice, preserved in a remarkable manner, from impri- 
 sonment and personal abuse, yet it appears that at 
 some other times he shared with his fellow-profes- 
 sors in sufferings for conscience' sake. In the year 
 1664, a law was passed, bearing the title of " An Act 
 to prevent and suppress seditious conventicles," which 
 forbade " the assembling together of five or more per- 
 sons under colour or pretence of any exercise of reli- 
 gion, in other manner than is allowed by the liturgy 
 or practice of the Church of England," on pain of 
 imprisonment or fine for the first and second offences, 
 and transportation beyond the seas for the third 
 offence. Among the names of 219 persons, convicted 
 under this Act, of the first offence, are those of 
 Charles and Hannah Marshall. C. M. was also, in 
 the year 1670, taken up by a priest, on a writ, issued 
 by virtue of a law passed in the 23rd year of Queen 
 
CHARLES MARSHALL. 
 
 25 
 
 Elizabeth, Avliicli enacted that " every person not 
 repairing to their parish church, shall forfeit twenty 
 pounds for every month they so make default." See 
 Besse's Collection of the Sufferings of the people called 
 Quakers. 
 
 Another instance of suffering which befell Charles 
 Marshall, is related by John Whiting, a friend who 
 resided in Somersetshire, as follows : — " It was in 
 great dread and power he came among us, and had 
 great meetings in our county, as at Portishead, 
 Nailsea, Backwell and Claverham ; at which last 
 place he was, in the Tenth Month, 1674, pulled down 
 as he was at prayer, by some justices of the peace, so 
 called, (but some of them, in those days, were the 
 greatest disturbers of it ;) particularly Francis Pawlet, 
 of Wells, who laid violent hands on him, to pull him 
 through the rail where Friends used to stand, griping 
 him so, by the side, as caused him to spit blood, and 
 haled him out of the meeting ; which hurt he felt 
 and complained of long after." See also the account 
 of C. M.'s imprisonment, page 30. — En.] 
 
 [The Editor is unwilling to pass from the subject 
 of sufferino-s, without insertino- an extract from a 
 letter written to Charles Marshall, wherein is exhi- 
 bited the efficacy of that divine support, through which 
 our early Friends were enabled, even when under 
 bonds and afflictions, to " rejoice, and give thanks." 
 
 " Through the mercy of the Lord and his goodness 
 towards me and my fellow-prisoners, we have no 
 cause to complain in our sufferings ; for the Lord is 
 pleased to afford his powerful presence to attend us, 
 which refreshes our souls and rejoices our hearts. 
 For these his mercies, let my soul bless his holy 
 name, and that for ever more, who makes hard things 
 easy and heavy burdens light, through his goodness 
 and mercy. " John Harris." 
 
 The said John Harris was committed to prison at 
 Fisherton-Anger in the Eighth Month, 1683, at the 
 
26 
 
 JOURNAL OP 
 
 suit of Daniel Salloway, priest of Hilmartoii. When 
 in prison, the priest his prosecutor, endeavoured to 
 persuade the gaoler to keep him close, and not allow 
 him the benefit of the air. — Besse.] 
 
 After this, I did not travel so constantly or 
 swiftly, nor [have I] kept any account of many 
 remarkable things, signal deliverances and preser- 
 vations that I met with in my travels j but this 
 I can say in truth, and in the presence of my 
 God, who opened the door of people's hearts so 
 effectually, that I believe thousands received the 
 word of life : many were added to the church in 
 divers places, and meetings were settled in some 
 places where there was never a Friend before. In 
 one place a whole meeting was convinced at one 
 time ; and I never heard that any of them turned 
 back, [or] but [that they continued] faithful unto 
 the Lord. Oil ! the tenderness that mine eye has 
 seen in many places through the land : the watering 
 showers that descended on the Lord's plantation, is 
 beyond expression. Many that had apostatized and 
 backslidden, were effectually reached and brought 
 back again ; so that I may say, the Lord was with 
 me and made way for me, according to his word, 
 before I went forth to travel through the land. 
 
 I continued labouring until the time that John 
 Story and John Wilkinson, with their adherents, set 
 themselves up to oppose the order and discipline that 
 were then set up in the churches of Christ. 
 
 This opposition was carried on eagerly, under a 
 specious pretence of standing up against imposition ; 
 but it took its origin from the minds of some, [who] 
 going into a singular spirit and getting into an 
 undue liberty, endeavoured to lead others into the 
 same ; a fearful, slothful spirit, that left and turned 
 
CHARLES MARSHALL. 
 
 27 
 
 from the pure power of the Lord, and a daily depend- 
 ence on its fresh arisings and quickenings ; retaining 
 a ministry of the doctrinal part of truth, in a dry and 
 dead spirit ; endeavouring to lay waste the Quarterly, 
 Monthly, Yearly, and Women's Meetings, by opposing 
 the settled methods thereof ; calling them forms and 
 an idol; when indeed it was the same divine power 
 and wisdom that gathered us to be a people, that 
 caused the setting up and settling good order and 
 discipline amongst us ; for taking care of the poor, 
 the widows and fatherless ; for care as to due proceed- 
 ing in that great concern of marriage, and other 
 things relating to the service of Truth and the welfare 
 of the church. 
 
 Great was the travail of our ancient, honourable 
 friend George Fox, in this weighty concern, in the 
 first breaking forth of Truth in this age of the world ; 
 and several other brethren were also deeply concerned 
 in the settling of many meetings in the said good 
 order ; and we found the Lord with us in our work 
 and service. 
 
 Now the power of the Lord wrought thus, to settle 
 us a people in a good order, that we might appear to 
 the world to be guided by his wisdom, and be found 
 in the form of godliness, as it arose from the power of 
 it inwardly in the soul. But the enemy, that would 
 have had us a people in confusion, a Babel instead of 
 a Zion, wrought designedly, in the earthly, sensual 
 wisdom of some loose-spirited men, who had lost 
 their divine sight and sense of the goings and lead- 
 ings of the Almighty, and brought them into a false 
 imagination, that we were going from the inward 
 guidance of God's Spirit, to set up forms like other 
 professions, and thereby were leaving the light of 
 Christ Jesus, which was to be every man's guide in 
 
28 
 
 JOURNAL OF 
 
 faith and practice. Hereupon they endeavoured, v/ith 
 all their strength, to break down and lay waste the 
 meetings before mentioned, crying, — imposition on 
 conscience was the cause of their separation j — when 
 in truth it was an opposition by the power of darkness 
 working in themselves, whereby they were quickly 
 benighted ; and many ran into their errors. 
 
 Now this spirit brought great affliction and travail 
 upon some particulars, in the beginning of its work- 
 ings in Westmoreland and other parts of the north ; 
 and in Bristol, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire and some 
 other places. Great was the hurt and disorder it 
 made in Bristol and Wiltshire ; because of which the 
 Lord concerned me, with other faithful brethren, in 
 his name and power to make war, in great travail, 
 sorrow, tears and distress of spirit, for several years 
 together ; to run in between the living and the dead. 
 I travelled [on this account] in Gloucestershire, 
 Somersetshire, Berkshire, and to London, for several 
 years ; and can say, the Lord God, who guided me to 
 travel in his name and dread through the land, was 
 with me in this day of deep exercise ; and I have 
 cause, in great bowings of spirit, to magnify his 
 glorious name, who preserved me faithful over all 
 discouragement. My bow he made strong, and my 
 quiver he daily replenished with arrows ; my soul he 
 caused to be, as it were, baptized for the dead, as one 
 eating the bread of adversity, and drinking the water 
 of affliction ; and I spared neither strength nor 
 substance. 
 
 And indeed, to a great height of opposition did 
 this spirit of division rise in divers instruments : 
 the clouds were so thick, and the mist of darkness so 
 great, that many poor sheep were in danger of 
 becoming a prey to the wolf and devourer. The 
 
CHARLES MARSHALL. 
 
 29 
 
 honest hearted were grieved and bowed down, and 
 the rich in imagination exalted in rage and fury ; 
 so that this separation came quickly to be spread in 
 the sight of the world ; and in several places we were 
 shut out of our meeting-houses, and exposed in the 
 streets to the view of the world. 
 
 I very well remember the day that I received 
 instructions of the Lord in a vision, concerning that 
 people, wherein their work, end and downfall were 
 shown unto me ; so that a concern came on my soul 
 to invite faithful Friends of Wiltshire to have a meet- 
 ing on purpose to wait upon the Lord, in a deep 
 concern of soul ; and to cry to him to appear for his 
 name's sake and his people. And friends did readily 
 answer my desire, and we agreed upon such a meet- 
 ing ; and the first was in the town and place where 
 [the opposers] designed to have laid waste the Quar- 
 terly Meeting of that county. When we were wait- 
 ing upon the Lord, this was the cry of my soul 
 amongst friends and brethren : — 0 Lord ! what wilt 
 thou do for thy great name, that is dishonoured ; thy 
 heritage whom the enemy and destroyer would now 
 scatter ? [he would] devour thy lambs, spoil and 
 trample down thy vineyard, (fee. — Thus we cried, in 
 bowedness of spirit before the Lord, who heard from 
 heaven, his holy habitation ; and his power broke 
 forth in a wonderful manner, tendering his people 
 before Him : the Majesty of his presence, and glory 
 of his power and heavenly wisdom, comforted and 
 confirmed his servants that day ; and Friends were 
 opened to speak well of the name of the Lord, and 
 greatness of his power and appearance. This meeting 
 was then concluded to be continued, and it was so for 
 many years ; our wrestling therein prevailed with the 
 Lord, who attended us with his heavenly power and 
 
30 
 
 JOURNAL OF 
 
 presence ; and we saw from that day, the blasting of 
 that spirit in all its undertakings, and the confirming 
 of [the Lord's] heritage and people. 
 
 And the same power of God wrought a great, inex- 
 pressible travail in the city of Bristol ; there the Lord 
 God of Power many times signally caused a decision, 
 (and that in great assemblies, as at their fair-time, 
 when many of those preachers up of separation flocked 
 together,) and disappointed the design of their great 
 appearances : David's sling and stone smote their 
 Goliath, that rose up against the armies of Israel ; 
 and [the Lord's] glory has shined over all. I cannot 
 forget the many days, nights and years of sorrow I 
 went through in that city, wherein I laboured, in the 
 power of the Most High, for the settling in some 
 measure, the churches of Christ, in the city and ad- 
 jacent counties, in peace and good order. 
 
 After this time did the enemy fill the heart of the 
 priest of the parish where I dwelt ; and he laboured 
 many months to get me into prison, and take away 
 my substance ; sparing no cost until he got me into 
 the Fleet-prison in London, where I was, both before, 
 and at the time of the great frost,* and thus came to 
 be separated from my dear wife and children : in 
 about a year's time after, my family removed up to 
 London. During this imprisonment I suffered much 
 in body, spirit and substance, kno^^^l to the Lord, 
 who was with me, as his word was often to me in my 
 travails. 
 
 About the space of two years after, the priest came 
 to the prison, caused the doors to be opened, and 
 brought me out ; and some time after he died. 
 
 * According to a respectable publication of Remarkable Occur- 
 rences, this frost commenced in the Tenth Month, 1683, and 
 continued 13 weeks. — Ed. 
 
CHARLES MARSHALL. 
 
 31 
 
 [Our historian John Gough, in his account of 
 Charles Marshall, states the following particulars 
 respecting this imprisonment : ''In the year 1682, 
 whilst resident at Tetherington in Wiltshire, he was 
 prosecuted for tithes, by John Townsend, priest of 
 that parish ; in consequence whereof he was arrested 
 and brought before the Barons of the Exchequer, and 
 committed to the Fleet-prison, where he was confined 
 for the space of two years. The priest growing un- 
 easy in his mind about this time, came in person to 
 the prison, released him, and soon after died." — Ed.] 
 
 I then settled, with my family near London, and 
 for many years laboured in the gospel in that city ; 
 and was greatly concerned for the sick, and in several 
 services for God's church and people : I was frequently 
 concerned with some in the government, on behalf of 
 his suffering people and the good t)f my native country ; 
 which I shall pass by, as to particulars, desiring to be 
 as concise as may be, in this account of my labour, 
 travels and exercises. But before I conclude, I must 
 say, for my last three years, I was several times con- 
 cerned to visit the city of Bristol and adjacent coun- 
 ties. And God Almighty concerned me in a great 
 travail, in those several visits, which he gave me 
 power and strength to go through ; where his glory 
 did shine over all, his river ran, his latter rain de- 
 scended ; the springs of the deep have been broken 
 up, and the mysteries of the kingdom, and travels of 
 spiritual Israel have been abundantly opened and 
 answered. Oh, that they may be a worthy people, to 
 the praise and renown of the name of the Lord ! is 
 my soul's cry to the God of my life, on their behalf. 
 
 Charles Marshall. 
 
 * [The account which follows, of the peaceful close 
 of this diligent labourer in the Lord's vineyard, is 
 
32 
 
 JOURNAL OF 
 
 extracted from Gouglis History of Friends, and Piety 
 Promoted : and as it is, for the most part, additional 
 to that contained in the Testimonies which precede 
 the Journal, the Editor trusts it will not be con- 
 sidered unsuitably appended in this place. 
 
 "His last journey was to Bristol and the western 
 counties ; after his return from which, he was visited 
 with a lingering indisposition, which proved mortal, 
 contrary to the opinion of his physicians, but not to 
 his own ; for he seemed fixed in his opinion that it 
 would terminate his existence in this world. 
 
 " And even before his illness he seemed to have a 
 presage of his approaching end ; for, some little time 
 before, he pressingly requested an intimate friend to 
 take a ride with him, having something of moment 
 to impart ; and when they were gone a few miles out 
 of London, he told him, he was satisfied the time of 
 his departure drew near, and therefore he was desirous 
 of an opportunity to (Jiscoursewith him, between them- 
 selves, about some particulars, before he died. 
 
 " And when, soon after this, he was seized with in- 
 disposition, though he remained settled in opinion 
 that he should not recover, yet this fixed persuasion 
 of his mind was attended with no fearful apprehen- 
 sions of his future well-being : having passed a life of 
 faithfulness, integrity and extensive benevolence in 
 the service of God and man, he felt, in the assured 
 prospect of his approaching change, that the work of 
 righteousness was peace, and the effect thereof quiet- 
 ness and assurance for ever. 
 
 " Being advised to go into the country for the 
 benefit of the air, he rather chose to be removed to 
 John Padley's, near the river-side, [Southwark] a 
 friend for whom he had an affectionate esteem. He 
 lay ill about four months, in great weakness, frequently 
 attended with great pain : but borne up superior to 
 his affliction, by the serenity of his conscience, he was 
 strengthened to bear his painful sensations with much 
 patience, and calm resignation to Divine disposal j and 
 
CHARLES MARSHALL. 
 
 33 
 
 liis senses and understanding were preserved to him 
 clear and sound to the last, under the pure influence 
 of heavenly support, and the consolatory enjoyments 
 of Divine life. 
 
 " During his illness, several friends came to see him, 
 and he would be frequently giving them seasonable 
 counsel and advice, in many heavenly expressions ; and 
 would often exhort them to keep in love and unity, and 
 to the living, divine power of Truth, that thereby they 
 might be kept a people fresh and green, and living to 
 God j that so formality might not prevail over them. 
 And he pressed, that a great regard might be had of 
 the poor, and that some way might be found out for 
 their employment ; often saying to this effect, that in 
 an inexpressible manner he felt their sufferings, by 
 reason of their poverty. Indeed he was a man that 
 greatly sympathised with those who were afflicted, 
 either in body or mind, being of a very tender spirit. 
 
 " A little before his departure, he sent for John 
 Padley and his wife into his chamber, and said to him, 
 ' Dear J ohn, do what thou canst for the honour of 
 Truth, and the Lord bless thee and thine for genera- 
 tions to come.' And to his wife he said, that he 
 desired the Lord might be with her when she came to 
 such a time as that he was then in, and make her 
 passage easy ; and his desire was granted, for she 
 died in less than a year after, and said on her dying 
 bed, that the Lord had answered dear Charles 
 Marshall's request, for she lay very easy, and freely 
 given up. 
 
 " When our friend George Whitehead came to see 
 him, with much tenderness of spirit, he signified his 
 great peace and satisfaction, and that he always, from 
 the first, had an honourable esteem of the unity of 
 his brethren. And a little before his departure, when 
 our friend William Penn and divers others visited 
 him, he lay as a man gathered up in his spirit unto 
 God ; and though he was almost spent, his voice being 
 very low, hardly to be heard, yet by what was under- 
 
 D 
 
34 
 
 JOURNAL OF CHARLES MARSHALL. 
 
 stood, it might be perceived that he had in possession 
 the earnest of that blessed peace, which he was going 
 to receive the fulness of : the observation of his peace 
 and happy condition, much affected those present. 
 And so he departed like a child, in a quiet frame of 
 spirit, the 15th of the Ninth Month, in the year, 
 1698, aged 6 1 years, and was buried from Grace'church- 
 street Meeting-house, in Friends' burial ground, near 
 Bunhill-fields, London."] 
 
A TESTIMONY TO THE LOVE OF GOD. 
 
 35 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 A Testimony to the glorioiis morning of the day of 
 visitation of the love of God, (in particidar to the 
 city of Bristol, and adjacent paHs ;) and to the 
 great and mighty power of the Lord, which appeared 
 in and with his two precious servants John Carnmi 
 and John Audland, who came to that city in the year 
 1654. 
 
 After the long and tedious night of apostacy spread 
 over nations, and dismal darkness over people, it 
 pleased the Lord God of heaven and earth to visit 
 with the morning of his ever-blessed day, this north- 
 ern island, and first the northern part thereof ; from 
 whence came the aforesaid blessed servants of the 
 Lord Jesus; having received the everlasting gospel 
 from the angel of God's presence, to preach in the 
 demonstration of his mighty power ; with which, 
 indeed, they were filled. 
 
 John Camm was a man full of zeal and fervency 
 in the gospel, endued with the precious gift of dis- 
 cerning and sound judgment ; terrible to the man of 
 sin, and full of tenderness to travailing souls ; sharp 
 and terrible to the evil, but sweet and friendly to the 
 tender and well-inclined unto the way of righteous- 
 ness. He spared not his weak body, but offered it 
 up even unto death, to serve the Lord God, in his 
 blessed work of gathering, which he saw in a plentiful 
 manner, to his great satisfaction. A further testimony 
 of him, as to his country, life, travels and death^ is 
 
 D 2 
 
36 
 
 A TESTIMONY TO 
 
 given by his dear wife^ and his son Thomas Camm 
 and his wife, to which I refer. His memory is 
 blessed, and his place is among the living ancients in 
 J erusalem. 
 
 John Audland was a younger man, of a ruddy, 
 sweet and amiable countenance, and of a cheerful 
 spirit ; one of the wise in heart, filled with the 
 excellent, bright, glorious power of the Lord God. 
 His voice was as thunder, dreadful in the strength of 
 the Lord of Hosts, against the man of sin, and those 
 in covenant therewith ; terrible in the dread of God, 
 against the workers of iniquity ; but livingiy tender 
 to the sensible travailers and poor in spirit. Ah ! 
 my soul hath a sensible remembrance how the doc- 
 trine given him of Christ Jesus, dropt as dew and 
 descended as the refreshing rain. He was a labourer 
 indeed, night and day, in the work of the gospel, and 
 therein he extremely spent himself ; and his frequent 
 and inexpressible travails in and about Bristol, I am 
 well satisfied, laid the foundation for the wasting of 
 his natural life, which was spent and offered up for 
 the Truth, and in the work of it. And indeed he, 
 with dear, honourable John Camm, were instrumental 
 in the hand of Almighty God to our gathering ; and 
 the spending their lives and strength was most in 
 their labours and travails amongst us in the city, and 
 adjacent parts, of which I was an eye-witness, being 
 frequently with them. 
 
 These two ministers of Christ Jesus came to the 
 city of Bristol, in the Fifth Month, 1G54. And first 
 they came amongst a seeking people, who kept one 
 day in the week in fasting and praying ; waiting for 
 and breathing in spirit after the morning and visi- 
 tation of God, and day of redemption. Amongst us 
 they spake the powerful w^ord of life, in the dread of 
 
THE LOVE OF GOD. 
 
 37 
 
 his name who lives for ever ; and we were seized on 
 and smitten even to the heart ; and that dav, and 
 the visitation of it, overtook us, which we had longed 
 and waited for ; and from darkness to the marvellous 
 light of the Lord we were turned. Some meetings 
 we had, before the more general gathering in and 
 about the city, which began on this wise. On a First 
 day in the morning, I went with these two servants 
 of God, about a mile and half from the city, to a 
 little spring of water, where I often had spent many 
 solitary hours in my tender years, seeking the Lord. 
 Here we sat some time, and drank of the spring. — 
 After some hours of the morning were spent, I saw in 
 them a great travail of spirit. J. A. trembling, said, 
 " Let us be going into the city." So we came to the 
 street called Broadmead, to a house where several 
 people were met together, inquiring after these two 
 men of God. John Audland was under a great 
 exercise of spirit, and said : " Is here any one that 
 has an interest in any field ?" An ancient man said, 
 " I have, in a field pretty near." I^otice being given 
 to the people in the house, they came forth ; and as 
 we went along, people in the streets went also to the 
 field, (called Earl's-mead ;) so that we came a pretty 
 number, and some seats were brought. Dear John 
 Camm began to speak tenderly, and in great zeal, 
 directing to the heavenly grace of God, and testifying 
 fervently against sin and iniquity : to [his testimony] 
 some were attentive in this season. I perceived a 
 great exercise on my dear friend and father in Christ 
 Jesus, John Audland, who trembled very much. 
 After dear John Camm stood down, he stood up, and 
 full of dread, and with brightness on his countenance, 
 lifted up his voice as a trumpet, and said, "I proclaim 
 spiritual war with the inhabitants of the earth, who 
 
38 
 
 A TESTIMONY TO 
 
 are in the fall and separation from God, and prophesy 
 to the four winds of heaven ;" and so went on in the 
 mighty power of God Almighty, opening the way of 
 life. But ah ! the seizings of soul, and prickings at 
 heart, which attended that season. Some fell on tlie 
 ground, others cried out, under a sense of the opening 
 of their states, which indeed gave experimental know- 
 ledge of that which is recorded Acts ii. 37. Indeed it 
 was a notable day, worthy to be left on record, that 
 our children may read, and tell to their children, and 
 theirs to another generation ; that the worthy, noble 
 acts of the arm of God's salvation may be remembered. 
 At this meeting many were eiFectually convinced, and 
 from darkness to light turned ; and afterwards our 
 meetings grew larger and larger. They visited the 
 meetings of those called Independents and Baptists, 
 testifying amongst them, in great power, the things 
 given them of God ; directing the poor and needy in 
 spirit, who saw their want of the Lord J esus Christ, 
 no longer to seek the living among the dead ; but to 
 look from the mountains and hills, dead ways and 
 worships, unto Christ Jesus, the Fountain of life and 
 salvation. There was added unto the gathering 
 daily ; and great dread was round about and in our 
 meetings, under the seasonings of the Holy Ghost. 
 Oh ! the tears, sighs and groans, tremblings and 
 mournings, in the sight of the middle wall of par- 
 tition, that we saw then, in our awakened state, stood 
 between us and the Lord, and in the sight and sense 
 of our spiritual wants and necessities ! Oh ! the 
 hungerings and thirstings of soul that attended daily, 
 and great travails of spirit, to obtain, through the 
 working of the mighty power of God, dominion and 
 spiritual victory over the enemy of our souls, who 
 had led us in the paths of death and darkness ! 
 
THE LOVE OF GOD. 
 
 39 
 
 And indeed, as the visitation of God^s holy and ever 
 blessed day, ica^ signal and incompressible ; so I testify, 
 in the fear and dread and awe of God Almighty, we 
 received the gospel with a ready mind, with broken 
 hearts a.nd affected spirits ; and gave up to follow tht 
 Lord fully ; casting off the weights and burdens, and 
 the sin that easily beset, and from the evil ways and 
 vanities of the world depaHed. Oh ! the strippings of 
 all needless apparel, .and tlie forsaking of superfluities 
 in meats and drinks ! in the plain, self-denying path 
 we walked, having the fear and dread of God so on 
 our souls, that we were af raid of offending in u-ord or 
 deed. Our words were few and savowy, our apparel 
 and Iwuse,^ plain, being stripped of superfluities ; our 
 countenances grave, ami depoHmeiii iveighty, among 
 those we had to do with. Indeed we were a plain, 
 hroken-hearted, contrite-spirited people ; our souls being 
 in an inexpressible travail to do all things well-jyl easing 
 in the sight of God : for our great concern night and 
 day was, to obtain through Jesus Christ, tlie great work 
 of salvation, and thei^eby an assurance of the ever- 
 lasting rest and sabbath of our God. 
 
 And in those days, Oh ! the inexpressible labour- 
 travails, and spending of the strength of these ser- 
 vants of the Most High, in great assemblies in that 
 city, and countries round about ! Our meetings were 
 so large that we were forced to meet without doors, 
 and that in frost and snow. In which meetings, Oh ! 
 the extending of the voices of these servants of God, 
 to reach over the great multitudes, when several 
 thousands have been assembled together ! And as 
 the work of the Lord increased, so the enemy wrought 
 in priests and people in those days, who stirred up 
 the youth of the city, into a tumult, like the [shrine- 
 maker] of Ephesus ; and once we had a very great 
 
40 
 
 A TESTIMONY TO 
 
 tumult : the streets were crowded, and these two 
 servants of the Lord were seized by the multitude, 
 and were in great hazard. 
 
 But the Lord signally delivered them, (as in days 
 past he did his servants on such occasions,) and all 
 came to be quieted, and our meetings peaceable : 
 many grew in grace, and in the knowledge of God 
 and Christ Jesus, which is eternal life. Much more 
 of particulars I might write, but I affect brevity for 
 several reasons. I say in short, such was the effectual 
 working of the mighty power of God, and making 
 bare of his arm of salvation, that attended those servants 
 of the Most High, and the great work of our gospel 
 Meetings, with the various trials and exercises that 
 attended them, and us who were the fruits of their 
 labours in the Lord, that my tongue cannot express 
 [all] that I was an eye and ear witness of, and soul- 
 sharer in. Therefore to the God of this bright 
 morning of our day of visitation, ariseth, springeth 
 up, as [from one] in covenant with Himself through 
 Christ Jesus, holy, heavenly high praises ; and might, 
 majesty and dominion are ascribed to the Lord God 
 and the Lamb : so let it be, saith my spirit, in fear 
 and trembling, through ages and generations, for 
 ever and evermore. Amen. 
 
 And now, dear Friends everywhere, but more par- 
 ticularly in and about the city of Bristol, who have 
 seen the morning of the day of God break forth in 
 our age, as aforesaid ; and by the Divine light thereof, 
 have seen the darkness that has covered the people 
 dispelled ; (in which darkness, people have been igno- 
 rant of the true and living God, and his precious 
 work of salvation,' and in this ignorance have per- 
 formed their worship, even in the same nature in 
 which they are sinning, and rebelling, and grieving 
 
THE LOVE OF GOD. 
 
 41 
 
 the good Spirit of God, wliich all ought to be subject 
 to :) [Remember how] it pleased the Divine Being, in 
 his infinite love, and tender pity and compassion, to 
 look down upon us, whilst in the land of Egypt, and 
 house of bondage spiritually : and to send forth his 
 light and truth, to give us a sense inwardly of the 
 deplorable state of our souls, in the separation from, 
 and deprivation of, the enjoyments of the Lord. This 
 sense and sight begat in us living breathings, and a 
 holy cry after the knowledge of Him we saw our- 
 selves ignorant of ; and He, in the fulness of the dis- 
 pensation of time visited us, as afore-mentioned ; of 
 which, dear Friends, we were right glad ; although 
 when the Lord discovered our states, he laid judg- 
 ment to the line, and righteousness to the plummet, 
 and gave to us the cup of trembling, wherein was the 
 wine of astonishment. [Yet this] was in mercy to our 
 poor souls, that could not be redeemed but by judg- 
 ment poured on the nature that had separated us 
 from God, and on us as joined thereunto ; and here, 
 although sin revived, we began to die to it. Oh, good 
 day, and precious season ! worthy, worthy, to be 
 remembered both by us, and our offspring, through 
 generations ! for although it was the season of the 
 administration of condemnation, yet was it glorious ; 
 and in this season the Almighty God, by his spiri- 
 tual trumpet, sounded to us, that the end of this 
 his spiritual appearance was to root out, lay waste, 
 and utterly destroy the nature of sin and iniquity, 
 that had divided and separated us from God, and 
 hindered the good things from us of his heavenly 
 power and kingdom. We were persuaded the set 
 time was come for cleansing an'd sanctifying the tem- 
 ple, and fitting it for the pure immortal God ; and 
 did not we begin inward, as in the day of Hezekiah, 
 
42 
 
 A TESTIMONY TO 
 
 that the temple might he cleansed thoroughly in 
 every part ? For in the outward temple they cleansed 
 first the inward part of the house of the Lord, and 
 so came along to the porch, until the temple was 
 thoroughly cleansed. Indeed in the morning of our 
 precious day of visitation, the axe was laid to the root 
 of the corrupt tree, and the hammer to the hard, rocky 
 heart, and the spiritual fire was ki7idled in the stubble. 
 Now, dear Friends, in the word of Truth I say unto 
 you, search with the holy light of Christ Jesus, how this 
 work has prospered in your souls ; see whether you that 
 knew a right beginning first in the inward part, have 
 come along faithfully in the work of sanctifying the 
 heart and the temple, from the inward part to the out- 
 side ; see whether the root has not escaped the axe, the 
 rocky heart the hammer, and the chaff the fire ; for if 
 it has, the cause is not in the Lord, nor in his power, 
 but in your disobedience and negligence, going from the 
 axe, hammer and fire, and so sparing the best, as dis- 
 obedient Saul and Israel did ; so the root of bitterness 
 springs up against the work of God, and bringing s forth 
 of his heavenly wisdom. To the holy, plain speaking 
 witness of God I appeal, earnestly desiring and en- 
 treating all to have a single regard to that which will 
 duly and rightly apply these things ; and let all see 
 whether that nature be alive, that the holy power of 
 the Lord did work against in the beginning ; and if 
 so, see the cause, which being seen, will deeply humble 
 and seize on the spirits of all concerned. Oh I what a 
 day have we had 1 How has the good Husbandman 
 been at work in his vineyard ! Hoiv did He plant in a 
 fruitful hill, with the choicest vine ! He digged, pruned, 
 and gathered out the stones, and hedged and walled 
 about; and, after all. He looked for good fruit ; but 
 where the unspeakable mercy and loving -kindness of the 
 
THE LOVE OF GOD. 
 
 43 
 
 Lord has not been answered, behold wild fruit and 
 sour grapes were brought foHh. A nd wlmt was the con- 
 sequence of it ? Was it not the taking away the ludge, 
 through which it was eaten up ; and breaking down 
 the wall thereof, and it was trodden down 1 Eead, 
 see, feel and consider ; and the Lord God Almighty 
 visit you in your habitations and secret chambers, 
 with his holy dread, and with his searching life and 
 piercing word of power, who in his tender infinite 
 love and mercy, long-sufferings, great bowels to his 
 seed and offspring, visited us in his pure morning 
 aforementioned, to give all the sense of their inward 
 states, as they are in his sight, from whom nothing 
 can be hid. And now, dear Friends, the hindrance 
 of the prosperity of the work of the Lord, in the 
 souls of any, hath not been from any cause in God, 
 or deficiency in his light, power and wisdom, but 
 from the creature's going out of a capacity of receiv- 
 ing and enjoying the working power of God, in which 
 salvation is worked out, by all that wait for it, join 
 with it, and cleave to it, and do not forsake it, for I 
 have learned of the Lord, through many exercises 
 inexpressible, that after the visitation of the Almighty 
 to any soul, He requires an inward worthy receiving 
 his love, and the spiritual watch to be kept in his 
 holy light, in which all the workings and approaches 
 of the destroying adversary of the soul is discerned, 
 and the enlightened and obedient mind is preserved. 
 And through the spiritual sense, given in a tender 
 waiting on the Lord in the inward part, supplicating 
 breathings arise to the living Eternal God of love 
 and compassion, who beholding the want of the soul, 
 descends in his love, and reaches forth his helping 
 hand to the broken and contrite-hearted, and lifts 
 up the bowed down spirit, with the liftings up of his 
 
A TESTIMONY TO 
 
 holy spiritual standard. So the temptations and 
 assaults of the enemy are vanquished and overcome, 
 and the power of God is felt in those that descend 
 with it in humility, to be working on the root as an 
 axe, on the rocky as a hammer, and on the chaffy as 
 a fire. Now, Friends, when there is an abatement of 
 the inward and spiritual care, and a gradual lessening 
 of the inward watchfulness, the mind becomes both 
 unworthy and incapable of the enjoyments of the 
 power of the Lord, that begun and carrieth on the 
 work of the Lord : then the enemy comes as not seen, 
 through the minds being out of the holy watch in 
 the light, the nature that was wounded comes to be 
 healed again, and ease given to that which should be 
 destroyed : and the enemy, perceiving where the 
 weakness is, and hov/, and by w^hat means he has 
 got a little entrance, endeavours with all subtlety 
 and vigilance, by presenting matters and subjects, to 
 lead by degrees out of a watchful state ; and according 
 to every degree of digression, he brings over the once 
 enlightened mind a proportion of darkness and de- 
 ceivableness of understanding, and insensibility of 
 spirit. The enemy of the soul thus works, that with 
 the declining there may be a proportion of benumbing 
 the inward senses of seeing, hearing and feeling ; 
 and then again he has mankind in a state fit to work 
 upon, by drawing them out by his pow^er, to act and 
 bring forth that which he sees them most capable of, 
 and which there is the greatest inclination in their 
 natures to go into : hence schisms arise in judgment, 
 which the wrathful part in man getting into, he works 
 by the way of a fierce management, with a sort of 
 zeal, but not according to knowledge. 
 
 The enemy is never wanting to present matters to 
 the mind, as just, for the creature to be blown up 
 
THE LOVE OF GOD. 
 
 45 
 
 with, whicli end in dishonouring the Lord and his 
 precious truth, and in hurting others. When the 
 enemy has worked his end [on any] by such instru- 
 ments, he brings them into an alienation from the life 
 of God, into a worse state than the tender day of God's 
 visitation found them in ; and so, if not humbled 
 under the mighty hand of God, and returning, they 
 are exposed to shame, and so die away under the 
 wrath of God. 
 
 Now, dear Friends, the enemy of Zion's prosperity 
 works variously, according as he sees where he may 
 get an entrance, proportioning his snares to the in- 
 clinations of every one, as before is hinted. Where 
 he sees an inclination in any to be taken with 
 earthly things, there he works subtly to captivate 
 the mind, and draw it out of the watchful, tender, 
 spiritual state, into a false liberty, both to the affec- 
 tions, to the things acting and possessed, and in the 
 conversation amongst men ; others [he draws] into 
 superfluities in meat, drink and apparel, on them- 
 selves and houses ; and such, their comforts stand 
 most in outward things, and by degrees they are 
 swallowed up of them, and the pleasures, lust and 
 delights below ; and so they die to an inward life of 
 watchfulness and freshness, which is preserved in fear 
 and dread, in keeping the holy watch, and in the 
 spiritual cross, which crucifies to the world, and the 
 world to it. Now, dear Eriends, here is our spiritual 
 encouragement, viz., the same that through death to 
 sin made us alive to God, as we abide under the lead- 
 ings and teachings of it, keeps us alive to Him, in a 
 growing, increasing, fresh flourishing state ; for as we 
 delight in his eternal law of life, we grow as willows 
 by the water-courses of immortal refreshings, and 
 travel faithfully on in our spiritual journey, until we 
 
46 
 
 A TESTIMONY TO THE LOVE OF GOD. 
 
 come to Zion, the city of God, and then are enjoy ers 
 of the end of all our trials and tribulations ; having 
 overcome, we see an entrance administered, and that 
 abundantly, into the eternal rest and sabbath of our 
 God. 
 
 The Lord Almighty give all to enjoy this blessed 
 portion and goodly inheritance ; and let all see in this 
 age, and the ages to come, all that which lets and 
 hinders them taken out of the way, that the God of 
 all our mercies, in whom are all our fresh springs, 
 may have his honour and glory, and his church and 
 people through ages the comfort and consolation. 
 Amen. Amen. 
 
 Charles Marshall. 
 
AN EXHORTATION TO THE MEETINGS OF FRIENDS. 47 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 An ExhoHation to the Quarterly, Monthly, and all 
 other Meetings, set apart for the transacting the 
 affairs of Truth. 
 
 Dearly Beloved Friends, 
 
 This exhortation ariseth in my heart, in the motion of 
 God's immortal Power and Spirit, unto all concerned 
 in the meetings above mentioned, that before yo 
 begin to speak to the matters that shall lie before 
 you in all such meetings, you take a little time to 
 wait on the Lord, to feel your minds gathered and 
 inwardly retired into the heavenh' light of righteous- 
 ness, and there wait to feel the pure spring of wisdom, 
 which is from above, and is pure and peaceable, in 
 which every one may see and know his place in 
 the body. And as every one is here centred, all 
 waiting, in brokenness of heart and contriteness of 
 spirit, upon the Lord, the sensual wisdom being under 
 foot, and self made of no reputation, but humbled to 
 the very death of the cross ; all seeking the prosperity 
 and welfare of the body, in the one universal spirit of 
 life and love ; then when a matter is spoken of, all 
 will ponderously weigh the thing, in the heavenly 
 peaceable wisdom of God ; and as any things therein 
 are opened in the understanding, there will be a 
 pertinent speaking to the matter ; and such speaking 
 will be savoury, and one by one, as anything opens 
 in the understanding that may be helpful. And here, 
 in the unity of the one Eternal Spirit of life and 
 
48 
 
 AN EXHORTATION TO THE 
 
 peace, things will be soon dispatched ; for things 
 will be seen through, as the inward eye and sense is 
 opened and attentive to the heavenly oracle. 
 
 And, dear Friends, as your concerns in all such 
 meetings are managed in the meek spirit of Christ 
 Jesus, the Saviour of the world, you will all be 
 refreshed, and go away from them comforted, being 
 leavened and seasoned by the grace of God amongst 
 you ; and as you thus return to your respective places 
 again, amongst your brethren and sisters, the savour 
 that you come from the meetings in, will refresh, 
 strengthen, comfort and encourage your brethren and 
 sisters of the meetings you belong unto. 
 
 But where there is not a waiting thus to be led 
 and guided, so as for all to know their places in the 
 body, (for every member is not an eye, a hand, or a 
 foot,) there will be confusion : and if the earthly, 
 sensual wisdom, in which are the rents, the contentious 
 passions, haste and heat, if this gets up to order 
 there, the fruit will follow ; and then the heritage of 
 the Lord will be grieved, burdened and bowed down, 
 and this leaven will work to leaven others ; and so, dear 
 Friends, as the right and well-management of these 
 meetings would be inexpressibly profitable to the 
 body in general, so the wrong management cannot 
 but cause great hurt to the body. The Lord God of 
 power, wisdom and strength, cause this matter ponde- 
 rously to weigh on all hearts concerned herein, that 
 so He may have his honour, and we all the comfort 
 thereof. 
 
 And, dear Friends, God is and will be jealous for 
 his name, glory and honour, and will not give it to 
 another ; and nothing must rule in and amongst the 
 Lord's people, but the Spirit of God, and those who 
 are guided by that Spirit. 
 
MEETINGS OF FRIENDS. 
 
 id 
 
 And so, Friends, having in some measure cleared 
 myself, in the counsel of the Lord, in this matter ; and 
 desiring that eye may be opened in all, and kept open, 
 that will see much weight in it, beyond what is here 
 expressed, I remain, in a travail to see Zion delivered, 
 and brought up into the very perfection of the beauty 
 of holiness, which was the righteous end of the Lord's 
 visiting us with his holy glorious day-spring from 
 on high. 
 
 Your dear brother, in the measure of the grace of 
 God received, 
 
 Charles Marshall. 
 
 Svtton-under-Brailes, 
 \ith of the Eleventh Month, 1671. 
 
 E 
 
50 
 
 AN EPISTLE TO THE 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 An Epistle to the Floch of Christ Jesus, and prof essors 
 of Truth in general amongst us : being to them a ten- 
 der visitation from the True and Living God. [Re- 
 minding them of his gracious dealings with them, and 
 containing sundry exhortations and warnings,^ 
 
 Dearly Beloved Friends, 
 When we sat in darkness, and in the region of the 
 shadow of death, when darkness had covered the 
 earth, and gross darkness the people, as well in this 
 professing nation, as in others ; in this long and tedious 
 night of apostacy, wherein we were seeking the living 
 among the dead ; seeking our bread in desolate places ; 
 were cast out into the open field, and lay polluted in 
 our blood ; wounded by sin and iniquity, and greatly 
 distressed for want of the knowledge of Zion's way 
 to be cast up in this our day ; even then, in the dis- 
 pensation of love, did the holy God of heaven and 
 earth visit us, a people in this northern island, with 
 his everlasting day springing from on high. This day 
 was a day of love beyond all expression, and I am from 
 day to day moved of the Lord to call it to remem- 
 brance in the ears of his people ; it is a day never to 
 be forgotten : for if the day of outward Israel's visi- 
 tation, in outward Egypt, was to be kept in a continued 
 remembrance ; how much more ought the day of the 
 visitation of spiritual Israel, in spiritual Egypt, in 
 thraldom under spiritual task-masters, to be kept in 
 a perpetual remembrance 1 
 
 And, dear Friends, you know what manner of en- 
 
FLOCK OF CHRIST. 
 
 51 
 
 trance Truth made in its first appearance, in the day 
 of our first tender visitation ; how it regarded not 
 the empty profession of any, but broke in upon us, 
 pricking us to the heart, bringing us to a true sense 
 of our inward states and conditions before the Lord ; 
 where, notwithstanding all the fair shews of profes- 
 sions, we saw our immortal souls in death, and buried 
 in the grave of sin, and the nature of transgression 
 exalted above all that was called God in us. Then 
 we had not only a sight of this our deplorable state, 
 but also a sight of him whom we had pierced, and 
 whose countenance we saw marred more than any 
 man's and his visage more than the sons of men ; and 
 here many knew a day of mourning, of passing 
 through a vale of tears, and a drinking of a cup of 
 trembling from the hand of the Lord : for our awak- 
 ened souls cried unto the Lord, to be eased from 
 under the burden and load of iniquity ; and the living 
 Lord God bowed down his ear to the cry of his Israel, 
 and manifested his mighty, out-stretched arm of 
 power, which wrought in us mightily, for the killing 
 and making alive, for the casting down and raising 
 up. And because of the working and operating of 
 the glorious power of the immortal God, our very 
 bodies trembled, so that we became as signs and 
 wonders to people ; yea, to our very acquaintance and 
 relations : for we were as a people separated from all 
 comforts and delights. And, my dear Friends, al- 
 though it was thus with many, yet it was a good day; 
 for the judgments of the Lord being in the earth, 
 many learned righteousness. And as this immortal 
 power was bowed unto, and lived in, it brought forth 
 the soul out of the horrible pit, which was an answer 
 to the cries of the panting, distressed heart and soul. 
 Dear Friends, as the Lord God began an effectual 
 
 E 2 
 
52 
 
 AN EPISTLE TO THE 
 
 work, by his immortal, living, glorious power, so hath 
 he, by the same, been carrying it on these many years 
 amongst us ; notwithstanding the great oppositions it 
 hath met with every way, by the power of darkness, 
 in them that went out from us, and from men without. 
 
 Ah ! how hath Leviathan, that crooked serpent, 
 wrought ! Under how many disguises hath he ap- 
 peared, to rend and devour ! How many false spirits 
 hath he appeared in I And what endeavour hath the 
 old serpent made, to bring the heritage of God into 
 sufferings 1 But blessed for ever be the name of the 
 mighty God, he is laying waste that serpentine spirit's 
 working, and will lay it waste, and tread it down for 
 ever under the feet of his anointed ; and will make 
 all their skirts bare, who have called themselves Jews 
 and were not, but were and are of the synagogue of 
 Satan ; who would have perverted the right way of the 
 Lord, and would have risen up in the enmity of the old 
 crooked serpent, against the servants and messengers 
 of the everlasting God, whom they have caused to go 
 with bowed souls before the Lord. Friends, against 
 that spirit, in its root and branches, I have a certain 
 testimony from the Eternal God to bear ; and woe 
 from God, to the vessels that are still polluted with 
 that spirit. 
 
 And, dear Friends, not only this mercy have we 
 received from the hand of the Lord, to wit ; the 
 treading down of the serpentine spirit, which indeed 
 I cannot but say, is not one of the least of the mercies 
 and kindnesses of our God ; but as the Lord hath 
 appeared wonderful in power for our inward deliver- 
 ances, so hath he appeared wonderful in power for 
 our outward deliverances, and preservations from time 
 to time : he hath bound the seas with swaddling- 
 bands, and hath said to the proud waves, — hitherto 
 
FLOCK OF CHRIST. 
 
 53 
 
 shall je come, and no further. — Magnified be the name 
 of the Lord God for ever. 
 
 And so, my dear Friends, on every hand we are an 
 engaged, obliged people unto the Lord, who hath 
 been digging, dressing, pruning and watering us, his 
 vineyard, from day to day, from week to week, from 
 assembly to assembly ; and his living power, that 
 began this good work amongst us, in the day of our 
 first tender visitation, hath been carrying the same 
 on to this day. 
 
 And now, dearly beloved Friends, in every place, 
 this to you is the message of the Lord of hosts, that 
 I have received from his mouth, and am necessitated, 
 both by word and writing, to sound in the ears of his 
 people, in this nation peculiarly, which was the first 
 of the nations that was visited with this his ever- 
 lasting, glorious day in our age ; that the Lord our 
 righteousness doth require his people in every place, 
 to keep stayed in that immortal light of life, unto 
 which they were directed in the day of their first 
 tender visitation ; in that to feel the virtue, power, 
 and efficacy of the girdle of truth, to gird up the 
 loins of their minds in the light of righteousness ; 
 daily there to wait to feel the everlasting power, and 
 right arm of God's salvation, its manifestation, ope- 
 ration and effectual working ; that so thereby, that 
 good and holy work, which the Lord God began 
 amongst us, in the day of our first tender visitation, 
 and hath been carrying on to this very day, may 
 now be finished and perfected ; and the residue of 
 that nature, against which the sword of the Lord 
 hath been furbished, might utterly be destroyed. 
 
 And, dear Friends, in the name of the everlasting 
 God [I declare it,] this is the very work of this day, in 
 and amongst the people of the Lord ; and for this end 
 
54 
 
 AN EPISTLE TO THE 
 
 doth the Lord spare many, and lengthen out the day 
 of the tranquillity of this nation, with which he has 
 a sore controversy, and which he will assuredly visit 
 for its iniquities. Therefore, Friends, let all prize 
 their time, and the loving-kindness of the Lord God 
 that is now extending itself unto his people in this 
 day, wherein he is laying his hand of love upon those 
 called to be the lot of his inheritance, to pull them 
 out of spiritual Sodom fully. And this is the voice 
 that is to go forth unto the unfaithful and disobedient 
 amongst us, (as it was of old, — come out of Babylon, 
 come out of Babylon my people, — so now,) — come out 
 of all Babylon's abominations, touch no unclean thing ; 
 and be not partakers with her in her sin, that none 
 may partake with her of her plagues. 
 
 Dear Friends, nothing will now please the Lord 
 but a thorough work ; a real cleansing and sancti- 
 fication throughout, in soul, body and spirit ; [a being] 
 really translated out of the kingdom of Satan, into 
 the kingdom of the dear Son of God. 
 
 Now, dear Friends, this perfect salvation is no way 
 attained, but as there is an abiding in the way of it, 
 closing with and being comprehended into that light 
 of righteousness, given to us to profit withal ; for, in it 
 is the power received, in it is the virtue of life known, 
 which no mind is made worthy of the enjoyment of, 
 but that which can sit at Jesus' feet, which can stoop 
 to the lowest appearance of Christ Jesus, where the 
 mind is made low and little. Here is the entrance 
 into the power of life that gives dominion ; and many 
 miss here ; they come not down, so as to be nothing 
 in the love of this world nor in any created object ; 
 to be nothing in thoughts or imaginations that are 
 evil ; to have no Dalilah, no beloved lust to be as 
 the right hand, or as the right eye : for where the 
 
FLOCK OF CHRIST, 
 
 55 
 
 mind is in these things entangled, it finds not per- 
 fectly the way of Life, the place of power and ahility 
 to stand over every defilement and temptation, of 
 what nature and kind soever. The door of hope is 
 found in the valley, where, in mind, heart and thoughts, 
 we come to be as nothing in our own eyes before the 
 Lord ; here the power hath its passage, and here the 
 Spirit of Life hath its free and perfect operation, to 
 work the work of God effectually, until man through- 
 out be leavened into the lump of Life, brought up into 
 the image of God, So then, every one must come to be 
 as a child, yea, and as a weaned child too ; and here 
 the work of the Lord in the heart and soul goes 
 forward daily : for the Lord is weary of the out-side 
 professions ; and they are before him as the fig-tree, 
 that was covered with leaves, but had no fruit ; con- 
 cerning which Christ Jesus said, — never man gather 
 fruit of thee, — and it withered ; so will it be with the 
 false and hypocritical professors : for none shall be 
 able to stand in the day of the Lord that hastens, but 
 such as come to stand in the possession of Life itself. 
 
 Dear Friends, may every one know the blood of 
 sprinkling, that sprinkles the conscience from dead 
 works to serve the living God in newness of life ; for 
 where the blood of Jesus is despised and trodden 
 under foot, there will the destroying angel enter, 
 in the day of his passing through ; the whirlwind 
 of his wrath will be revealed, to sweep away the 
 wicked, and the sword of the Lord is bathed in heaven 
 against the ungodly. Therefore, Friends, prize your 
 time, prize your time ; waiting daily on the Lord God ; 
 that so the nature of transgression may be wholly 
 taken away in us, for which the mighty God hath a 
 controversy with the nations : for there will be no 
 hiding-place for any but the clean in heart, in the 
 
56 
 
 AN EPISTLE TO THE 
 
 day at hand, of the dreadful pleadings and rebukes of 
 the Lord God of heaven and earth. 
 
 And, dear Friends, it is upon me to leave this, as 
 the counsel of the Lord, unto all the families of the 
 Lord's people through this nation, who may be con- 
 cerned ; that all heads of families, and those that 
 have the tuition of youth, may always in their 
 families feel the daily arising of God's immortal 
 power, and in that labour according to their power, 
 to keep down all sin and iniquity in their families ; 
 and in that feel ability to reach the witness of God 
 in their children, servants and families ; that so no 
 sin nor iniquity may be in the families of the Lord's 
 people, but that all be kept sweet and clean, pure and 
 savoury before the Lord ; all in his fear, dread and 
 awe, out of all needless discourses, vain words and 
 foolish jestings. Let your words be few, administering 
 grace to the hearers ; that so when the people of the 
 world come to your houses, to have converse or com- 
 merce with you, all being in the dread, fear and awe 
 of the Lord God, in the sweet, savoury, chaste life, 
 the witness of God may arise, and make them acknow- 
 ledge you are the people of the Lord, and that he is 
 with you : here all in their respective places will be 
 preachers of righteousness ; and here, in this pure 
 harmless life, we must overcome. And this doth the 
 Lord God, in whose hand is the breath of all living, 
 require of all the families of his people. And those 
 who do, or shall walk in a contrary life, the Lord God 
 of eternal might and strength will visit with the rod 
 of affliction. 
 
 And, dear Friends, it is likewise upon me to warn 
 all, in all places, to be careful that neither you nor 
 your families run into superfluities in meats, or in 
 drinks, or in apparel, into the [use of the] proud, of- 
 
FLOCK OF CHRIST. 
 
 57 
 
 fensive garbs of the world j but in all these things let 
 us all keep in our first fear, dread and awe ; that in 
 none of these things, provision may be made for the 
 flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof. 
 
 It is also upon me to warn all to beware of trusting, 
 or having a life in uncertain riches, or in any external 
 thing ; and at all times, and in all places, to keep out 
 of the many and needless words. Both in dealing 
 and in all your converse and commerce with the world, 
 let your words be few ; for Friends, there is a great 
 hurt sustained in a multitude of words ; by it is the 
 mind drawn forth, and the spirit of the world let in; 
 through which the continued sense of the presence of 
 the Lord is lost, and our testimony weakened against 
 the world therein ; also thereby the opportunity is 
 lost of reaching the witness of God in the hearts [of 
 others,] on occasions of having to do with them. 
 
 And therefore, dearly beloved Friends, I beseech 
 all in the bowels of the love of God, in the moving of 
 his Eternal Spirit and power, that in your dealings 
 you use but few words ; be equal, just and upright ; 
 and do not be drawn forth into many words, to answer 
 that mind that is out of the dread and fear of the 
 Lord ; but after you have put a price on your com- 
 modities, which is equal, and as you can sell them, 
 then if the persons you are dealing with, multiply 
 words, stand you silent in the fear, dread and awe of 
 God ; and this will answer the witness of God in them 
 you are dealing with ; and if this should not please 
 people at first, yet you will see it will quickly over- 
 come ; therefore in your dealings, keep out of the 
 spirit of the world, out of all covetousness, over-reach- 
 ing and craftiness, in the harmless life ; seeking the 
 kingdom daily ; and let other things come as additions. 
 So all being diligent in the pure fear of the Lord, out 
 
58 
 
 AN EPISTLE TO THE 
 
 of the love of these worldly things, abiding in the love 
 of God, and seeking the kingdom that is not of this 
 world, you will see great opportunity in your dealings, 
 of reaching unto people ; and thereby thousands may 
 be reached, convinced, and brought to the Truth. 
 
 And, all Friends, be watchful over your own hearts, 
 in the fear and dread of the Lord, in the first moving 
 cause of marriage ; that none who profess to walk in 
 the undefiled way of the Lord, may run into the lusts 
 of the flesh and of the eye, in which ground stands 
 all the polluted marriages of the world ; but let all 
 try the very ground of their love and affection, 
 whether it stands in the covenant of God, in the clean 
 life of righteousness ; for although it is the very 
 truth, that marriage is honourable, yet the bed must 
 be undefiled; which is a near word, and judgeth the 
 polluted marriages in the world, that are begun, 
 carried on, and finished, out of the fear and dread of 
 the living God. 
 
 And, Friends, I am moved of the Lord God to 
 warn all, to try the first moving cause of their desire 
 and willingness to marry this or the other person, and 
 that when it first springs in their hearts, and is in the 
 bud ; for then, if by bringing it to the light, it be 
 found not wrought in God, but in the spirit of this 
 world, it is easy cut off and broken ; but if it still 
 continue, and way is given to it, then it becomes a 
 mountain; and the persevering therein draws the mind 
 so far out into the afl"ectionate part, as that it vails 
 and darkens the heart ; and the thing seems right in 
 the consideration, although altogether the working of 
 the destroying enemy. And here stands the ground 
 of the running out of the affections of Friends, (or 
 such as profess the truth,) to marry men and women 
 of the world ; for want of the keeping out the first 
 
FLOCK OF CHRIST. 
 
 59 
 
 motion [thereto,] tliey lose the sense of the truth, and 
 so persevere therein, to the ruining their condition 
 in the truth and to the displeasing of the holy Lord 
 God. Of this practice I warn all, in the fear and 
 dread, and by the power and spirit of the Lord God, 
 to beware ; and all such things will be avoided, as 
 heed is taken, in the first thought [thereto.] 
 
 And, dear Friends, if any see that a single condition 
 is not best for them, then let them wait to be guided 
 in the truth, in the changing their condition ; and not 
 run as the world's people do many times, from place 
 to place, and from person to person, having their 
 afiections one while on one object, and another time 
 on another, and it may be so on to many ; which is a 
 wrong thing, and destruction every way attends it ; 
 but let all in the pure fear of the Lord, (that keepeth 
 the heart clean) proceed, seeing their way clear and 
 plain in the sense of truth, out of all the world's bar- 
 gainings and folly, that attend the management of 
 such things. 
 
 And let all masters and mistresses, and heads of 
 families, stand in their places, in the exercise of a 
 pure, meek spirit, to their servants and children ; not 
 in the merciless spirit of the world, which would re- 
 quire of servants more than they have ability to per- 
 form comfortably ; but out of that let all keep, in the 
 love of God, waiting on him for wisdom, that every 
 one may know their places. 
 
 And let all servants stand in the subject, diligent 
 state, in meekness. I warn all servants, professing 
 truth, to keep low in the fear and dread of the Lord, 
 out of high-mindedness and pride, and out of all eye- 
 service, waiting on the Lord to know your places in 
 all things j and herein you will adorn the profession 
 of truth. 
 
60 
 
 AN EPISTLE TO THE 
 
 And also it is upon me, in the fear, dread and 
 counsel of the Lord, to warn all in all places, of that 
 thing [concerning which] Joseph warned his brethren, 
 viz., of falling out by the way ; that there be no way 
 given to the least appearance of that which would 
 make any rent, schism or division ; for the hand of 
 God Almighty is against every person that shall set 
 up that spirit that thirsteth to envy ; that spirit that 
 hurries into passions ; that spirit that will backbite 
 and whisper in secret, through which breaches come. 
 The dread of the Lord of hosts, as a consuming fire, 
 will break out against all who shall continue in any 
 Buch spirit ; for the nature of the spirit of Truth is to 
 bring forth the very contrary fruits in all, where it 
 lives, reigns and rules. The life of such is peace, 
 and they are peace-makers : such cannot rest nor be 
 contented whilst there stands anything betwixt them 
 and a brother or sister, if they be concerned therein. 
 If one of these see any iniquity in his brother or sister, 
 he will, in the bowels of tender love, go to his brother 
 or his sister, and say, "my brother, or my sister, do 
 not offend or grieve our tender Father, who hath dealt 
 so tenderly with us so in the heart-breaking love, 
 he will labour with his brother or with his sister ; 
 and if not received, will let no prejudice nor anger 
 arise, nor shut out his brother ; but if there should be 
 no reception, there will be a single standing in the 
 love and simplicity of truth ; and they who shall not 
 so receive, shut themselves out. 
 
 And if there be a controversy between any, where 
 the life of Truth is known, and there be but the least 
 sliding, the most innocent will be ready to acknow- 
 ledge first, that with the love of God he may break 
 down and overcome the mountain in his brother ; 
 and this spirit ruling, which is the spirit of the 
 
FLOCK OF CHRIST. 
 
 61 
 
 Saviour of the world, no rent, schism or division can 
 live, or have an existence among the people of the 
 Lord : for against this spirit that causes division, the 
 hand of the Lord is ; and wo from God, to all whose 
 hearts and spirits do not subject to that which seeks 
 peace, and delights in no other thing. The living 
 God requires this of all his people ; and if there be 
 the least of the contrary in the hearts of any, I beseech 
 all such, in the bowels of love, that they would pre- 
 sently put it away, and flee from it, as from the 
 devourer of God's heritage. So, dear Friends, may 
 all dwell together in the unity of the one Eternal 
 Spirit of life and peace, and therein feel your hearts 
 united ; for he and she that loveth not their brother, 
 how dwelleth the love of God in them ? And so, as the 
 apostle well said, — mark them that cause divisions ; — 
 and out of their divisions keep for ever. And, dear 
 Friends, wherever anything of division or distance 
 remains in any heart, I earnestly beseech you, seek 
 speedily an end to it ; for God's controversy is against 
 all things of this nature, and the wrath of the Lord 
 is and will be revealed against all such things. 
 Therefore, 0 Israel ! put away this accursed thing 
 wherever it is found ; and let every soul desire and 
 press into the lively state of brethren dwelling 
 together in unity : for here the blessing of the life 
 and virtue of the endless fountain of goodness will 
 flow over all, and here all will be knit together as by 
 joints and bands ; all holding the head, and knowing 
 their places in the body : here one member will not 
 say to another, I have no need of thee ; but all will 
 see need one of another : here no stop w^ill be put to 
 the current of life, but through all it will run, even 
 from vessel to vessel ; in which state God Almighty 
 preserve us all for ever and ever. 
 
62 
 
 AN EPISTLE TO THE 
 
 And, all Friends everywhere, quencli not the spirit 
 of the Lord in yourselves, nor in one another ; nor 
 let any resist or judge the power of the Lord God, 
 although in a tender babe, that cannot yet speak 
 plain. For where any do thus hurt the tender lambs 
 of Christ's fold, and stop the bubblings up of life, they 
 bring a barrenness over their own souls, and over the 
 assemblies they belong unto. 
 
 And so, dear Friends, as there may be, and hath 
 been, a false forward birth, that hath or may run 
 before, to the burdening and grieving God's heritage, 
 which birth the Lord destroyeth ; so there hath been 
 a stopping, a quenching and resisting the requirings 
 of the power, to the hurt of many, and to the hindering 
 of the growth of many, and of the prosperity of 
 Tmth in the general : for some being in the sight, 
 and under the grief of the false, untimely birth in 
 [others,] have resisted the motion of God's Holy Spirit 
 in themselves, whereby two evils have proceeded at 
 once, viz. the exaltation of the false, and the sup- 
 pressing of the true birth. Some men, unto whom 
 God hath given gifts, and upon whose spirits the 
 requirings of God's power have been felt, through 
 their reasonings and looking out, have even hurt the 
 birth of God's begetting, to the bringing darkness 
 and heaviness over themselves, and to the hindering 
 of their growth. And therefore, as on the one hand 
 the false, forward birth is to be kept down for ever, 
 whose end is always something, either to be great, or 
 looked at, or to have ease or prosperity in the flesh ; 
 and also, that it may have its way in the lusts 
 thereof ; (for all such births centre in those things, 
 notwithstanding all fair and fine appearances at times 
 and seasons, or for a time or season ;) so, on the other 
 hand, the true birth is to come up. And therefore, in 
 
FLOCK OF CHRIST. 
 
 63 
 
 the name, strength and power of the God of heaven, 
 arise, arise, thou child of the covenant, and come 
 forth, and shew thyself, and work in thy Father's 
 vineyard ; break through, ah ! thou breathing, pant- 
 ing birth, and in thy Father's strength break every 
 bond and chain, that hath held thee under : Arise, 
 Zion, and shine, for thy light is come, and the glory 
 of the Lord is risen upon thee. 
 
 Arise, Zion, and thresh the mountains, and beat 
 the lofty hills to dust ; for into thy hand hath and 
 will the mighty God, the great Jehovah, put a sharp 
 threshing instrument. And so, dear Friends, in this 
 thing, let every one be careful to walk in the even 
 path of life eternal ; in which path every eye will be 
 single, and the whole body will be full of light ; here 
 every one will see and know the time when to speak, 
 and when to be silent : for the true birth's life is in 
 the will and power of the Lord, and at his time and 
 requirings [those who cherish it] bring forth sacrifice, 
 not to their own nets, nor will ever seek an interest 
 of their own amongst any, but honour God alone, and 
 be as worms before the Lord. But it is not so with 
 the false birth ; its life is not in meekness, but in the 
 contrary : so here all may know the motions of the 
 one from the other : where the true motion of life is, 
 the mind is brought into stillness, to wait on the Lord^ 
 and there the will of God comes to he sealed to the 
 understanding. 
 
 And, all Friends every where, keep diligently your 
 meetings ; for our meetings were set up by the Lord 
 God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and in his counsel 
 they now stand ; and the Lord requires us now to 
 meet as boldly, as constantly and as diligently as ever, 
 without any regard to what man can do unto us ; 
 because we know we meet not in refractoriness to any 
 
64 
 
 AN EPISTLE TO THE 
 
 man on eartli, but purely in obedience to tbe living 
 God, who doth require it of his people ; and what- 
 ever draws from meetings, in part or wholly, draws 
 from God, and is an antichristian spirit, let it appear 
 when, and where, and in what vessel soever ; and 
 God's infinite power and dread will tread that spirit 
 dDwn for ever. Therefore, dear Friends, let none for- 
 sake the assembling of themselves together, as the 
 manner of some was in the apostles' days, and also is in 
 our days ; and if any do thus for fear, or for saving 
 their estates or worldly goods, and so fear to come 
 forth to confess the name of the Lord before men, that 
 will prove an evil snare to as many as go into, and 
 keep in it; for this is a way to bring a curse upon them- 
 selves and all they have. And where any depart from 
 meetings to save an outward estate, and do not give 
 up to the power of the immortal God, to divide them 
 from that spirit [of fear,] the outward, for which they 
 have left the Lord, may be rent from them, or they 
 from it ; and then, when such shall lose that, and 
 their peace with God also, what a miserable, horrid 
 state will that be ! This will be the state of all them 
 that sell their birth-right for a mess of pottage. And, 
 Friends, this I know, and therefore in the name of the 
 Lord declare it, God doth and will appear mightily 
 in the assemblies of his people, and arise in them, in 
 the magnificence of his Eternal Power, to the astonish- 
 ment of the heathen that know not God, and to the 
 gathering many lost sheep. 
 
 And Friends, these are the ends of our meetings, 
 to wit; our daily edification, through the manifesta- 
 tion and workings of his Eternal Power in our hearts, 
 in our assemblies : and therein and thereby for God we 
 give a testimony against all the false professions, and 
 false worships in the whole world; and stand as a city 
 
FLOCK OP CHRIST. 
 
 65 
 
 set upon a hill, to gather to the Lord the outcasts of 
 Israel, and the dispersed of Jacob : and at the report 
 of the Holy Ghost descending in our assemblies, as in 
 ages past, shall many gather to them, and be pricked 
 to the heart, and be turned from the evil of their 
 ways, and be brought to the mountain of God's holi- 
 ness, now to be exalted in and over the tops of all 
 mountains. 
 
 And Friends, where any have been visited with 
 God's everlasting day springing from on high, and 
 [after having] made open profession and confession of 
 God's everlasting truth, have erred from the holy 
 commandment, have made shipwreck of faith and of 
 a good conscience, and thereby have gone into the 
 evil spirit, or into any iniquity in their dealings and 
 commerce with the sons and daughters of men, or 
 into any evil whatsoever ; that have or do cast a 
 stumbling-block in the way of the weak, or have 
 caused the dear, and precious, and honourable name 
 of the Lord to be blasphemed amongst the heathen, 
 and his truth and people to be reflected upon ; to 
 all such I say, in the name of the Lord, return unto 
 the holy light of righteousness from which you have 
 erred, there to wait for the arising of the power of the 
 living God, to heal your backslidings j that ye may 
 know the free love of God to come over all again, and 
 feel a testimony arise in you against anything you 
 have committed, that hath caused his dear name to 
 be blasphemed, and his truth and people to be re- 
 proached, and the hearts of any to be hardened ; 
 which testimony you are to bear as publicly as the 
 transgression has been : according to the nature of the 
 offence against God, his truth and people, even so 
 must the testimony go out against it, in the fear and 
 dread of the Lord God, and in brokenness of heart 
 
66 
 
 AN EPISTLE TO THE FLOCK OF CHRIST. 
 
 and spirit before liim : and where the backsliders in 
 heart and conversation do not thus return, in the 
 name of the Lord I declare, that the day hastens, 
 wherein the hand of the Lord God will find all such 
 out, and they shall be made an astonishment to them- 
 selves and to others ; for the living God hath deter- 
 mined to clear up the innocency of his truth and 
 people. And where any such do not return into a 
 sense of what they have done, in their backslidings 
 from the Lord, and declare against themselves, to the 
 clearing of truth, then is it the duty of the people of 
 the Lord, who keep their garments unspotted, after 
 they have dealt with such tenderly, according to the 
 order of the gospel of peace, to give a testimony 
 against all such persons and practices, that are out of, 
 and against the truth : and this testimony is to go 
 forth according to the nature of the offence, that the 
 house may be cleansed, and all kept pure and sweet ; 
 and that all may be clear of the iniquity, and of the 
 bh)od of all men. And so, dear Friends, in the light of 
 righteousness let us all keep our habitations, in a 
 continual watchful state ; then we shall grow, as the 
 willows by the water-courses, and be preserved out of 
 all the snares and wiles of the enemy, in the light of 
 righteousness ; in which the arm of the Lord God 
 preserve us all to the end of our days ; that every 
 day we may perfect holiness in his fear, to the glory 
 of the Most High God, and comfort of every faithful 
 follower of the Lord. 
 
 Given forth in obedience to the requirings of the 
 Lord, through one who is a travailler for Zion's 
 redemption, 
 
 Charles Marshall. 
 
 1672. 
 
THE 
 
 WAY OF LIFE REVEALED 
 
 AND THE 
 
 WAY OF DEATH DISCOVERED: 
 
 WHKREIN IS DECLARED 
 
 man's HAPPY ESTATE BEFORE THE FALL, HIS MISERABLE 
 ESTATE IN THE FALL, AND THE WAY OF RESTORATION 
 OUT OF THE FALL, INTO THE IMAGE OF GOD AGAIN, IN 
 WHICH MAN WAS BEFORE THE FALL. 
 
 ALSO 
 
 THE BY-PATHS, CROOKED WAYS, WILES, SNARES AND 
 TEMPTATIONS OF THE ENEMY OF MAN's SOUL DIS- 
 COVERED, WHO GOETH ABOUT AS A ROARING LION, 
 SEEKING HOW HE MAY ENSNARE AND DEVOUR THOSE 
 WHO ARE IN ANY MEASURE ESCAPING OUT OF HIS 
 WAYS OF DEATH AND DESTRUCTION. 
 
69 
 
 TO THE READER. 
 
 Be serious when thou takest in hand to read this 
 following treatise, and have a single regard unto the 
 inward estate of thy immortal soul ; and let thy spirit 
 bow down to the measure of the Spirit of God given 
 thee to profit withal, that by it the eye of thy under- 
 standing may be opened ; so wilt thou see the things 
 herein contained, which concern thy own eternal 
 welfare : and let not thy own thoughts and imagina- 
 tions, in the wisdom from below, which is sensual and 
 earthly, be judge therein ; but stand still, out of thy 
 own comprehendings, ascendings and descendings ; 
 and let a true and diligent regard be had to the 
 word in thy heart and mouth, there placed, that 
 thou mayst obey it and do it ; so will thy heart be 
 truly opened to read with delight the things herein 
 opened by the Spirit of Truth, which searches all 
 things, yea, the deep things of God ; and the travail 
 in Spirit, which is for opening the eyes of the blind, 
 and unstopping of the ears of the deaf, will be 
 
70 
 
 TO THE READER. 
 
 answered, and the Lord God Almighty will have 
 his honour from his own workmanship, and thou 
 the benefit ; w^hich is the desire, travail and breath- 
 ings of him, who is a traveller for Zion's perfect 
 deliverance, 
 
 C. M. 
 
 Bristol, the 2nd of the Seventh 
 Month J in the year 1673. 
 
71 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 the way of life revealed, and the wat of death 
 discovered, &c. 
 
 Section 1. 
 
 [Man's happy estate hefore the fall.^ 
 
 In the beginning God created the heaven and the 
 earth ; and after he had made all things on the earth, 
 he made man in his own image, formed him of the 
 dust of the ground, and breathed into him the breath 
 of life, and man became a living soul. And the Lord 
 planted a garden m Eden, and there he placed the 
 man whom he had formed ; and out of the ground 
 the Lord God made every tree pleasant to the sight, 
 and good for food, to grow ; the tree of life also in 
 the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of 
 good and evil. And He that made man in this estate, 
 gave him a law to preserve him therein, as the scrip- 
 ture of truth witnesseth, saying, " and the Lord God 
 commanded the man, saying, of every tree in the 
 garden thou mayst freely eat ; but of the tree of the 
 knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it ; 
 for in the day that thou eatest thereof, thou shalt 
 surely die." Now God saw everything that he had 
 made, and behold it was very good ; the tree of 
 knowledge of good and evil was good, but not for 
 food. And man was endued with that divine wisdom, 
 that when the Lord God brought of every beast of the 
 field, and fowl of the air, to Adam, he gave names 
 unto them j and whatsoever Adam called every living 
 creature, that was the name thereof. So here was 
 
72 THE WAY OF LIFE REVEALED 
 
 man's station in the image of God, a living soul, a 
 noble plant, wholly a right seed, filled with divine 
 wisdom and virtue, clothed with innocency, covered 
 with glory, adorned with celestial beauty, in the con- 
 tinual enjoyment of the love and favour of the Eternal 
 Being of all beings, having his daily conversation with 
 Him that made him ; no death, no darkness, no sor- 
 row, no occasion of tears, no transgression, no know- 
 ledge of evil ; dwelling in the innocent life itself j 
 placed in the garden, into which came the river out 
 of Eden that watered it. 0 blessed state ! 0 happy 
 condition ! 0 inexpressible enjoyment ! undeclarable 
 beauty and glory ! It is beyond the tongue of man 
 to declare fully, that blessed, happy estate of joy, 
 peace, virtue, purity, holiness, righteousness, and frui- 
 tion of life, which man was in before he transgressed 
 the royal law of God. 
 
 Section 2. 
 
 Man^s miserahle estate in the fall. 
 
 But now he, who kept not his first habitation, 
 neither abode in the truth, envied man's happiness in 
 the truth, and therefore, as a serpent, more subtle 
 than any beast of the field, which the Lord God had 
 made, came to the woman, who out of the man was 
 made, and said, " Yea, hath God said, ye shall not 
 eat of every tree of the garden 1 The woman said, 
 We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden ; 
 but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of 
 the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, 
 neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. And the serpent 
 said unto the woman. Ye shall not surely die ; for 
 God doth know, that in the day ye eat thereof, then 
 your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, 
 
AND THE WAT OF DEATH DISCOYERED. 
 
 73 
 
 knowing good and evil." And here the serpent got 
 an entrance. And when the woman, (mark) saw that 
 the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant 
 to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, 
 she took of the fruit, and did eat, and gave also to 
 her husband with her, and he did eat, and the eyes, 
 (mark) of them both were opened : here the god of 
 the world prevailed, so as to open an eye that saw 
 evil pleasant, and to blind the eye in these children 
 of disobedience, that they should no longer behold the 
 glory of God, &c. And here they became naked, 
 having lost the robe of righteousness and garment of 
 innocency, and then made aprons of fig-leaves to 
 cover their nakedness ; " and they heard the voice of 
 the Lord God walking in the cool of the day, and 
 Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence 
 of the Lord God; and the Lord God called unto Adam, 
 Saying, Where art thou ? And he said, I heard 
 thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I 
 was naked ; and I hid myself : and he said, who told 
 thee that thou wast naked ? Hast thou eaten of the 
 tree whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest 
 not eat ?" Then Adam began to excuse himself, 
 saying, The woman whom thou gavest to be with 
 me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat. And the 
 Lord God said unto the woman, What is this that 
 thou hast done ? And the woman said. The ser- 
 pent beguiled me, and I did eat. And the Lord 
 God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done 
 this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every 
 beast of the field ; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and 
 dust shalt thou eat, &c. And I will put enmity 
 between thee and the woman, and between thy seed 
 and her seed ; it shall bruise thy head, and thou 
 shalt bruise his heel." So the Lord sent Adam forth 
 
74 
 
 THE WAT OF LIFE REVEALED 
 
 from the garden to till the ground, &c., and placed at 
 the east of the garden of Eden cherubims, and a 
 flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the 
 way of the tree of life. 
 
 0 miserable change ! 0 deplorable alteration ! 0 
 lamentable state ! undeclarable, undone condition ! 
 inexpressible fall ! What ! he that was in the 
 image of the incorruptible Being, a living soul inha- 
 biting in the garden of the Lord, where the tree of 
 life was, and the splendour of the glory of the Divine 
 Being was known and enjoyed, driven from all into 
 the earth ; and not only so, but the cherubims and 
 flaming sword that turneth every way, placed to keep 
 the way of the tree of life ! Be astonished, 0 heavens ! 
 at this, and be horribly afraid, 0 earth ! The Lord 
 God brought up children, and they rebelled against 
 him. 
 
 Now, what was the cause and ground, 0 ye sons 
 and daughters of Adam ! that brought this wonderful 
 change, that brought man into this deplorable state 
 and condition 1 Was it not disobedience to the 
 righteous law of God ? Did not sin enter into the 
 world through disobedience, and death by sin 1 And 
 is not sin continued in the world through disobe- 
 dience ? Is there any other way by which sin enters 
 now, than it did then, and death by sin, which has 
 reigned over all, and reigns over all who are in the 
 fallen estate from God, even over them that have not 
 sinned according to the similitude of Adam's trans- 
 gression ? For all have not sinned according to his 
 similitude, who was deceived with an expectation of 
 a higher estate than that in which the Lord God had 
 placed him. But all iniquity, of what similitude 
 soever, is one in the ground, and becomes a separator 
 of man from his God. So the ground of all iniquity 
 
AND THE WAT OF DEATH DISCOVERED. 75 
 
 and transgression that ever was, is, or shall be, is 
 man's disobeying the righteous law of God, disobe- 
 dience whereunto bringeth death. 
 
 But what was that which in Adam died ? and what 
 was the death ? seeing that the Lord said. In the day 
 thou eatest of the tree, before mentioned, thou shalt 
 surely die ; and yet, though he did eat thereof, he 
 lived outwardly, and had children. 
 
 It was the inward man that died, which was so 
 made by the living breath of the Almighty ; for man 
 going out of the counsel of the Lord, by his dis- 
 obedience came to be alienated from the life of God, 
 and so became insensible of that primary life in 
 which he was wholly a right seed, and a noble plant. 
 In his degeneration he became inwardly dead ; the 
 inward senses of the inward man were lost ; the 
 inward ear was stopped ; the inward eye was blinded ; 
 the inward sense of tasting how good the Lord is, 
 the inward feeling after the divine virtue, which is 
 all power, life, love, and joy, the inward sense of 
 smelling his garments, that smell of myrrh and of the 
 spikenard spiritually, were all lost ; and instead 
 thereof, an ear opened, that hearkened to the voice 
 of the stranger ; and an eye opened, that saw the 
 forbidden fruit pleasant and desirable ; the heavenly 
 clothing of innocency, meekness, and resignation lost ; 
 and thus he came to be without God in the world ; 
 and here, in this estate, man was altogether out of a 
 capacity of abiding in the garden, or partaking of the 
 heavenly tree of life that was in the midst thereof ; 
 and in this estate are all the unconverted sons and 
 daughters of men, notwithstanding all fig-leaf cover- 
 ings of professions. 
 
 But as the law of the spirit of life breaketh forth 
 in its manifestation, and the sons and daughters of 
 
70 
 
 THE WAY OF LIFE REVEALED 
 
 men come with it to be awakened, they will have 
 the sight and true sense of their inward estate and 
 condition, which will indeed cause a cry to arise in 
 the soul, 0 wretched estate ! 0 miserable condi- 
 tion ! And here the entrance of sin comes to be seen, 
 which hath brought death ; for the wages of sin is 
 death, which was the death that came over Adam, 
 and over all since, that have disobeyed the righteous 
 spiritual law of God, which is just, holy, and good^ 
 and was before transgression ; which law bringeth to 
 Christ, the promised seed, the gift of God, which is 
 eternal life. 
 
 Now, man being thus departed out of that nature, 
 image and seed, in which man had his being before 
 transgression, is become the degenerate plant of a 
 strange vine before the Lord God that made him. 
 And from the sons and daughters of men, as they 
 stand joined to this nature and seed of the serpent, 
 which hath defiled man in soul, body, and spirit, 
 proceed these branches and fruits of iniquity, to wit ; 
 pride, envy, emulation, strife, variance, debate, hatred, 
 WTath, anger, murder, inordinate affection, concu- 
 piscence, lasciviousness, wantonness, vanity, unclean- 
 ness, fornication, adulteries, love to this world, 
 drunkenness, revelling, idleness, swearing, cursings, 
 cheating, defrauding, double-dealing, evil- speaking, 
 back-biting, covetousness, idolatry, witchcraft. 
 
 Man being thus fallen from God into this miserable, 
 deplorable state, the Divine Being, in his endless, 
 boundless, fathomless loving-kindness, hath opened a 
 way by which mankind might be restored up to him- 
 self again ; which way is the promised seed, concerning 
 whom he said to the serpent, " I will put enmity be- 
 tween thee and the woman, and between thy seed 
 and her seed ; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt 
 
AND THE WAY OF DEATH DISCOVERED. < / 
 
 braise his heel." So herein was the tender mercy 
 of the everlasting God extended unto mankind, in 
 giving the seed, to wit, Christ Jesus ; else all would 
 have been as Sodom, and like unto Gomorrah, which 
 God destroyed with fire in his wrath : so this is that 
 one seed, on which he hath laid help, who is mighty 
 to save, who is the image of the invisible God, the 
 first-born of every creature j in which image man was 
 before the transgression, who was glorified with the 
 Father before the world began. This is He, of whom 
 in the name of the great Jehovah, I give testimony, 
 that He is the way of life and salvation ; and that 
 there is no other name by which any man can be 
 saved, than by Him who was, and is, and is to come ; 
 who was from everlasting to everlasting, the Rock of 
 Ages, which followed Israel, and was in the church in 
 the wilderness, as Stephen testified before he was 
 stoned to death. This is He, who is without beginning 
 of days, or end of life ; who in the fulness of time was 
 manifest, taking on Him not the nature of angels, but 
 the seed of Abraham, for whom there was a body pre- 
 pared, in which to do the will of his Father; who, after 
 He had accomplished it, ascended where He was before, 
 far above all heavens, that He might fill all. This is 
 the Emmanuel, God with us ; Jesus, the Saviour ; 
 Christ, the Anointed ; who hath been called by several 
 names, and spoken of under several denominations 
 and appellations, through the mouths of his servants, 
 the prophets and apostles in ages and generations by- 
 past. This is the only Beloved of the ransomed, and 
 this is our Friend. 
 
 And now He is arisen and arising, who is the 
 Ancient of days, in the might of his power ; and is 
 revealing himself the good old way, and path of life, 
 whose out -goings have been from everlasting ; in 
 
78 
 
 THE WAY OF LIFE REVEALED 
 
 which way Abel, Seth, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, 
 Jacob, and all the servants, prophets, apostles, and 
 saints of the Most High God walked, through all ages 
 and generations ; which way was before all the in- 
 vented ways and worships were, which h'ave been set 
 up in the will and time of man ; for all the holy men 
 of God, and saints of the most high, worshipped God 
 in the spirit of holiness, in which they were accepted 
 of Him, who is the God of the spirits of all flesh. And 
 no outward performance whatever, performed by any, 
 through ages and generations, was any farther accep- 
 table unto the Lord, but as performed in this spirit. 
 
 Section 3. 
 
 TJie way of restoration out of the fall, into the 
 image of God again, in which man was before the 
 fall, <kc. 
 
 But how salvation comes to be wrought by Him, 
 and how mankind may be brought again into Him, 
 who is the way, the truth, and the life ; and brought 
 from under the power and dominion of the seed of 
 the serpent, in which by nature all have been the 
 children of wrath, is indeed the thing that lieth on 
 my spirit weightily to demonstrate, having obtained 
 mercy to see this way of life and salvation revealed 
 and opened ; and not only so, but a necessity hath 
 been and is upon me to preach the gospel of Christ 
 Jesus, and declare the way of life and salvation to my 
 countrymen, through this island of England ; and 
 now a necessity is also upon my spirit, to leave a 
 testimony of the same on record. 
 
 This is generally confessed, that in the first Adam 
 all die, and in the second man Adam, Christ the 
 Lord, all shall be made alive. But how mankind 
 
AND THE WAY OF DEATH DISCOTERED. 79 
 
 comes out of this state of death, in the first man 
 Adam, into this state of life in the second Adam, is 
 that which the wisdom of this world never knew, 
 never saw, never understood, nor comprehended truly 
 or rightly. Man, by that wisdom, hath only imagined 
 and conceived something in the carnal mind con- 
 cerning this great mystery, and therein hath set up 
 many inventions of the way of life and salvation. 
 And into these many ways of man's inventions and 
 imaginations, set up in the fallen wisdom of man, 
 there have been the several calls, lo here, lo there ; 
 but the day is dawned, and appearing, and now 
 breaking forth more and more, (magnified and praised 
 be the name of the infinite, almighty God,) wherein 
 all invented ways, set up in the M ill and wisdom of 
 man, that is earthly, sensual and devilish, shall come 
 to an end. 
 
 And now, in the name of the mighty God, all the 
 graven images, the work of men's hands, and earthly 
 wisdoms shall be broken to pieces and ground to 
 powder ; the mouth of the Lord of Hosts hath spoken 
 it, who will perform it by the might of his arm, and 
 by the strength of his power. 
 
 And therefore, tremble, tremble, all ye image- 
 makers of all sorts, who have been making and 
 framing likenesses of the way of life and salvation, 
 in your fallen wisdoms and corrupt wills, and have 
 made gods thereof, and have fallen, bowed down to, 
 and worshipped them ; so that it may be said of 
 Christendom, so called, as it was once said of Judah, 
 " according to the number of thy cities are thy gods, 
 0 Judah." 
 
 But now is the fulness of time come and cominof, 
 wherein the ancient way of holiness, in which the 
 righteous walked through all ages and generations, is 
 
80 
 
 THE WAY OF LIFE REVEALED 
 
 cast up, manifest and manifesting ; which way is 
 Christ J esus, the gift of the Father's love unto the 
 sons and daughters of men, who hath as before- 
 mentioned, been preached up and declared of by his 
 servants, messengers, prophets and apostles, under 
 several denominations and appellations, according as 
 he was pleased to manifest himself in and to them, and 
 as his Spirit gave them utterance. Amongst many 
 other appellations, he hath been declared a Priest 
 for ever, after the order of Melchizedec ; the Rock 
 that followed Israel, who was in the church in the 
 wilderness ; a King; a Law-giver; Wonderful; Coun- 
 sellor ; Prince of peace ; a Branch; a Light to lighten 
 the Gentiles ; the Arm of God's salvation ; a Cove- 
 nant ; Messiah ; a Leader ; a Commander ; a Captain ; 
 the Horn of God's Anointed ; a Stone of stumbling ; a 
 Foundation laid in Zion ; the Corner-stone ; the Word 
 of God ; the Word that was in the beginning ; the 
 True Light, that lighteth every man that cometh into 
 the world ; the Truth, the Way, and the Life ; King of 
 kings ; Lord of lords ; Christ ; Emmanuel ; Jesus ; 
 the Beginning of the creation of God ; the First-born 
 of every creature ; the First-begotten from the dead ; 
 the Faithful Witness ; Alpha and Omega ; Bright and 
 Morning star ; the Image of the invisible God ; the 
 Offspring of David. Under these, I say, and other 
 names and denominations, hath he been spoken and 
 declared of, and by ; who still hath a name that no 
 man knoweth but himself, who is that one Eternal 
 Fountain of blessedness, and the one precious Saviour ; 
 and there is no other besides him, although diversely 
 denominated, according as his Spirit gave utterance, 
 to demonstrate him to those unto whom his servants 
 spake, prophesied, and wrote. 
 
 And now, by the ancient power of the holy ever- 
 
AND THE WAY OF DEATH DISCOVERED. 81 
 
 lasting God, is he preached up, under the denomina- 
 tion of Light, in this island of the Gentiles, according 
 as was prophesied of old, by Isaiah, chap. xlix. G, who 
 said, " It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my 
 servant, to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore 
 the preserved of Israel ; I will also give thee for a 
 light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation 
 unto the end of the earth which is one with the 
 testimony of John, chap. i. saying, " In the beginning 
 was the Word, and the Word was with God ; and the 
 Word was God. The same was in the beginning with 
 God. All things were made by him, and without him 
 was not anything made that was made. In him was life, 
 and the life (mark) was the light of men. And the light 
 shineth in darkness, and the darkness comprehendeth 
 it not. There was a man sent from God, whose name 
 was John. The same came for a witness to bear witness 
 of the Light, that all men through him might believe. 
 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of 
 that Light. That was the true Light, which lighteth 
 every man that cometh into the world," &c. And to this 
 agrees the testimony of just Simeon, who came by the 
 Spirit into the temple, and took the child Jesus into his 
 arms, and said, " Lord, now lettest thou thy servant 
 depart in peace, according to thy word ; for mine eyes 
 have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared be- 
 fore the face of all people, a light to lighten the Gen- 
 tiles, and the glory of thy people Israel." This is he 
 of whom we testify, whose light is the way to life : 
 " And this is the condemnation, that light is come 
 into the world, and men loved darkness rather than 
 light, because their deeds were evil. For every one 
 (mark) that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh 
 to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But 
 he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his 
 
 a 
 
82 
 
 THE WAT OF LIFE REVEALED 
 
 deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought 
 in God." 
 
 Now this Light, which the servants of the Most 
 High testified of, is that which hath be^n spoken of 
 and denominated under several names : for this mani- 
 festation of God in man, is sometimes called the Word, 
 the Spirit, the Law, the Grace of God ; now the Word, 
 Light, Grace, Law, Spirit, are all one in nature, although 
 diversely named : Moses called it the Word, and 
 directed to this Word in the heart and in the mouth ; 
 which Paul, that illuminated man, rehearsing, saith, 
 " Say not in thine heart (mark) who shall ascend into 
 heaven ? (that is, to bring Christ down from above :) 
 or, who shall descend into the deep 1 (that is, to bring 
 up Christ again from the dead.) But what saith ifi 
 The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth and in 
 thy heart ; that is, the word of faith which we preach." 
 This is the sure word of prophecy, unto which Peter 
 directs to take heed, as unto a light that shineth in 
 a dark place, until the day dawn and the day-star 
 arise in the heart. 
 
 This Light is the law of the spirit of life, where- 
 with Paul was acquainted, that warred in his mind 
 against the law of sin and death, which was in his 
 members : this Light is the law in the heart and the 
 spirit in the inward parts, the new covenant of God 
 Almighty ; this is that which converts the soul ; 
 which law Paul delighted in according to the inward 
 man : this law is light, of which the scriptures of 
 truth plentifully testify : this is that grace that Paul 
 declared, brings salvation, which hath appeared to all 
 men ; which Law, Light, Spirit, Grace, Gift, hath in 
 measures, as God's talent, appeared to all men, 
 which teacheth all that are led, taught and guided 
 by it, " to deny all ungodliness and worldly lust and 
 
AXD THE WAT OF DEATH DISCOVERED. S3 
 
 not only so, but also " to live soberly, righteously 
 and godly in this present world." This is that grace 
 which the Lord, the giver thereof, said to Paul, was 
 sufficient for him, to deliver him from the temptation, 
 the thorn in the flesh; of which the same apostle said 
 unto the Ephesians, " By grace ye are saved," &c. 
 And this is the manifestation of the Spirit spoken of 
 by Paul, which is given to every man to profit withal. 
 And this is that good Spirit of the Lord given to 
 Israel, who rebelled against it, as the old world did, 
 unto whom the Lord said, " My Spirit shall not always 
 strive with man of which Word, Law, Light, Grace 
 and Spirit, given to be the Leader and Guide of man- 
 kind out of sin, and death, and darkness, into which 
 man fell through disobeying the righteous law of 
 God, as is afore declared, the Holy Scriptures give 
 clear and fall testimony, as hath been demonstrated. 
 But now, that which is ready to arise, is an objection 
 in some, (whose understandings are not opened, whose 
 searchings to comprehend, and inquiries after the 
 way of man's salvation, stand in that wisdom that 
 is from below, and in the will and reason of man 
 degenerated from the life of God,) whether the preach- 
 ing up this Word, Light, Law, Spirit and Grace of 
 God manifest within, hath not a tendency to make 
 Christ Jesus' appearance in the flesh, his suflerings, 
 death, resurrection and ascension to be invalid ? Unto 
 which I answer, nay ; forasmuch as no persons ever 
 did, do, or shall truly see, discern, know, understand 
 or enjoy the benefit of Christ Jesus' manifestation 
 in the flesh, but as their hearts were, are or shall 
 be opened, and understanding illuminated by the 
 light j which is a measure of the Divine fulness that 
 dwelt in him, and is communicated to, and placed in 
 all immortal souls, as the universal love of God ; 
 
 g2 
 
84 
 
 THE WAY OF LIFE REVEALED 
 
 extended in the Son of his love to all the families of 
 the earthy as the revealer and discoverer of the will 
 of Him from whose divine fulness it comes^ and 
 issueth forth itself universally : for the Scripture 
 thus witnesseth, that no " man knoweth the things 
 of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him ; 
 even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the 
 Spirit of God." 
 
 The hearts of the Jews not being seasoned with this 
 grace of God, and ignorant of the gift of God, which 
 is eternal life, they neither discerned, loved nor 
 received Christ Jesus, when manifested in that out- 
 ward bodily appearance, but rejected him ; notwith- 
 standing they professed love, honour and regard to the 
 prophets, and were in expectation of the fulfilling 
 their prophecies of the coming of the Messiah, who in 
 due time came, and yet they did not receive hiin ; 
 but instead thereof, set themselves against him, taking 
 counsel from time to time how they might slay him, 
 though in words they professed an earnest waiting for 
 him : so in this day, age and generation, there are 
 many, who by their words do profess they believe his 
 coming in the flesh, and his sufferings, death, resur- 
 rection and ascension ; but yet having their faith 
 consisting in outward notions, and having no inward 
 experience of the end of his coming, nor of the virtue 
 of his sufferings, death, resurrection, &c., they are ene- 
 mies in their minds to his second appearance, and 
 coming without sin unto salvation. So there is a 
 necessity for all the sons and daughters of men to 
 come to, and obey this divine, spiritual principle, 
 which is placed in their consciences by the living- 
 eternal God, that thereby the eye which hath been 
 blinded through disobedience, by the god of the 
 world, may be opened ; for, until this in some mea- 
 
AND THE WAY OF DEATH DISWTERED. 8-5 
 
 sure be eifected, the mystery of godliness, which is 
 great, can neither be seen nor understood ; and there- 
 fore Christ said, finding the woman of Samaria igno- 
 rant of himself, who was and is that great mystery, 
 and the gift of the Father's love, " If thou knewest 
 the gift of Grod, and who it is that saith to thee, give 
 me to drink, thou wouldest have asked of him, and he 
 would have given thee living wat^r," 
 
 The travail in spirit of the messengers and servants 
 of the Most High in ages past, was the same as now 
 it is, viz., to turn people from darkness unto light, 
 and from the power of Satan to the power of the 
 living God ; thereby in no wise invalidating Christ 
 J esus' manifestation in that bodily appearance, neither 
 his sufferings, death, resurrection or ascension ; but 
 bringing all people guided thereby, unto that which 
 will open the eyes of their understandings, whereby 
 they all come unto such a condition and spiritual 
 understanding, as to see and know their benefit by 
 that appearance of the Saviour of the world ; for this 
 we testify, all are perfected by that one offering, that 
 are sanctified. But here ariseth another objection by 
 some, who may come so far as to own and confess, 
 that there is a principle or light in man, that dis- 
 covereth sin, and teacheth man to do justly and 
 equally, which some call morality ; but that this 
 light or principle in man, is of a saving property, and 
 of the nature and quality of the Divine Being, many 
 for want of understanding do deny ; and so are found 
 opposers of Truth itself, and stumble at the corner- 
 stone; which indeed in all generations, hath been to 
 many men a stone of stumbling and rock of offence ; 
 which thousands, giving themselves up to be guided 
 by their own wisdom and prudence, reject ; yea, those 
 accounted the wise master-builders, professors of God 
 
86 
 
 THE WAY OF LIFE REVEALED 
 
 and Clirist, being ignorant of the root and offspring 
 of David, have and yet do reject this corner-stone. 
 
 Now, for the sake of all who do or may desire after 
 the true and saving knowledge of Christ Jesus, it is 
 on my spirit yet further to open and manifest the 
 nature and property of this principle and light ; whose 
 fountain is the Eternal Being, and everlasting ocean 
 of Divine fulness, and its nature and quality is one 
 with this fountain from which it comes. John testi- 
 fied, " In the beginning was the Word, and the Word 
 was with God, and the Word was God." " In him 
 was life, and the life was the Light of men." He 
 also testified, that " he was not that Light," but 
 " came for a witness, to bear witness," that " that was 
 the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh 
 into the world :" so the original of this light is Christ 
 Jesus, the Word. 
 
 But some may query thus, is Christ the Light in 
 every man 1 
 
 To which I answer ; Christ doth appear by his 
 light in every man ; and the light, which comes 
 from Christ, is in every man ; as is clearly demon- 
 strated in the Scriptures of truth : and, though I 
 account it unnecessary to answer the curious inquiries 
 of such, who seeking to know much, do not walk 
 answerable to what they know ; yet for the sake of 
 such whose understandings are not opened, and yet 
 are inquiring the way to Zion, I add this similitude : 
 the natural sun is placed by the Creator to lighten 
 the outward world, and doth extend from its body a 
 measure of its light and natural property, shining 
 on the just and the unjust, and so doth daily give 
 forth of that virtue which is inherent in itself When 
 the sun shineth on any object whatsoever, we some- 
 times say, the sun there appears ; and other times 
 
AND THE WAT OF DEATH DISCOVERED. -87 
 
 we say, tliere is the sun; the propriety of either of 
 which maimer of expression, I suppose, none will 
 question ; for light in that appearance is seen, and 
 virtue is felt, penetrating to the refreshment of our 
 natural bodies ; and this light and heat is inseparable 
 from the fulness : and notwithstanding it daily shineth, 
 and displays its virtuous life into and over all the 
 earth and its inhabitants ; yet its body is not any 
 way exhausted or altered through ages and gene- 
 rations. And so I say, that Christ, the universal 
 fountain of Life, the Sun of Righteousness, the ocean 
 and fulness of spiritual light, life and virtue, from 
 whence is communicated a measure of his nature, 
 property and quality, is given of the Father to 
 enlighten all the sons and daughters of men ; who 
 accordingly are all enlightened with his spiritual 
 appearance ; and though this appearance cannot be 
 called the fulness, yet being a measure of that fulness, 
 it is one in nature and property with, and inseparable 
 from the fulness : and though through its virtue, 
 life is daily communicated unto the sons of men, who 
 waiting for the appearance thereof, as for the morn- 
 ing light, cannot live unto God without it, yet doth 
 he admit of no diminution, alteration or change ; but 
 all fulness of Divine light, life and glory, doth and 
 shall, through every age and generation, remain with 
 him : and albeit the veil of darkness hath over-sha- 
 dowed the hearts of some, so as when we give testi- 
 mony unto the universal appearance of the Sun of 
 Righteousness in the hearts of all the sons and 
 daughters of men, they are ready to say, such a 
 testimony leads to the diminishing of that glory and 
 honour which belongs unto Him, as He is the fulness, 
 and sitting at the right hand of the Father ; inferring 
 from such our testimony, as if, whilst we testify to 
 
88 
 
 THE WAY OF LIFE REVEALED 
 
 his appearance in our hearts, we exclude his presence 
 elseAvhere : which inference, I say, is as irrational as 
 it would be for any to conclude, that because we say 
 of the shining and appearance of the sun, there is the 
 sun, or the sun there appears, therefore we exclude 
 the being of the sun elsewhere : for its virtue is com- 
 municated to our natural bodies, every one having in 
 measure some enjoyment of the virtue or light of the 
 natural sun ; which is light to the eye, even as the 
 outward eye is light to, or of the natural body ; and 
 whosoever they are, whose invisible senses are quick- 
 ened by the influencing virtue which proceeds from 
 the Eternal Sun of Kighteousness, do thereby see and 
 discern, that these things are according to the clear 
 manifestation of Truth in their inward parts ; and 
 from a true sense thereof, can of a truth give this 
 certain testimony, that Christ the Lord, by his holy 
 quickening Spirit, hath appeared in them, to the 
 quickening of their immortal souls ; and that through 
 believing in the Light and obedience to his appear- 
 ance, being come out of that state which is reprobated 
 by the Lord, can of certain experimental knowledge 
 say, Christ is in us the hope of glory. 
 
 And so, when we direct people to this Word, Light, 
 Law, Grace and Spirit, we do not thereby intend that 
 Christ Jesus, the Light of the world, and gift of God, 
 is not the true Saviour, Redeemer, and Reconciler of 
 mankind unto God. 
 
 Now this Word, Light, Law, Grace and Spirit, which 
 is one in nature, doth lead and guide the souls and 
 spirits of all such as obey it, up to God, the fountain 
 from whom it comes ; and no man comes to see its 
 nature, but such who are led by it ; for in the light 
 of the Lord alone, man cometh to see light, and to 
 have an understanding from whence it springs. 
 
AST) THE WAT OF DEATH DISCOTERED. 89 
 
 Before this be fiilly seen or understood, the mind of 
 man must be brought down, out of all its own willings 
 and runnings, comprehendings and searchings, into 
 the principle of light, therein to see a death to his 
 own will, and be comprehended into this light ; and 
 so man comes to have an understanding to know Him 
 that is true, and to be in Him that is true. 
 
 Now, as any are convinced of, and converted bv 
 this heavenly principle, (which is placed in the con- 
 science, there given to be a guide and leader unto 
 mankind,) thej are led thereby out of darkness, 
 wherein they have been, while yet the light shone in 
 darkness ; in which darkness no man ever compre- 
 hended this light or heavenly grace, which some- 
 times moves through the darkness, on the depth of 
 man's understanding, repro^'ing and discovering 
 darkness, causing man to hear its small still voice, 
 moving in man Godwards ; and so daily continues 
 without change, repro's'ing man whilst he remains in 
 rebellion and disobedience, all the time of his visita- 
 tion, and approving and giving peace unto man when 
 he is obedient. 
 
 This principle of light remains entire in its own 
 purity ; and although man may change and alter, 
 and go from it, and rebel against it; and thereby 
 become one of them of whom Job speaks, that rebel 
 against the light, and thereby know not the way of 
 it j but give way to the working of the god of the 
 world, to be drawn out into the fading perishing 
 things ; yet this principle remains immutable in 
 itself, being of and from the immutable, unchange- 
 able Being, and remains with man, until it be taken 
 from him, and he be cast into utter darkness. 
 
 The first operation of this heavenly Light, amongst 
 those who are convinced by, and turned to it, the gift 
 
90 
 
 THE WAY OF LIFE REVEALED 
 
 of the Father (which Christ Jesus, in his parable to 
 the Jews, compared to a grain of mustard seed ; and 
 to a little leaven, which a woman took and hid in three 
 measures of meal, until the whole came to be-leavened,) 
 is, to shew man his inward state and condition ; and 
 the first step in the way of life, is, to be turned to 
 this holy principle, that teacheth the obedient to 
 know God savingly ; and when by this principle man 
 comes to have a true sight and sense of his fallen 
 estate, and sees how he hath transgressed against that 
 Eternal Being that gave him life and breath, who 
 notwithstanding in his long-sulFering, waiteth still 
 to be gracious, and knocketh at the- door of the heart, 
 and hath striven by his Divine light, the true sight 
 and sense hereof will break the heart, and tender the 
 spirit before the Lord ; and under the weighty sense 
 of the great burthen of sin and iniquity, there will 
 be a crying out, my sins they are too heavy for me 
 to bear, and mine iniquities are gone over mine head j 
 as Paul did, saying, " 0 wretched man that I am ! 
 who shall deliver me from the body of this death 1" 
 And here comes the eye to be opened that seeth Him, 
 whom man, in his disobedience, hath pierced afresh 
 and put to open shame ; and then there will be days 
 of mourning and wailing, because of Him ; and this 
 is truly the day of Jacob's trouble. And in the 
 sense of this deplorable, fallen estate, and the long- 
 suffering of the Lord, and the long-striving of his 
 Spirit, thou wilt see, that in the justice of God, eternal 
 death might be thy portion ; but that which brings 
 into this sense, begets a secret cry in the immortal 
 soul, after a deliverer and Saviour ; and will also give 
 a true sense and sight, that there is no way for thy 
 soul to be ransomed, but in and through the tender 
 mercies of God through Jesus Christ ; which thou 
 
AND THE WAY OF DEATH DISCOVERED. 91 
 
 wilt see can no other way be eiFectually begun in tliee, 
 but in the way of the judgments of the Lord ; for 
 " Zion shall be redeemed with judgment, and her con- 
 verts with righteousness." And here also thou wilt 
 see that the measure of the sufferings of Christ yet 
 behind, must be filled up in thee ; for no other way 
 can any man pass unto life, peace and joy with the 
 Father of spirits, but the way the Captain of Salvation 
 passed, which was through death ; and here thou wilt 
 begin to arm thyself with the same mind : for none 
 ceaseth any further from sin, but as they suffer in 
 the flesh the crucifying of the affections and lusts 
 thereof ; and here the end of the gospel's preaching 
 comes to be known and witnessed, which was and is, 
 that " they might be judged according to men in the 
 fiesh, but live according to God in the Spirit." And 
 in this spiritual inward sense and exercise, the Lord 
 God Almighty will bow down his ear, and answer 
 the cries of thy awakened soul, and manifest his word 
 of power ; which all in this state and passage will 
 know to be sharper than any two-edged sword, 
 piercing, to the dividing asunder of thy immortal 
 soul from the spirit and nature of transgression, and 
 its working daily, as subjection and obedience is 
 yielded unto it ; dividing and making a separation 
 between joints and marrow, giving thee daily a dis- 
 cerning of the thoughts and intents of thy heart. 
 
 And as the soul, mind, and heart, gives up in love 
 to God, freely to follow him in the way of his judg- 
 ments, and gives up to the sword of the Lord that 
 which is for the sword ; and that which is for des- 
 truction to be destroyed ; thus will the precious 
 work of the Lord prosper. And although this be a 
 time of sorrow, and a time of trouble, travail and 
 anguish ; yet, notwithstanding, it is a good day : 
 
92 
 
 THE WAY OF LIFE REVEALED 
 
 therefore, strive not to get from under it, neither to 
 make haste ; for the true godly sorrow worketh the 
 true repentance, which is never to be repented of. 
 And after the true repentance, follows the true know- 
 ledge of remission and forgiveness ; and so thy 
 iniquities, by the judgments of the Lord God Al- 
 mighty, come to be blotted out ; and then the times 
 of refreshment come from the presence of the Lord, 
 and from the glory of his power. 
 
 And as there is a faithful abiding in inward 
 watchfulness, and continual obedience to this heavenly 
 light, in which the beginning of the work of God 
 was known, there will be a going on from step to 
 step in the footsteps of the flock of Christ Jesus, and 
 a growing from strength to strength over sin and 
 the nature thereof, and from one degree of grace to 
 another ; and as there is a faithful perseverance in 
 this divine principle, the eye of the understanding 
 will be single ; and here everything which hath or 
 doth let, will be seen, and the soul never start aside 
 from an inward travail, until that which hindereth be 
 taken out of the way, and until thou seest all the rule 
 and authority of the enemy to be subdued under the 
 feet of the Lord's anointed, and the government in the 
 soul upon his shoulders, whose right it is to reign 
 over all. 
 
 And here salvation, redemption, and restoration is 
 effectually enjoyed through faith, and the effectual 
 working and operating of the almighty power and 
 arm of God Almighty, unto whom be the glory of 
 his own work for ever ; and so here will be a growing 
 and increasing, until there is a coming into that 
 precious state and image, in which man was before 
 he fell. 
 
AND THE WAY OF DEATH DISCOVERED. 
 
 93 
 
 ISectiox 4. 
 
 The hy-paihs, cvooked-ways, wiles, and snares of the 
 enemy discovered. 
 
 Xow when the mind is turned to this divine 
 heavenly principle, and that therein the work of the 
 Lord is begun, which before is said, is the bringing 
 man into a real, sensible knowledge of his state and 
 condition, then will the same destroyer, that brought 
 man into bondage at first, and hath kept him in 
 bondage, begin to work cunningly, and every way 
 endeavour to destroy the work of God begun in the 
 soul ; and that he may accomplish his end, he will 
 go about every way, seeking an entrance, and will lay 
 his temptations suitable to the propensity or inclina- 
 tions of the creature. 
 
 If the heart and mind be bowed down under the 
 weighty sense of iniquity, the sins committed coming- 
 in order, and the many transgressions in sight, 
 through which the sorrow and bitterness is great, 
 here the enemy will work in his transformings, and 
 although in appearance like the light, yet in nature 
 contrary thereto : for, albeit the light and appearance 
 of God gives the certain understanding of the inward 
 state, and brings sorrow because of sin, and shews 
 the mountain of iniquity and the exalted hills of 
 transgression, yet its workings inwardly beget a secret 
 hope of overcoming by the Lord's strength ; but then 
 the enemy, when he seeth the soul bowed do^vn, as 
 aforesaid, oftentimes afSicteth and bringeth down the 
 mind into unbelief of ever overcoming, thereby en- 
 deavouring to sink the soul down into despair ; know- 
 ing, if he overcomes, he still keeps under his power, 
 although in another appearance ; but to all that 
 are exercised in this kind, waiting on the Lord singly, 
 
94 
 
 THE WAY OF LIFE REVEALED 
 
 witli the mind stayed in the lights this snare will be 
 discovered ; for, as I said, although the true appear- 
 ance of God's heavenly light and grace brings a day 
 of trouble, sorrow and anguish j yet that sorrow is 
 not a sorrow without hope ; but the enemy's working 
 is, to bring into a sorrow, trouble and anguish with- 
 out hope, and to draw down the spirit into the 
 chambers of darkness, where there is no order. 
 
 But now, when the enemy of the soul's peace is 
 discovered in this his working, and the heart and 
 soul, through the love and power of God, is com- 
 forted, encouraged and refreshed, and raised up into 
 a measure of the living hope, satisfaction and con- 
 tent ; then the old, crooked, subtle serpent, endea- 
 vours to lead from off the inward, daily travail, (that 
 so judgment may not be brought forth unto victory ;) 
 and to draw up the mind into a false persuasion of 
 obedience and diligence, when as there is not an 
 abiding in that which gives a true sight and sense of 
 the state and condition. And as before, he would 
 have destroyed the hope that is an anchor sure and 
 stedfast, so now on the other hand, he would beget 
 a false hope and confidence, and so bring out of the 
 daily cross, through which the nature which hath 
 alienated from God, should be destroyed. 
 
 And if the workings of the enemy be seen and 
 overcome in both these wiles and snares, on the right 
 hand and on the left, and that the work prospereth 
 even until much be subjected ; and that, through the 
 daily obedience to the heavenly power, much is slain ; 
 and that the heart and mind comes in a good measure 
 to be cleansed ; and that in pure obedience and con- 
 stant faithfulness, in this light of righteousness, a 
 good progress is made through the administration of 
 condemnation, that is glorious in its time ; and that 
 
AND THE WAY OF DEATH DISCOTERED. 95 
 
 sometliing of pure peace and heavenly joy springs 
 and arises in the heart and soul ; here again the 
 enemy will be subtly at work, to betray and lead 
 aside, in persuading to sit down now, as if all were 
 done ; and so lead out from the feeding on the tree of 
 life, to feed on the tree of knowledge of good and 
 evil, and into a liberty to break the commandment 
 of the Lord ; and here at first subtly and cunningly 
 draws the mind out so far as to take a little liberty, 
 and draws the mind somewhat from that diligent 
 watchfulness, dread, fear and awe it was in before, in 
 the inward travail of spirit. And here, if the destroy- 
 ing subtle enemy can but prevail a little, he will lead 
 out of the innocent harmless life, and so gradually lead 
 a little forth, and by degrees open an eye that may 
 see something in the outward visible things, that may 
 somewhat affect the mind ; and as here he prevails, 
 and causeth his work to prosper, which he doth 
 subtly, gradually and hiddenly, the eye that was 
 opened comes again, through disobedience, to be in 
 some measure blinded ; and here loss is sustained, 
 even before the unwatchful is aware. And so the 
 working of the enemy first is, to cause such to make 
 shipwreck of faith in a little measure ; that is, not to 
 have the daily belief to stand in the power ; the 
 daily enjoyment of which, coming to be left by 
 degrees, there will then be a turning from the power 
 of godliness, into the form thereof. And although at 
 sometimes the eternal power of the Lord God may 
 be felt in this estate, yet there being not a daily 
 feeling after it, the enjoyment thereof, as to true 
 refreshment and consolation, comes to be lost, and an 
 image comes up in its place : and the enemy provides 
 and presents some object or objects so to take up the 
 mind, as that by degrees he may enter in, and defile 
 
96 
 
 THE WAY OF LIFE REVEALED 
 
 the mind, and draw it out from its true guide, so as 
 also to make shipwreck of a good conscience. 
 
 And now, if the enemy be discovered in these his 
 workings, before he can so effect his work, as to bring 
 death and darkness over again ; and that the power of 
 the Lord breaks his snares, and gives a true weighty 
 sense thereof, through which trouble and anguish of 
 spirit comes ; here he will again transform, and begin 
 to work, as in the beginning of the work, like the 
 condemning power of the Lord ; endeavouring to lead 
 the mind down into despair of ever recovering again 
 into the former condition ; and hereby endeavour to 
 draw the mind to look at him that hath stung, that 
 so the remedy, the soul-ransoming power of the Lord, 
 may not be felt after, nor looked at. But here, as 
 there is a true regard to the Lord, and a waiting upon 
 him in the way of his judgments, having the faith 
 and confidence to stand in his power, the backsliding 
 will be healed ; and returning and diligently keeping 
 in the light, the power of the Lord God Almighty 
 will work over that which hath hurt, and endeavoured 
 like a roaring lion to destroy, &c., and so lead on the 
 way again. 
 
 But when deliverance is known again from this 
 deadly snare, and the work again goes on prosperously 
 until the house be swept and garnished, and there is 
 a passage known and witnessed from death unto life, 
 and the administration of condemnation being passed 
 through, and the spirit that ruled in the disobedient 
 estate cast out, and the openings of that which doth 
 exceed in glory, the administration of the Spirit, being 
 known, here the enemy will again transform, and 
 with all his power and strength in the transformation, 
 as an angel of light, work by his temptation on the 
 right hand and on the left. For when there are 
 
AND THE WAY OF DZATII DISCOVERED. 
 
 97 
 
 openings to the understanding and prophecies, and 
 through the working of the Eternal Power, joy springs 
 in the heart, then will the enemy work secretly and 
 cunningly, to draw the mind out of the valley of 
 humility ; and if he prevaileth here, to draw out of 
 this habitation of safety, then he will transform to 
 lead the mind out through the motions of his trans- 
 forming spirit and power, into extremes, thereby 
 endeavouring to destroy the true birth, which is 
 bringing forth ; and so bewilder the mind and hurry 
 it forth, through imaginary notions, to dishonour the 
 name of the living Eternal God, and to destroy his 
 work, which through sorrow and travail hath been 
 brought forth. 
 
 And if he cannot prevail here, but the light of the 
 Lord discovereth him, and the power of the Lord 
 works over his appearance herein, then vdll he be at 
 work to draw the mind out of the watchfulness, out 
 of the daily awe and fear, and out of the liberty of the 
 sons of God ; which liberty is, only to serve the Lord : 
 for dominion being felt in some measure, the morning 
 of comfort and consolation enjoyed, and praises spring- 
 ing in the heart to Him that visited and redeemed, the 
 enemy will be ready here also to draw the mind out 
 of the valley of humility, out of the stayed estate of 
 meek and constant watchfulness in the light ; thereby 
 causing the creature prodigally to spend the portion 
 and to lavish out the enjoyment, by running and 
 climbing up to sacrifice upon the mountains, and to 
 run before the leadings, guidings and movings of the 
 power of the Lord, into the speaking forth of the 
 enjoyment, the prophesyings and openings; not being 
 led thereunto by that Eternal Power that first opened 
 the heart : and here is the ground of the untimely 
 
 H 
 
98 
 
 THE -VVAY OF LIFE REVEALED 
 
 birth that hath been brought forth, that [hath withered ; 
 and such] will wither and come to nothing. 
 
 But now, where the enemy is seen and discovered 
 in all the aforesaid workings, and cannot prevail by 
 these snares, traps, gins and temptations aforesaid, he 
 will not cease, who goes about as a roaring lion, 
 seeking whom he may devour, and how he may again 
 get entrance ; so that he lays his temptations accord- 
 ing to the spirit, growth, capacities and inclinations of 
 every one. Now after the good work of God has been 
 begun prosperously, and that the right arm of God's 
 salvation hath been wonderfully revealed, and signally 
 manifest to bring out of Egypt's land of darkness 
 spiritually ; and that the Lord hath magnified his 
 arm spiritually, in giving many signal deliverances 
 from the destroying enemy ; and has often fed with the 
 heavenly food, and caused the rock to yield water for 
 the thirsty ; and that the many turnings aside in the 
 passage through the wilderness have been seen, and 
 the backslidings and going out from a sense of the 
 Eternal Power, have been discovered ; and that there 
 is a coming through the river of judgment ; and the 
 mighty power and arm of the everlasting God drives 
 out the enemy that hath inhabited, where only 
 Abraham's seed is to inhabit ; and that the war in 
 great measure ceaseth, and part of the good land is pos- 
 sessed and enjoyed, even the land that floweth with spi- 
 ritual milk and honey, and the fruit of the vine drunk 
 of; here also, as in the travails afore-mentioned, will 
 the old crooked, subtle enemy be working, as he did 
 with outward Israel, causing J esurun to wax fat, and 
 then kick against the ancient Power ; leading the 
 mind out, through the enjoyment of that which in 
 its place is good, into ease ; and so to forget the Lord 
 
AXD THE WAY OF DEATH DISCOVERED. 
 
 99 
 
 that made and formed man, and brouglit him into 
 the land of rest, and lightly to esteem the very rock of 
 salvation ; and so leadeth into an easeful state, in a 
 profession; and draws away the mind from the inward 
 enjoyment of virtue, to set up idols in the heart, and 
 to serve other gods, even gods of silver and gold, and an 
 idol, a profession without life and possession : and into 
 this state and condition did the old enemy prevail to 
 lead a people, who in many ages had seen the great and 
 mighty works of the Lord, who saw from time to time 
 the arm of God Almighty out-stretched and magnifievl 
 in the sight of their enemies for them ; howbeit they 
 departed from the Lord, and from the inward sense of 
 his Eternal Power. Now here the spirit that was cast 
 out, and wandered in dry places, takes to it seven 
 worse spirits, and returns, tempts, prevails and enters ; 
 and here indeed the latter end is worse than the 
 beginning ; for in the beginning, although the enemy 
 had his power and rule, yet there was a sense thereof, 
 and the heart and mind was humbled, tender, and 
 brought into the true poverty : and there was a mourn- 
 ing before the Lord for want of the dominion ; and tUU 
 state of humiliation, hrohenness of lieart, and tender- 
 ness of spirit, [is thai] in which the Lord took and taheth 
 delight; and therefore in his endless, boundless loving- 
 hindness \1iatJi\ visited and caused his redeeming saving 
 povjer and arm to he revealed : hut now in this oilver 
 estate, the mind is high, the heart fat and full, and at 
 ease, and gotten forth into the love of the world, and 
 the things thereof, through which there is an unrnind- 
 fulness of ilie Lord, v:ho in the heginning was every 
 day sougld after, and diligently u^aited for ; and lure 
 the Rock, the Power, is ligMly esteemed of ; for tJie 
 estimation is of another thing : and here two great evils 
 are committed even at once, viz. the fountain of tlce 
 
100 
 
 THE WAY OF LIFE REVEALED 
 
 former living mercies forsaken, and a hewing out 
 broken cisterns, a j)rofession, that will hold no water, 
 no durable refreslmnent, no durable joy, no durable 
 -peace nor consolation. And the enemy hath thus pre- 
 vailed through many ages, to bring thousands from 
 their enjoyment of God, in the pure, tender, broken, 
 contrite, upright-spirited estate, which he doth effect 
 through his ivorkings and subtlety, and that gradually : 
 his ff^rst footstep hereunto is, to bring out of the constant, 
 daily, sure watchfulness, and causing a little liberty to 
 be taken to tJie carnal mind and to the flesh and that 
 gradually, and, as it were unperceivably ; causing such 
 to take, as it were, a taste, a ce7i,ain enjoyment of sweet- 
 ness therein, and thereby a little darkening the sight, 
 and so alluring into a little more liberty : sometimes 
 his beginnings are to draw out of obedience in those 
 things that were required in the day of small things ; 
 sometimes into many words, out of tvatchfulness, no more 
 to be as a door-keeper in the house of the Lord, and so 
 tlie enemy works to cause such-like things to seem small 
 and indifferent things, thereby to cause the offence of 
 the cross in tJwse things to cease ; and then the heart 
 and mind runs forth to make provision for the flesh to 
 fulfil the lust thereof, either in meats, drinks, apparel, or 
 such-like, which the truth in times 2x1st hath discovered 
 and made manifest, and the power of God, the cross of 
 Christ, hath crossed, and in meamre led out of, into 
 watchfulness, in pure fear and holy awe, not making 
 j)rovision for the flesh, in any respect, to fulfll the lu^ts 
 thereof ; but drawing the creature in practice, as well 
 as in principle, into plainness, and out of all super- 
 fluities, admitting of the creature to ref resh nature, and 
 not feed the lusts. 
 
 But yet the enemy works by degrees, subtly and 
 covertly, to lead out of the liberty of the cross of 
 
AND THE WAY OF DEATH DISCOVERED. 
 
 101 
 
 Christ Jesus, the power of God unto salvation, into 
 the liberty of the flesh again, and hereby gets a little 
 further entrance ; and though the eiiemy be working to 
 draw forth the mind into a wTong liberty, as into many 
 words in dealings, in commerce, or converse, and into 
 the love of the world and the things thereof again, and 
 yet the profession may remain, and the enemy may be 
 contented therewith ; yea, and many times the power 
 of God may be felt in some measure, which indeed 
 works not in the approvement, but to draw out of the 
 snare ; but the god of the world having by this time 
 much blinded the eye, and darkened the heart, and 
 deceived the understanding, there is not a sense nor 
 knowledge of the mind of the power of the Lord in its 
 workings, nor a real sense of the decay, and gradual, 
 subtle workings of the enemy ; for the outward pro- 
 fession and conformity may be in a great measure 
 kept to, which is a cover, under which the enemy may 
 work undiscovered by the unwatchful. And so the 
 enemy many times leads cunningly step by step, until 
 he hath led out of the power of godliness, and slain 
 the tender birth, which in the first days of tender 
 visitations was begotten ; and so here will be a 
 growing high, fat and thick ; and such [as are in 
 this state] will call the operation of God's dividing 
 power, extremes and imaginations ; and Jesurun-like, 
 will kick and turn against the dividing power of the 
 mighty God ; for all such are best contented with a 
 likeness and imaj^e : for thev love the smooth thinofs 
 in the wisdom of the gifted man, that has lost his way, 
 through erring from the power, not waiting con- 
 tinually on all occasions to be guided thereby. So 
 here is the itching ear, and heaping up teachers to 
 please self, to please that and uphold that ; and here 
 Jezebel is suffered and upheld, which error crept into 
 
102 
 
 THE WAY OF LIFE EEYEALED 
 
 tlie churcli of Thyatira ; and in all ages they that 
 Avent from the broken, tender estate, into the con- 
 ditions before [desoribed] did and do both suffer and 
 nurture this Jezebel, who must be cast on the bed of 
 torments, and all her children must be killed with 
 death : and all the workings of the enemy, under 
 every disguise, is to slay that which was quickened, 
 and to bring in a contentedness with an outside pro- 
 fession of the way of Truth, Light and Life of Christ 
 Jesus, the power of God unto salvation, whilst the 
 heart is adulterated and gone from the Lord, and has 
 embraced other lovers ; and so in process of time, 
 where the enemy thus prevails, he leads again into 
 the world, from whence the arm of the Lord gathered ; 
 and the latter end of such is indeed worse than the 
 beginning : for the enemy having led to make ship- 
 wreck of faith and of a good conscience, the second 
 death comes over, and such become twice dead, and 
 become as salt which has lost its savour, and are 
 good for nothing, but to be cast forth and trodden 
 under foot of men. 
 
 Tlie 'preservation out of these hy~paths, crooked ways, 
 u'iles, snares and temptations of the enemy, is only in 
 the true ivaiting and since^^e abiding in the light, gift 
 and gj^ace of God, in ivhich the daily revelations and 
 manifestations of God's Eternal Poiver, and right arm 
 of salvation and jyresei^atio^i is knoivn, in the daily 
 acquaintance and experience thereof ; which keeps all 
 minds ti^ly lozv, and hearts sincerely tender ; wherein 
 ariseth an inward travail, longing, breathing and 
 jyanting after the daily and continual enjoyment of the 
 life, poiver, and blessed refreshing, the heavenly virtue 
 which alone renews and increases the strength of the 
 inward man ; in which God Almighty preserve all 
 the travellers Zion-wards to the end. 
 
and the wat of death discovered. 103 
 Section 5. 
 
 The utter end and final destruction prophesied, of all 
 false professions, which have hhd their rise in the 
 night of apostacy. 
 
 After the glorious breakiogs forth of the day of 
 God amongst the apostles, &c., the enemy wrought 
 mightily against that appearance, both in his instru- 
 ments, by and through which he raised up persecu- 
 tion, and also in those apostates in whom he got an 
 entrance amongst the churches, and has so prevailed, 
 that great has been that horrible night of darkness 
 and apostacy, that hath been many centuries in and 
 over the nations of the earth ; in which times the old 
 subtle serpent, in his many transformings and ap- 
 pearances, has mightily wrought, to alienate man from 
 his God. 0 the ways and inventions that have been 
 by him set up, through his workings in the wisdom 
 which is from below, which is earthly, sensual and 
 devilish, under pretence of religion, obedience, and 
 worship of God ! What rending, tearing, devouring, 
 murdering and destroying, has there been for these 
 many hundreds of years about religion % First, the 
 great red dragon of persecution appeared, to devour 
 the man-child and destroy the woman, but both were 
 preserved ; then he made war with the remnant of 
 her seed ; and after came in another appearance, wdiich 
 John saw rise as a beast out of the sea, having seven 
 heads and ten horns ; and on his horns, crow^ns, 
 and upon his heads the name of blasphemy ; and one 
 of his heads had a deadly wound by the sword, but 
 this deadly w^ound was again healed ; and all the 
 world wondered after the beast, saying, who is like 
 the beast 1 And who is able to make war with him 1 
 And all on the earth do and shall worship the beast, 
 
104 
 
 THE WAY OF LIFE REVEALED 
 
 whose names are not written in the book of life of the 
 Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. And 
 after this, a second beast appeared, that came out of 
 the earth ; and this beast had two horns like a lamb, 
 but spake like a dragon ; and J ohn saw he exercised 
 all the power of the first beast, who received his 
 power and authority from the dragon, like unto which 
 this second beast spake ; and this beast that had 
 horns like a lamb, caused the earth and them that 
 dwelt therein, to worship the first beast whose deadly 
 wound was healed ; and he caused all, both small 
 and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a 
 mark in their right hand or in their foreheads. And 
 here has been the universal working of the power 
 and spirit of darkness, that hath exalted himself, 
 sitting in the temple of God as god and ruler. But, 
 blessed for ever be the name of the Almighty God, 
 the great red dragon, and the beast that arose out of 
 the sea, and the beast that arose out of the earth, and 
 mystery Babylon, are and shall be manifest. The 
 wisdom that is pure and peaceable, numbers these 
 appearances. And the judgment of the great whore 
 is come and coming, who rides upon the first beast ; 
 for now the angel of God's presence is come down 
 from heaven, having great power, who lightens the 
 earth with his glory, and the mighty cry is now going 
 over the earth, uttered " with a strong voice, saying, 
 Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become 
 the habitation of devils, &c. All nations have drunk 
 of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the 
 kings of the earth have committed fornication with 
 her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich, 
 through the abundance of her delicacies and the 
 voice is now uttering from heaven, " Come out of 
 her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, 
 
AND THE WAY OF DEATH DISCOVERED. 105 
 
 and that ye receive not of her plagues ; for her sins 
 have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered 
 her iniquities :" and now is the one day dawning 
 over the earth, wherein her plagues, mourning, and 
 famine come, and she shall be utterly burned with 
 the fire of God's jealousy ; " for strong is the Lord 
 God who judgeth her." And now, in the name of 
 the eternal, ever-living, blessed God, the Creator of 
 all things, I prophesy of the perpetual destruction 
 and utter desolation of the religions, inventions, 
 ways, worships, prescriptions, orders, decrees and imi- 
 tations, that have been setting up these many hun- 
 dreds of years, and not by the eternal, living Power 
 of the living God, nor by the directions, leadings 
 and guidings of his quickening Spirit of life, that 
 led and guided the Apostles in their day, age and 
 generation : root and branch, head and tail, and the 
 whole fabric of the Babylonish building shall be 
 utterly consumed, razed down and confounded for 
 ever ; and all the worshippers of the beast and his 
 image shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, 
 which is poured forth, without mixture, into the cup 
 of his indignation ; and these worshippers shall be 
 tormented, and have no rest night nor day, who wor- 
 ship the beast and his image, and whosoever receive 
 the mark of his name, &c. 
 
 Section 6. 
 
 A call, in the tender bowels of the love of God, shed 
 abroad in this day, age and generation, unto all the 
 scattered sheep, <&c. 
 
 Hearken and give ear, ye scattered ones, upon the 
 barren mountains of profession, who having lost the 
 living sense that was on many of your spirits years 
 
106 
 
 THE WAY OF LIFE REVEALED 
 
 ago, and are now seeking the living amongst the dead 
 professions, and your bread in desolate places. Remem- 
 ber the days, months and years past ; call to mind 
 the days of your tenderness, when the Light of God 
 so shined on your tabernacle, that by it you saw 
 yourselves in darkness, and in separation from the 
 enjoyment of your Creator ; which sense brought a day 
 of mourning and bitter lamentation on you, which was 
 the cause of your fasting, praying, and earnest seek- 
 ing after the Lord, with multitude of sighs, groans 
 and tears ; which caused you to put many days and 
 times apart, to meet together to pour forth your 
 souls in seeking the living God, for his appearance 
 and breaking forth by his Eternal Power, and for 
 the revealings of his ancient arm and horn of sal- 
 vation : and in that day how did many of you retire 
 yourselves into your closets and secret places, to 
 mourn before the Lord! and how did your cries, 
 breathings and pantings after the Lord, prevent the 
 morning-watches ! And in that day was it not sub- 
 stance itself that you sought after, even the revealings 
 of the Son of God's love in your souls ? Let me now 
 come near, and expostulate with you in the name of the 
 mighty God ; even with you, amongst all professions, 
 that have any tenderness or breathings after the Lord 
 remaining in you. What was it that stirred up your 
 hearts, many years since, thus to seek after the Lord ? 
 What was it that gave you the sense of your oivn in- 
 ward conditions 2 What was it that made sin appear 
 exceeding sinf ul ? What was it that you felt in your 
 minds that warred against the law of sin and death in 
 your members ? What was it that in some measure 
 opened the eye of your unde7'sta7iding to see idolatry 
 and superstition ? What ivas it that was drawing 
 your hearts out of the ivorld, that even made those 
 
AND THE WAT OF DEATH DISCOVERED. 107 
 
 things of light esteem, in comjmrison of that which your 
 awakened souls sought after ? What was it that 
 inwardlg upheld you in sufferings 1 What was it that 
 you retired your minds unto, when the wicked raged as 
 the waves of the sea; when you were mocked for the 
 plainness of your apparel and for your strictness in 
 your families ? Remember your many signal deliver- 
 ances : how did the Lord answer you in the day of 
 your tenderness ? What was it that exercised you 
 inwardly, moving on every one of your particular souls 
 and spirits for a 7'eformation ? Wa^ it not the free 
 grace of God ? Was it not that Light ivhi:h shined on 
 your tabernacle ? Did not this shine in your hearts, 
 and move on your spirits godwards, and began the 
 inward work of the Lord in you 1 Why did you start 
 aside from following on toward the Lord in the way of 
 his judgments, when a little prosperity attended you ? 
 Why did you seek to get from under the judgment, 
 before it was brought forth unto victory ? Be awak- 
 ened and come back, you professors of all sorts, that 
 have thus turned aside for a thing of nought, which 
 has caused you to wander from one mountain of pro- 
 fession to another, and from one exalted hill of imagi- 
 nations and conceivings to another, until you have 
 spent all your portion, and are in nature returned 
 to Babylon, the city of confusion, out of which the 
 Lord God Almighty thus calls you, — hasten, hasten 
 to come forth, and partake no longer ^vith her in her 
 sins, lest ye partake with her of her plagues, which 
 are now hastening to come upon her, and upon all 
 that shall be found within her borders. — Open now 
 your eyes, and behold where you missed and turned 
 aside, through which your foolish hearts have been 
 and are darkened ; for the enemy that goes about 
 as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour, 
 
108 
 
 THE WAY OF LIFE REVEALED 
 
 wrought in you to turn you from this pure, immortal 
 principle of the Divine Being, (that in the days 
 months and years by past, awakened you, and began 
 to work the work of God in you,) into a profession of 
 the words, states and conditions, whereof the saints 
 wrote and left on record behind them ; who attained 
 thereunto, through passing from death to life, in 
 obedience to the grace of God that is given to every 
 man to profit withal ; who knew the holy, war, and 
 fought the good fight, and so obtained the victory ; 
 through the effectual workings of God they obtained 
 it, and not through mere notions upon the words 
 of their brethren the prophets ; of which victory 
 through faith and obedience unto, and in the Eternal 
 Spirit of holiness, they were made partakers. And 
 thus was it that they came to put off the old man, 
 which indeed is a great work ; and to put on the new 
 man, which is a real change and translation out of 
 Satan's kingdom, and from under his power, into the 
 kingdom of the dear Son of the living God, and so to 
 be under his power. But the enemy of your souls 
 turned you from this free grace of God, (which was 
 that which stirred in you, and wrought in you in your 
 day of tenderness,) by drawing your minds up into an 
 airy notional profession of this grace, and [into the be- 
 lief] that by it you were saved ; not considering that the 
 immortal souls of such lie in bondage, whose faith stands 
 in notions, and not in the power of God ; or whose faith 
 is no other than a belief of what is done for them 
 without, not coming experimentally to know the work 
 of God in themselves, and the obedience of faith 
 which purifies the conscience, and makes alive unto 
 God. And such was the soaring up into imagina- 
 tions, of some called gifted men for the ministry, 
 that they presumed to teach and hold forth the free 
 
AND THE WAY OF DEATH DISCOTEEED. 109 
 
 grace of God after such a manner, as that the 
 understandings of many were confounded, and thereby 
 many were defiled and corrupted, by admitting a 
 liberty unto the fleshly nature, and avoiding the 
 cross of Christ, contrary to that holy liberty, which 
 through the operation of the grace of God is known. 
 For though it is true, that, as the Apostle saith, by 
 grace we are saved; yet whosoever holds forth this 
 grace, so as to raise a belief in any, that they are thereby 
 saved from condemnation, whilst they are found trans- 
 gressors against the righteous law of God ; such, I 
 say, divide not the word of God aright, but teach for 
 doctrine the conceptions of their own brains. For it is 
 not a bare belief or assent of the mind, to the power 
 of the grace, which can give satisfaction to the im- 
 mortal soul, or true assurance of eternal peace with 
 God ; but there must be also a conformity in the 
 inward man, unto the power thereof ; and so man 
 comes to be created in Christ Jesus unto good works, 
 to be sanctified throughout, both in body, soul and 
 spirit. And indeed, I have found, that instead of 
 preaching up conformity to the power of the grace, they 
 have not only preached up free grace, (which indeed 
 is an expression, in itself, proper enough to be held 
 forth, for that the grace of God is freely extended 
 unto all,) but also therewith they have preached up 
 a justification of sinful and unsanctified persons by 
 imputed righteousness ; even in such a manner, as 
 many have from thence concluded themselves in a 
 state of salvation, while sin has had its reign in 
 their mortal bodies ; which I cannot but testify, is 
 as great an error, and as contrary to the gospel- 
 ministration and the end for which Christ was mani- 
 fest in the flesh, (which was, to save people from their 
 sins, so as to live no longer therein,) as the error of 
 
110 
 
 THE WAY OF LIFE REVEALED 
 
 the Scribes and Pharisees was, when they were seek- 
 ing and believing justification by the works of the 
 law, without the righteousness of faith. 
 
 And thus has it been, that many have turned the 
 grace of God into wantonness, or turned from the 
 grace of God into wantonness ; so that in a little 
 time, how did many professors grow light and vain, 
 and run with the very profane into the same excess 
 of riot ; and were lifted up in the flesh, and so came 
 to be much in shew, but little and light in the balance? 
 and here, you professors of all sorts, that have gone 
 from the spiritual appearance of Christ Jesus within, 
 into a profession of the saints' conditions and per- 
 formances, without the leadings and guidings of 
 the same Spirit and Power, lost your way, and went 
 out from your Guide, which would have led you up 
 to the substance, Christ Jesus: and thousands of 
 ignorant people have been led here, through the cun- 
 ning sleights of men, into an empty profession; and 
 when the manifestation of the Spirit of God, which is 
 given unto every man to profit withal, hath stirred in 
 the heart and soul to draw the mind out of the ways, 
 spirit and nature of the world, then the transforming 
 enemy of mankind has lain near to betray and 
 deceive, by pointing and directing people to run into 
 this profession or the other, or take up this outward 
 performance or the other shadow, under the specious 
 pretence of the ordinances of God and Christ : and 
 hereby the subtle enemy, that will admit of the 
 people's being in the outward practice of outward 
 things, whilst that he can have his place, seat and 
 throne in the heart of mankind, has led thousands 
 aside out of the strait way of salvation, through his 
 drawing them from the true inward Guide, the grace 
 of God that brings salvation, that has appeared unto 
 
AND THE WAT OF DEATH DISCOVERED. Ill 
 
 all men, into the outward observations : and here the 
 fear of thousands, towards God, is taught by the pre- 
 cepts of men, who know not the leadings and guidings 
 of the Spirit and power of God ; and so have healed 
 the hurt of the daughter of Zion deceitfully, and have 
 daubed with the untempered mortar. 
 
 And now, all you scattered ones upon the barren 
 mountains of professions, give ear, hear the counsel 
 and call of the Lord : turn you, prodigals, who have 
 spent your portions, and lost much of your sinceritv 
 and tenderness, and that secret enjoyment you had of 
 the Lord inwardly, years ago, and who for a long 
 season have endeavoured to fill your bellies with 
 husks, and the profession of the saints' enjoyments. 
 My heart yearns on you, and for you are my bowels- 
 turned : my soul is often bowed down in the sense of 
 your states ; yea, often my heart is pained within me, 
 when I behold your wanderings up and down from 
 mountain to mountain, seeking rest and finding 
 none but what is polluted ; and your souls are lean 
 for want of the fatness of God's house, and you have 
 not the enjoyment of it. My soul is even many times 
 distressed for you, God that made heaven and earth, 
 bears me record, whom my soul cries unto, even night 
 and day, to visit you with an out-stretched arm. 
 Return, return, unto that which will shew you all 
 that ever you have done, and that will hasten you to 
 the Father's house, where the bread of life is ; and 
 no longer spend your money, precious time, and 
 labour, for that which is not the bread of life, but a 
 profession, a talk of bread, which cannot truly satisfy 
 your souls. 
 
 And now, in the name and authority, and by the 
 motion of the Spirit of the Eternal God, behold, I 
 sound the trumpet of the Lord God Almighty in ycur 
 
112 
 
 THE WAY OF LIFE llEYEALED 
 
 ears ; prepare, prepare, to meet the Lord Jehovah in 
 the valley of decision ; and all you who have any 
 tenderness in your hearts, and breathings inwardly 
 after the Lord, amongst all professions, of what name 
 or denomination soever, come out, come out of Baby- 
 lon, and be you separate ; touch not any longer the un- 
 clean thing, that the Lord may receive you, who stands 
 ready to receive all that come in truth and righteous- 
 ness unto him ; who now will mark all that mourn 
 because of the sins of the people, which are great, 
 and the measure thereof filling up apace ; and the 
 day and time is hastening, of the pouring out of 
 the vials of the unmixt fury and indignation of God, 
 who lives for ever and ever. And therefore flee, flee 
 for your lives, out of Sodom's nature, and stick not in the 
 profession of things, neither the one nor the other, whilst 
 the ground of thy professio7i did not, or doth not spring 
 from the immediate work of God, and daily operation 
 of his Eternal Power in thy heart ; hut come down into 
 pure obedience to the pure still voice of the Spirit, and 
 gift of God in thy own heart and soul, which will, as thy 
 inivard ears are atteritive, direct thee in the narrow way 
 of life eternal, in which thou shouldest lualk; so coming 
 here, you come to that which moved in the hearts of 
 many, years since, godwards, which was that which 
 wrought many into the tenderness before spoken of : 
 herein walk, and be faithful, and it will lead to the 
 fountain of blessedness, from which it came, and unto 
 the horn of God's Anointed : and to Shiloh shall be 
 the gathering of thousands through the nations, 
 tongues, languages and people ; and the mountain 
 of the Lord's house shall be exalted, through this 
 great day of trial, tribulation and anguish, upon the 
 top of all the mountains. 
 
 So the Lord God Almighty, by the arm of strength, 
 
AND THE WAY OF DEATH DI3C0YERED. 113 
 
 reach all hearts that have any breathing, panting 
 desires after Him, amongst all professions, and pull 
 many as brands out of the fire. So breathes my soul, 
 who am a travailer for the universal visitation and 
 deliverance of the seed of Jacob, and raised up to 
 prophesy of the things which shall come to pass, and 
 be fulfilled in their time and season. 
 
 Charles Marshall. 
 
 I 
 
lU 
 
 A WARNING UNTO THE RULERS 
 
 CHAPTER YIII. 
 
 A Warning unto the riders and people of England, in 
 the tender love of God. 
 
 Give ear and hear, all you rulers and inhabitants 
 of these northern islands : God Almighty, even the 
 God of Abraham, Isaac and J acob, in this latter age 
 of the world, is risen and arising, and causing his 
 ancient Horn of salvation to be revealed ; of whom all 
 the holy men, prophets, and servants of God gave 
 testimony, through ages and generations, to be that 
 Holy One on whom he hath laid help, who is mighty 
 to save, Christ Jesus the Lord ; of whose spiritual 
 appearance and coming, we are witnesses this day ; 
 and by the arm of his Eternal Power are raised up to 
 declare him unto these northern islands of the Gen- 
 tiles, as their light to lighten them, according to 
 the prophets, the testimony of John, old Simeon, 
 Christ Jesus, and the apostles and messengers of God 
 Almighty, through many ages and generations ; of 
 which many demonstrative testimonies, in the evidence 
 and demonstration of the spirit and power of Christ 
 Jesus, have been, and are daily borne, both by word 
 and writing ; which holy, certain testimonies, men 
 of the spirit of Jannes and Jambres, men of cor- 
 rupt minds, have risen up to withstand, and by lies, 
 slanders, misrepresentings, kc, have endeavoured 
 their utmost to vail and cloud ; which work and 
 way of theirs, God hath beheld, and hath determined 
 to blast, because in their right hand hath been found 
 a lie, and the poison of asps is under their tongues, to 
 
AXD PEOPLE OF ENGLAND. 1 ] -3 
 
 reproach, vilify, and misrepresent the servants and 
 people of God, under hideous and odious disguises ; 
 that they might thereby, as much as in them lies, 
 efiect such a work as the old heathens did on the 
 Christians ; namely, by putting lions' skins and 
 bears' skins on them, that thereby they might cause 
 the dogs to take hold on them : so hath there been an 
 endeavour in our day, to misrepresent the servants and 
 people of the Lord, as deniers of salvation by Jesus 
 Christ ; as [those who make] his birth in Bethlehem 
 of Judea, his travails, sufferings, blood, death, resur- 
 rection and ascension of no value ; as deniers of the 
 Scriptures of Truth ; and instead thereof, preaching 
 up salvation by meritorious works of our own ; and 
 in short, representing us as enemies to Christianity : 
 concerning which charges, and every particular of 
 them, full, clear, and demonstrative answers have been 
 and are given, unto which I refer all unsatisfied per- 
 sons. That which lies on my spirit at this time is, to 
 declare in the presence, name and power of the ever- 
 lasting God, that these things spoken and written of 
 us, are as false as the accusations of the Pharisees 
 concerning Christ Jesus, and as false as the accu- 
 sations of the Jews concerning the apostles, 
 
 1. For, first, we declare to all nations, tongues and 
 languages, that we believe in the One, Holy, Ever- 
 lasting God. 
 
 2. We believe concerning him, that he is a Spirit ; 
 and concerning his worship, that it is in spirit and 
 spiritual. 
 
 3. We believe, preach, and publish salvation in, or 
 by no other name, but in, by, and through him, of 
 whom all the prophets gave testimony, the apostles 
 preached, the primitive saints believed and received, 
 namely, Jesus Christ, 
 
 i2 
 
116 
 
 A WARNING UNTO THE RULERS 
 
 4. We declare we are so far from denying or having 
 any light esteem of that holy, honourable record, the 
 Scriptures of Truth, that we are often greatly howed 
 and tendered in spirit, in the sense of the great mercy 
 and love of our God ; that although the wicked have 
 been suffered to persecute, revile, and evilly to repre- 
 sent the way of life and salvation believed and 
 preached by them, and also have proceeded to kill 
 the bodies of the prophets of God, of Christ Jesus our 
 Lord, his apostles and faithful servants ; yet that his 
 great and inexpressible love has been such as to pre- 
 serve their precious testimonies unto our age and 
 generation. 
 
 And now, ye rulers and people of these northern 
 islands, in the universal love of the God of the spirits 
 of all flesh, I warn you, that as any thing comes unto 
 your ears of us, contrary to this our faith and belief 
 in God, that you be so noble, as to do that which is 
 but just and equal for you to do, viz. to keep one ear 
 for the accused, to hear with diligence and without 
 partiality : and let none be like those ignoble people 
 of Thessalonica, who being moved with envy, refused 
 to hear the apostle's doctrine ; but be like those 
 worthy Bereans, whose nobility is recorded, because 
 they received the word with all readiness of mind, 
 and searched the Scriptures daily, to see whether 
 those things were so. 
 
 So this is that, 0 ye rulers and people ! that may 
 and will hinder you from having gj;oundless prejudices 
 against an innocent people, and from running on to 
 persecute them, having not heard nor known their 
 principles, but from the misrepresentation of others. 
 This thing hath brought an insupportable burthen 
 on some : and I am glad that the unfruitfulness of 
 coercion is in any measure seen j.but sorry that some 
 
AND PEOPLE OF ENGLAND. 
 
 117 
 
 men should make so ill an use of their liberty, as to 
 improve it to calumniate those who in spirit are 
 travailing after the Lord. 
 
 And this know, 0 England ! and let thy rulers, for 
 their good and benefit, understand j there are thou- 
 ^nds in this land of our nativity, and within these 
 dominions, that are the visited of the Lord : for God 
 Almighty, hath bowed down his ear to the cries of 
 spiritual oppressed Israel, and seen the oppressions 
 thereof under the thraldom of sin and iniquity ; and 
 their groanings and cryings for deliverance from out 
 of the house of bondage and darkness, are come up 
 before him ; and for the sake of the poor, and cry of 
 the needy, that have no helper on the earth, hath God 
 Almighty risen and is arising, and making bare his 
 arm in the sight of the nations, to carry on his great 
 work of destroying sin and finishing transgression, 
 and bringing in everlasting righteousness. 
 
 And therefore, as you desire to prosper, let none 
 endeavour to hinder this work of the Lord ; for all 
 that shall presume so to do, God's heavy hand will be 
 upon them, and their plagues shall be wonderful and 
 astonishing : and so let all the prejudices and ill 
 resentments that have been received into the minds 
 of any people, through the enmity and ignorance of 
 men, be dispossessed ; and hear for yourselves and 
 try all things, and hold fast that which is good ; for 
 sorrow comes on many daily, who have received false 
 reports of an innocent people, and thereby have been 
 prejudiced, so as to speak evil of that way they have 
 not known nor proved ; for as the apostle said in that 
 age, so can we say, in the way accounted heresy by 
 some in our age, as in the ages by-past, we worship 
 God, believing what is written in the law and the 
 prophets, and of Christ Jesus, by the apostles. 
 
118 A WARNING UNTO THE RULERS, &C. 
 
 So the Lord God Almighty in his infinte love, open 
 the understandings of all that have breathing desires 
 in their souls after the knowledge of the Lord, rightly to 
 discern the stumbling blocks, and to see them removed, 
 that the subtle enemy of mankind, through his in- 
 struments, hath laid in the way : and God Almighty 
 reach with his hand of love, to gather those who have 
 some desires after the Lord, and yet are led by the 
 craftiness of men, to seek the li\'ing among the dead, 
 and to wander on the barren mountains of pro- 
 fessions : the Lord open their understandings every 
 where, and bring them to the blessed sheepfold of 
 Christ Jesus, is the desire of him, who is a travailer 
 in body and spirit for the outcasts of Israel, and 
 scattered of Jacob, that they may be gathered. 
 
 Charles Marshall. 
 
AN EPISTLE TO FRIENDS [uNDER SUFFERINGS.] 119 
 
 An Epistle to Friends \iuider sufferings,^ 
 
 Dear Friends and Brethren, 
 
 That are suffering for your meeting together, in 
 answer to the requirings of the power and spirit of 
 Jesus ; my love in the fellowship of the sufferings of 
 Christ salutes you, breathing to the God of the spirits 
 of all flesh for you j that the grace that brings salva- 
 tion, the mercy that comforts, the peace that is as a 
 refreshing river, may be multiplied in you and amongst 
 you, to your great satisfaction, joy and rejoicing in 
 the Lord. Lift up your heads in the light of the 
 Lord ; behold, and livingly remember what the Lord, 
 the jealous God, hath done for you these many years ; 
 who hath, in unutterable kindness, visited you 
 with his day-spring from on high, and with his 
 excellent, honourable, powerful arm, hath saved, deli- 
 vered and wrought for us, time after time ; and 
 beyond all expression hath wonderfully turned back 
 the enterprise of the enemy of our souls. He hath 
 indeed bound the seas as with swaddling bands, 
 and said to the proud waves of persecution, — hitherto 
 shall you come and no further ; — his arm hath brought 
 out of bonds and set at liberty, and hath rebuked, 
 as in the midst of a storm, and hath brought many a 
 sweet calm ; we have seen what his arm, power and 
 wisdom hath done, and have been deeply engaged 
 unto him, and bowed tender and broken, in the sense 
 of his unspeakable love. 
 
1 20 AN EPISTLE TO FRIENDS [uNDER SUFFERINGS.] 
 
 And now dear friends and brethren, I am moved 
 of the Lord thus to write : keep your meetings in the 
 name, power and authority of the living God, and 
 therein let all be gathered into the name of Jesus, 
 the immaculate Lamb of God, who will then be known 
 to be in the midst of you ; and wait diligently with 
 the loins of your minds girded with the efficacious 
 girdle of Truth, in the fear, dread and awe of the 
 mighty Jehovah. His dread and fear will keep out 
 the fear of man, whose breath is in his nostrils, and 
 whose life is at the dispose, every moment, of the 
 great Creator. Let none reason with flesh and blood, 
 but overcome all reasonings and counsellings of the 
 earthly, sensual wisdom, and walk in the seed immor- 
 tal ; [then will his] springing life make all your 
 meetings sweet, refreshing, and desirable, but dreadful 
 and terrible to the workers of iniquity. So dear 
 Friends, in the weighty sense of the honour and dig- 
 nity of the precious Truth, which you are concerned 
 in, before the eyes of many that are upon you, ma- 
 nage yourselves, and let the increase of it bear weight 
 with you over all your interests ; and eye the Lord, 
 who can give and take away, and whose are the 
 cattle on a thousand hills. Look not at the things 
 that are seen, which are carnal ; but at those which 
 are not seen with the visible eye, which are eternal; 
 and no more sufferings shall come on you that keep 
 resigned up to the Lord, and in his counsel, than 
 shall be to his honour ; and in the end over all, you 
 shall be comforted and be filled with joy, when your 
 enemies shall feel the tribulation and anguish which 
 the Lord is rendering to the workers of iniquity. 
 So, into the arms of the living God do I commit you, 
 and unto the word of his patience that keeps in the 
 hour of temptation j and the Lord arise among you 
 
AX EPISTLE TO FRIENDS [XTNDER SUFFERINGS.] 121 
 
 in the glory of his own power, and in the excel- 
 lency of his own brightness, to the astonishment of 
 the wicked, and to the refreshing and comforting of 
 you all ; in whose name I send this his counsel 
 amongst you, who am your brother in labour and 
 travail of the gospel of life and salvation. 
 
 Charles Marshall. 
 
 TetherUm, the 20tk of the 
 Second MoTith, 1677. 
 
122 
 
 AN EPISTLE TO FRIENDS COMING FORTH 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 An Epistle to Friends coming forth in the heginning of 
 a testimony : and of the snares of the enemy therein. 
 
 Dearly Beloved Friends, 
 
 Who in your meetings and assemblies sometimes feel 
 something of a testimony for the Lord, spring and move 
 in your hearts ; keep your watch in the Light, that 
 so none stay behind, neither run before ; but let all 
 who open their mouths in the assemblies of the Lord's 
 people, do it (as the oracles of God,) in the arising of 
 the Eternal pure Power; for nothing can beget to God, 
 but what comes from the immortal Word of Life, that 
 lives and abides for ever ; and nothing can refresh, 
 strengthen or comfort that which is begotten by the 
 immortal Word of Life, but what springs from the 
 same. And therefore dear Friends, whom this con- 
 cerns, wait diligently, not only to know and savour 
 every motion, but also to know the appointed time and 
 season when the same motion shall be brought forth ; 
 so shall what is ministered, if it be but few words, 
 reach to the witness, and do its service. For this I 
 have learned, that though there may be a true motion 
 of the power of the Lord, and a true operation thereof, 
 yet where there is not a true waiting for the perfecting 
 of what is to be brought forth, but instead thereof, a 
 coming forth before the time, then that which is 
 brought forth seems an untimely birth ; which is a 
 hurt to the vessel through which it comes, the hearers 
 thereof are burthened, and the life which first moved. 
 
IN THE BEGIXXIXG OF A TESTIMONY. 123 
 
 comes to be oppressed ; and here is the ground of that 
 untimely birth that never saw the sun, that hath, doth 
 or shall come forth : and as long as any are found 
 walking in this by-path, although they may find the 
 true power of God moving in them, yet they never 
 come to be skilful, nor to divide the word of God 
 aright ; and such do not truly grow, but sometimes 
 bring forth a mixture, sowing the field with two sorts 
 of grain, and wearing a linen and woollen garment. 
 
 So, Friends, this lieth upon my spirit to all who 
 feel the beginning of a testimony spring in their 
 hearts ; wait diligently in the Light, low, in the pure 
 stillness and passiveness of your spirits : and as you 
 here wait, you will come to feel the counsel of the 
 Lord sealed unto your understandings, and see the 
 time when to speak, and when to be silent ; and here 
 will be a right and true increase of your testimonies. 
 And when that which is thus sealed to the under- 
 standing is offered, retire inward, sink down into the 
 pure stillness, and keep in the valley : and let all 
 know, that no ministration, save that which comes 
 from life itself, from the fresh arisings of the pure 
 power of the Lord, availeth anything ; and all minis- 
 terings out of this, will come to an end, and fade, and 
 vanish in the approaching day of trial. 
 
 And, dear Friends, as the mind and ^vill of the 
 Lord is made manifest, yield sincere obedience there- 
 unto, if the requiring be but a few words ; for I have 
 seen it a dangerous thing to resist and rebel against 
 the motions of God's power, and have known many 
 hours of sorrow for so rebelling. And in the day of 
 a beginning of a testimony for the Lord, even in the 
 upright heart, great will be the opposition of the 
 enemy every way ; where he cannot lead out before, 
 to bring forth an untimely birth, there he will endea- 
 
124 AN EPISTLE TO FRIENDS COMING FORTH 
 
 vour to shut up the heart in disobedience or rebel- 
 lion, or raise up so many fears, doubts and amaze- 
 ments, as, if possible, to bewilder the soul ; and here 
 I had perished, if it had not been for the dear love 
 and tender mercy of the Lord. And so, dear Friends, 
 for whose sake I am moved thus to write, when a 
 motion is felt, and openings are in the heart, and the 
 power of the Lord is prevailing, then sink down in 
 that in which no vain thought can be hid, and stand 
 single and passive ; the more still, humble and pas- 
 sive thou art, who art thus exercised, the motion of 
 life will the more live and shew itself, and the power 
 will arise and clear thy understanding ; and then, 
 in the power which warmeth thy heart and moveth 
 on thy spirit, enter into thy service. When that is 
 done, add not, but sit in the still habitation, and in 
 that humility and passivoness thou wast in before ; 
 and then the reward of obedience thou wilt feel, and 
 grow in experience and knowledge, and be more and 
 more furnished to every good word and work. 
 
 And in this even path, in which all will feel a being 
 strengthened with might in the inward man, and fur- 
 nished to serve the Lord, God Almighty preserve all 
 that are thus exercised. 
 
 And, Friends, when any through want of experience 
 err, in running before the power, be very tender ; and 
 although there may be a savour and judgment in 
 yourselves, and you may be burdened, yet beware how 
 you speak to ease yourselves, but wjfit on the Lord 
 therein, to be guided by his counsel ; for some having 
 such a sense, as aforesaid, and not having a discern- 
 ing wherein the miscarriage lay, have run forth in 
 judgment, and so have sometimes hurt, and even 
 destroyed [the true birth,] or at least have become 
 a stumbling-block to such an exercised Friend, 
 
IN THE BEGINNING OF A TESTIMONY. 
 
 125 
 
 and have also much hurt themselves ; so that they, 
 not having a true discerning, between the first 
 moving cause, which is the power, and that which 
 led forth before the power, have judged both, 
 and so have brought a hurt over their own souls, 
 through judging the power of the Lord ; and this 
 sometimes may extend to hurt others ; out of which 
 snare God Almighty preserve all ; that so one may 
 be a strength to another, taking one another by the 
 hand, and saying one to another, — let us go up to the 
 mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of 
 Jacob ; who will teach us more and more of his ways; 
 — and here, in all God's holy mountain, is neither 
 hurting nor destroying. 
 
 Given forth in the moving of God's eternal Spirit, 
 through your dear brother, 
 
 Charles Marshall. 
 
 1677. 
 
126 
 
 AN EPISTLE TO THE WOMEN's 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 An Epistle to the Women's Half- Yearly Meeting, 
 1677. 
 
 Dear Friends, 
 Keep your meetings in the name of the Lord Jesus 
 Christ, and wait for the arising of his power amongst 
 you, your hearts to open ; so will wisdom spring in, 
 to instruct you ; and here none will be without their 
 ornament and adorning, namely, a meek and quiet 
 spirit j which is of that value that it is of great price 
 with the Lord : and all keep to the teaching of the 
 grace which comes by Christ Jesus, in which male 
 and female are one, being members of one holy body, 
 of which Christ Jesus is the head ; from whom 
 virtue floweth, life streameth, and love aboundeth, 
 which will season all your words and deportment, 
 and make them savoury. 
 
 And, dear Friends, be swift to hear the heavenly 
 oracle, but slow to speak, [waiting for] its teaching, 
 leading and helping ; so shall order, in the sweet 
 harmonious love and life, be among you. And let 
 no discouragement be upon any of your spirits ; for 
 the Lord hath owned your meetings with a testimony 
 from heaven ; and I am now constrained to remind 
 you how the Lord broke in upon you, in your last 
 meeting together on this occasion ; wherein you were 
 refreshed and stirred up to your several services in 
 your respective meetings, habitations, and families. 
 So be faithful, according to the stirrings of his Spirit 
 
HALF-TEAKLY MEETING. 1677. 127 
 
 and Power, that no guilt may be on anv, when they 
 come on their dying beds : but all in the strength, 
 leadings and guidings of the Lord's power, live and 
 walk, and serve up your generation according to the 
 will of God, in whose love I send this amongst you. 
 And my soul desireth and breatheth, that his love 
 and life may plentifully spring amongst you. The 
 salutation of my wife's dear love in the Lord is to you, 
 with breathings to the Lord, that his power, life and 
 glory may spread itself over your meetings : she 
 hath lain under some exercise, because prevented by 
 some service at Bristol, of being with you. Farewell 
 in the Lord. 
 
 I am your tender friend, in the labour of the 
 Gospel of Peace, 
 
 Charles Maeshall. 
 
128 
 
 AN EPISTLE TO FRIENDS 
 
 An Epistle to Friends in and about Bristol. 
 
 Friends and Professors of the Truth, in and 
 ABOUT Bristol. 
 
 This to you is my message, in the name of the 
 King of kings, and Lord of lords. 
 
 Let all flesh be silent before the Lord, amongst 
 you j cease from a multitude of words, that is not 
 from the guidance of the Word, which was in the 
 beginning ; and cease from those discourses that 
 draw the mind out from an inward, deep sense of 
 the invisible, immutable power of the Lord God 
 Almighty, that is at work to sweep the house, and 
 cast forth the defiler of the temple of the Lord. 
 
 Friends, I say again, in the name and authority of 
 the King of heaven and of earth, whose embassage 
 this unto you is ; let an outward and inward silence 
 come over all your families and assemblies before the 
 Lord ; and let the Lord arise in all your hearts, 
 families, and assemblies ; and wait upon him in his 
 great dread, to feel more and more of the word of his 
 holiness. And tremble, tremble, tremble at it ; I 
 warn all in his power, that is upon me at this time, 
 thus to write. 
 
 And let all pride, superfluity, and all loftiness in 
 the enjoyment of perishing things, be searched out 
 in all families ; even every hidden thing of Esau's 
 mountain. 
 
 And in the dread of Israel's God, let all mind 
 their latter end ; lest the grave-clothes, and winding- 
 sheet, become your swaddling-bands, and you not in 
 
IN AND ABOUT BRISTOL. 
 
 129 
 
 a prepared state for it. My soul is filled with the 
 love of my God, and 11134 spirit is overcome with the 
 dread of the Lord's power, who will hasten his great 
 work amongst you, which will affect the hearts of 
 thousands with fear, and dread, and love to God. 
 
 And 0 flock of God in Bristol ! thou shalt be as 
 a garden of roses and lilies, thy scent and savour 
 shall refresh many thousands : thy beloved shall be 
 to thee as a fountain of gardens, and as an endless, 
 over-flowing spring of living water ; the destroyer 
 shall be destroyed out of thy habitations, and the 
 waster from thy dwellings. The Lord Almighty will 
 touch the mountains and they shall melt, and the 
 hills shall dissolve like snow j and a low, broken- 
 hearted people shall you be : then shall the travails 
 and deep exercises, which are before the Lord this 
 day, be remembered with great breakings of heart. 
 
 So dear Friends, that are tender in spirit, keep 
 inward with the Lord, and move not out of his power, 
 I beseech you ; but let the fear of his great name be 
 upon you night and day ; and be not drawn forth by 
 any occasion, out of the habitation of light, in which 
 is the armour of righteousness ; keep to the oracle ; 
 live in the covenant of God Almighty ; go not before, 
 nor stay behind, and the Lord will be with you, (you 
 shall see it), in whose name I send this amongst you, 
 
 Who am your friend and brother in the labour, 
 tribulation, and patience of the gospel of peace, and 
 a servant of the living God. 
 
 Charles Marshall. 
 
 Written in the year 1677. 
 
 K 
 
130 
 
 ANOTHER EPISTLE TO THE 
 
 Another Epistle to thejlock of Christ Jesus : [exhorting 
 to self-denial, stillness, watchfulness, and earnest 
 prayer for the establishment of universal peace.^ 
 
 All tender Friends, whose faces are turned from the 
 world Zion-ward, love the dawning of the day of 
 light in your souls, and take heed to the sure word ; 
 let it be as a lamp to your feet ; then will it guide 
 you, and translate you out of the nature of sin and 
 darkness, into the divine nature, which is light, 
 and [enable you] so to dwell in it, as to go no 
 more forth, but to be as pillars in the house of the 
 Lord for ever. Now this work is carried on and 
 accomplished no other way, but through a daily per- 
 severing, and obeying the light in all its leadings. 
 
 And you that are not only turned Zion-wards, but 
 have been and are travellers in the way, who have 
 ardent desires after that one thing David so much 
 desired, namely, to dwell in the house of the Lord, 
 that he might see his celestial glory, who hath immor- 
 tality and dwells in the light ; I have this message 
 of glad tidings to sound in your ears ; the Lord God 
 of strength and might hath heard your cries, and your 
 breathings and pantings are come up before him. 
 Give up out of the self-hood ; deny your wills ; take up 
 the daily precious cross of Christ J esus ; come out of 
 your own thoughts, willings and runnings, and close 
 in with the heavenly light of the Lamb. Give ye 
 that nature that hath slain the Lamb, to be slain by 
 the Lamb ; so shall your salvation be wrought and 
 accomplished by him, and you for ever united unto 
 
FLOCK OF CHRIST JESUS. 
 
 131 
 
 him, bearing his image, who is the express image 
 of his Father ; and here all souls can again without 
 rebuke, approach to the Father by him, who is the 
 celestial fountain of light : and all profession of the 
 Father and the Son, of light and truth, and king- 
 dom of it, without the knowledge of this work, (began 
 and carried on by the Alpha and Omega,) will wither 
 and be blasted ; and God Almighty accounts it as 
 stubble for his fire of vengeance. Under the conduct 
 of this light and truth, ye will bring forth the fruits 
 of it in all your conversation ; and this brings a care 
 one over another, and a universal care in all your 
 assemblies of sons and daughters, to labour that all 
 may be kept sweet, and that nothing may be wanting, 
 but all may be as one family. And this universal light 
 in its increasing manifestation, hath drawn, and doth 
 draw many in this nation and others, to meet together 
 to serve the Lord and one another ; to counsel and 
 strengthen ; to relieve the poor, impotent and needy ; 
 to see that all things which we have to act as a people 
 in this world, may be as becomes the gospel. 
 
 Now, unto all those that discourage this work, and 
 lift up the heel against it, I have this to say in the 
 certain counsel of the Lord ; the Lord will debase 
 them and pour contempt upon them, and confound 
 their tower and rend their double wall ; and the 
 righteous generation shall see it, and shall see the 
 more cause to dread the Almighty, because of hi? 
 signal judgments ; and shall fear to rebel against him, 
 and rise against his peace, and the work of it : and 
 the Judas in spirit is discovered, and will be more and 
 more, that with a kiss doth betray ; that with and 
 under the profession of the light, draws from it ; and 
 under the profession of the truth, endeavours to 
 destroy the work of it ; which the inward, tender 
 
 K 2 
 
132 
 
 A^'OTHER EPISTLE TO THE 
 
 waiter in the light shall see, beholding and feeling 
 the wolf under the sheep's clothing, and be preserved. 
 
 And now, all you families of the earth that call 
 on the name of the Lord, and profess the light of 
 Israel, that shall be as a flame amongst the stubble : 
 give ear to the counsel of the mighty God, the Lord 
 of heaven and earth ; love, esteem, and in fear and 
 dread give up to his ancient, honourable, renowned, 
 saving arm ; that by it you may be gathered that are 
 not gathered, into the universal, divine light of the 
 morning of the celestial day : and this is the counsel 
 of the Lord God eternal, — let it be your habitation 
 and dwelling-place ; — for this is his requiring, that as 
 you have professed the evangelical light of the morn- 
 ing of this eternal day before the nations, you may all, 
 in every place, dwell and walk in it before the nations; 
 and therein shall you know his being with you, making 
 his abode w^ith you, who hath immortality and dwells 
 in the light : and then, to you that dwell in this 
 habitation, will the Lord God gather the nations, and 
 sweetly assemble the people, from the rising of the sun 
 to the going down of the same, amongst whom the 
 name of the Lord shall become great. 
 
 But wo ! wo ! wo ! from the tabernacle of the glory of 
 the infinite God, unto all that have long made and 
 [still] make a profession of the holy, spiritual light of 
 the Lamb of God, whilst in the darkness they are ; the 
 dreadful day of God Almighty's pleading with all 
 such, greatly hastens. And therefore you, everywhere, 
 that hold the truth in unrighteousness, be ye warned 
 in the name and authority of the God of the w^hole 
 earth, that none offend nor displease the Lord any 
 longer in this thing, namely, of professing his pure 
 immortal light, and walking in darkness ; lest his anger 
 break forth like devouring fire, and he consume you 
 
FLOCK OF CHEIST JESUS. 
 
 133 
 
 thereby from under the heavens, and appoint you 
 your portion amongst the hypocrites, who are gone 
 into everlasting burning, under the vengeance of 
 eternal fire. 
 
 Therefore, let a search pass through all families : 
 and where any have continued unto this day, thus dis- 
 pleasing the Lord Almighty, and working the destruc- 
 tion of their own souls, I say unto all such, in the name 
 of the Lord, haste, haste, haste out of thedarkness ; give 
 ear ; the trumpet of the Lord giveth a certain sound ; 
 therefore obey from the heart, that ye may yet, be- 
 fore your day go over, be translated out of the king- 
 dom of Satan, which is darkness, into the kingdom 
 of light of the dear Son of God, Christ Jesus the Lord. 
 
 And all Friends everywhere, that have the sealing 
 of God's Eternal Spirit, that you have obeyed from 
 the heart, and to this habitation and dwelling-place 
 of light are come ; in the sense of the unutterable 
 loving-kindness of the Lord Almighty, and the work 
 of his glorious gathering arm, continue, and keep your 
 habitations ; for the angels that kept not their habi- 
 tations are reserved under the very chainings of dark- 
 ness, to the judgment of the great day. 
 
 And Friends, in all the hurryings of men and 
 nations, look ye not out, but dwell in the habitation 
 aforesaid ] and in times of distresses and amazements, 
 in the fulfilling of the word of the Lord, this to you all 
 is an universal word of counsel from the Lord, — be still, 
 be still, be still, and know that I am God, saith the 
 Lord ; and stir not out of my counsel in any thing, nor 
 take counsel of your own heart : — keep the eye of your 
 minds to the heavenly, spiritual oracle of wisdom, and 
 you shall have counsel from the Lord to your satis- 
 faction ; but if ye look out, ye will be darkened, and 
 may fall with them that falL 
 
134 
 
 ANOTHER EPISTLE TO THE 
 
 And all assemblies and families of the Lord's people 
 ererywhere; Avatch unto prayer, that ye may feel the 
 spirit of prayer and supplication poured forth upon 
 you : and as drawn thereunto, sit before the Lord' 
 in the deep sense of the great work of the destroyer, 
 who is stirring up the nations to destroy and devour 
 one another ; and is seeking an entrance, as a roaring 
 lion, to destroy some of the Lord's people, called in 
 the morning of the day of his love. Oh ! cry, cry, 
 cry mightily unto the Lord, for yourselves, your 
 friends, and your enemies, and for the poor land of 
 our nativity, which is heavy laden with the iniqui- 
 ties of the inhabitants thereof ; over whom the pierc- 
 ing eye of the Almighty looks in great displeasure. 
 Oh ! let your supplications be, that the Lord Al- 
 mighty would arise in his great strength, and so 
 judge araong*st the nations, that their swords may be 
 beaten into ploughshares, and their spears into prun- 
 ing-hooks ; that the nations may learn war no more 
 one with another : and that this expedient for uni- 
 versal peace may be upon the hearts of princes and 
 people, namely, that all people might leave off 
 warring with, and destroying one another ; and all 
 come into the spiritual warfare in their own hearts, 
 with the spiritual weapons, against the common 
 enemy of mankind, the devil ; that so they all might 
 experience the end of the coming of Christ Jesus, 
 namely, to destroy the works in every man, of the 
 great Abaddon, Ap oily on, the destroyer. And may 
 the living God be pleased to hasten his great work, of 
 putting to an end the sin of this age, and iniquity 
 of this generation ; and so bring in everlasting righ- 
 teousness, [and cause it] to flow as a mighty river of 
 sweet refreshment ; that this poor land with others 
 might enjoy its sabbaths ; that He who is King of 
 
FLOCK OF CHRIST JESUS. 
 
 135 
 
 Salem, Prince of Peace, may rule in the hearts and 
 souls of princes and people ; so that the great, uni- 
 versal, omnipotent God may have his honour, and the 
 princes and people of all lands their comfort, in the 
 sweet, inexpressible enjoyment of his omnipresence, 
 and blessing of sitting under their own vine and fig- 
 tree. So shall all fear be removed out of the nations, 
 but the fear of the Lord God Almighty ; which would 
 make all rulers and people happy, both in this world, 
 and that which is to come. Amen, Amen, Amen, 
 saith the tribulated, travailing soul of your friend and 
 brother, 
 
 C. M. 
 
 Tetherton, Twelfth Month Uth, 1678. 
 
136 
 
 A TENDER VISITATION OF LOVE 
 
 CHAPTER XL 
 
 A Tender Visitation of Love, to the called of God tvery- 
 ivhei^e ; being a testimony to the precious, ancient, 
 siveet, living p<mer of the evei^lasting God. 
 
 Dear Friends, 
 Gather you everywhere inward, into a feeling of, 
 and continuing with, and subjecting unto, the glo- 
 rious, precious, ancient, living and mighty power of 
 God j and let all diligently attend its teachings, lead- 
 ings, openings and operation; that by it a search 
 may go through all hearts, all families and assem- 
 blies j that all that grieves his Holy Spirit, and is 
 offensive in the pure eye of the Lord, may be sought 
 up ; and every garden viewed to see what grows there, 
 that every plant that is not of the Lord's right hand 
 planting, may be discovered and pulled up. For, 
 Friends, under the weighty dread of the Lord God 
 Almighty is my soul exercised at this time to say 
 unto you, the Lord is arising to prove, to try, to fan, 
 to purge and refine ; for the day grows on, that will 
 burn as an oven : but what shall abide? and who may 
 abide ? let this be the examination : for the lead, 
 the tin, yea, also the reprobate silver, will pass away 
 in this refining fire. And that which may have the 
 likeness of gold, and is not of a pure, enduring 
 nature, will vanish, and leave all poor that possess 
 not the gold. 
 
 So dear Friends, every^\'here, I say unto you, in 
 the dread, awe, fear, and name of the Lord, haste, 
 
TO THE CALLED OF GOD. 
 
 137 
 
 haste out of all that is not weighty, out of the nature 
 thai keeps tfi^ soul in any bondage and distance from 
 the Lord.. Yea, hasten out of the state of professing 
 the truth, in a nature and spirit contrary unto it, 
 which grieves the Spirit of the Lord God. Dear 
 Friends, the pure eye of the Lord that runs to and 
 fro, beholding the evil and the good, sees all states 
 and conditions, all false ways and false births ; all 
 that run from the daily cross, all that lose the sweet 
 lovely image of God, and are growing up in another 
 image in the house of imagery, and walk in the land 
 of graven images ; and all that depart out of the sweet, 
 tendering, heavenly wisdom, into that which is eanhly 
 and sensual, wherein there is a priding in the openings 
 opened in the day of tenderness, and an increasing in 
 that knowledore which will brino^ increase of sorrow, 
 a growing into the state of being fat and strong, that 
 must be fed with judgment ; and sees all that know 
 the truth, its way and work, and come not into 
 obedience unto it : I say, the pure, immortal eye of 
 the eternal, ever-living God, sees all these states and 
 conditions, and all the by-paths and crooked ways 
 the soul's enemy leads into ; and his holy power is 
 arisen to bring them all to judgment. Therefore 
 hasten, hasten, [ye] who are concerned herein, to 
 meet the Lord God Almighty in the way of his judg- 
 ments. Bow, bow unto the pure power of the Lord ; 
 feel it in its burning and consuming, where there is 
 matter that hurts the soul, that bondageth the soul, 
 and darkeneth the understanding ; that so all may be 
 comprehended down under the dominion and reign of 
 this glorious power, through its consumiugs, utter de- 
 stroyings and burnings up all that is contrary unto the 
 divine nature thereof. In this power immortal, peace 
 is known with the Lord, through his blessed work of 
 
138 
 
 A TENDER VISITATION OF LOVE 
 
 spiritually slaying the enemy ; and thereby is the 
 reconciling to God through Christ Jesus our Lord. 
 And all dear and tender friends, who are lovers of 
 this sweet, ancient power of the Lord, and have 
 heavenly tastes thereof, and sweet, precious openings 
 thereby ; Oh dear friends ! dwell with it and in it, and 
 it will give you your souls' desire, crowning you with 
 dominion over the man of sin, his root and fruit ; and 
 in it will your inward man, inspirit, walk with God who 
 is a Spirit, and obtain that which Enoch obtained, even 
 that consolating testimony, that you please God. And 
 therefore all friends everywhere, M^ait for the fresh 
 springing and glorious arising of this Almighty power 
 of the Lord ; that it may shew itself signally every- 
 where, rending all veils, breaking all bonds, opening 
 all graves, raising up all souls into life itself : that 
 in all your assemblies and meetings everywhere, 
 this testimony you may have, that life and immor- 
 tality are brought to light ; and in it may rejoice with 
 joy unspeakable and full of glory, because this im- 
 mortal power reigns over all, flows over all, waters 
 all, melts down all, fills all, sweetens all : that in the 
 enjoyment of its spiritual fillings, holy high praises, 
 thanksgivings, in the sweet, spiritual melody of eternal 
 life, may rise, spring, and be offered up in the sweet 
 overcoming of his love, who is the mighty power of 
 God unto salvation ; that so all that is false and 
 wrong, that grieves the good Spirit of the Lord, may 
 be driven and carried away before the mighty stream, 
 and strong flowing, of this immortal power of the 
 Being of beings. 
 
 And now, all you lambs and babes and weak ones ; . 
 and all you suffering, sincere ones, under the buffet- 
 ings and temptations of your souls' enemies ; and all 
 you prisoners everywhere for the testimony of Jesus, in 
 
TO THE CALLED OF GOD. 
 
 139 
 
 all your various exercises, trials, straits, necessities and 
 temptations ; and you mourning, tribulated servants of 
 God for Zion's sake, whose souls have been oppressed, 
 grieved and bruised, under the sense of the crushing, 
 bruising, and treacherous work of Zion's enemies ; look 
 up to the Lord God of tender compassion, who is bow- 
 ing his ear to the cries, groans, and supplications of 
 his oppressed in every state, wdiose souls love the Lord, 
 and have chosen his strait way, and pure path of 
 self-denial. Feel, feel the arising of this immortal 
 power of the Lord, w^hich will help over all weak- 
 ness and insufficiency, over all straits, sorrows and 
 temptations. Arise, arise, in the arising and im- 
 mortal power ; for the Lord is arising in the land, 
 and his work shall prosper, and his determined 
 counsel which he hath caused to be proclaimed 
 therein, he is bringing to pass. Woe, woe to the 
 wicked ! let their profession be what it will, it shall 
 go ill with, them : but with the righteous, saith the 
 Lord, it shall go well. Be therefore encouraged, for 
 the Lord strong and mighty is on his way : ye tender 
 people of the Lord everywhere, that diligently w^ait 
 upon him with brokenness of heart and contriteness 
 of spirit, heaven's Avindows over you shall be opened, 
 and show^ers of plentiful blessings shall come down on 
 your souls. You hungry ones, you shall be fed wdth 
 the bread of God ; and ye panting ones, you shall be 
 nourished with the virtue of immortal life ; and ye 
 thirsty ones, ye shall be abundantly refreshed with 
 the new wine of the kingdom of God, handed to you 
 by the hand of power, in the cup of his salvation. 
 But the high, the haughty and the rebellious, the 
 stiff-necked, shall mourn ; and the tongues that have 
 been lifted up against the work of the Lord and the 
 bringing forth of his power, shall be gnawed for pain : 
 
140 A TENDER VISITATION OF LOVE, &C. 
 
 and the Lord will smite the proud and confound the 
 enterprizes of the sensual : and his power shall go 
 over all, and tread down all thine enemies, 0 Zion, 
 that hast gathered to this immortal power, and with 
 it continuest, and to it subjectest ; its brightness 
 and glory shall be thy covering. This is the testi- 
 mony for the glorious Lord Omnipotent and Omni- 
 present, 
 
 Of your dear, travailing friend and brother, in the 
 labours and travail of the gospel of peace, 
 
 Charles Marshall. 
 
 Tether ton ^ the \ Wi of the Eighth Month, 1679. 
 
AN EPISTLE SENT TO OXFORD. 
 
 ui 
 
 An Epistle sent to Oxford. 
 
 Dear Friends and Brethren, 
 
 In the love of my Father is this salutation unto 
 you, greatly desiring the powerful presence of the 
 mighty, everlasting God, may be signally with you in 
 this your meeting, and in all your meetings ; that 
 wisdom from on high may descend amongst you ; and 
 that the river of that love wherein Zion is a city at 
 unity with itself, may plentifully and livingly flow 
 among you, even that love in which the body edifies 
 itself : that so being sweetly opened and furnished 
 thereby to every good word and work, ye may serve 
 the Lord faithfully. And as you have been a good 
 savour to adjacent counties, because of your zeal and 
 faithfulness, love and unity one with another, so con- 
 tinue, increase and abound therein, I exhort you in 
 the presence, power and counsel of my God ; that so 
 nothing but a good savour of you, through Jesus 
 Christ, may be in every place. In order to which" 
 grow in that which unites and cements ; and live and 
 walk in that which makes for peace, and in the noble 
 seed of life, in which the Father is honoured. And 
 as you live, walk and persevere herein, you will see 
 the evil seeds-man, and in every concern, keep in do- 
 minion over his sowings, through any occasion what- 
 soever, which is the thought and counsel of Israel's 
 God unto you. That in and through the brightness 
 of the everlasting, glorious Truth, you may shine in 
 all your several places and services, and be good 
 examples in love, fear and unity, and all sweetness of 
 
142 AN EPISTLE SENT TO OXFORD. 
 
 life to tlie adjacent country ; tliat the rain of God's 
 heavenly love in showers may come down daily upon 
 and amongst you in every meeting and family ; 
 that you may grow like a well- watered garden, full 
 of trees and plants of righteousness, and full of the 
 divine virtue of the holy Vine of life. God Almighty 
 be with you in all your meetings and families, causing 
 it thus to be with you, is the breathing of your tra- 
 vailing-spirited friend and brother, 
 
 Charles Marshall. 
 
 For the Quarterly Meeting in Oxford, and from 
 thence [to be] sent to Friends' other meetings. 
 
 Cono-AUine, the 28tk of Tenth Month, 1679. 
 
A GENERAL EPISTLE TO FRIENDS, ttc. 
 
 143 
 
 A General Epistle to Friends and prof essors of the truth, 
 [on the necessity of the new bii-th.] 
 
 Dear Friends, 
 Who with the morning light of the eternal day have 
 been visited, and by the heavenly power of Christ 
 Jesus called out of the world ; I am to say to you 
 through my Father s counsel, — [let] all your minds be 
 gathered down unto the feeling of, and cleaving unto 
 that immortal, incorruptible seed which bruiseth the 
 serpent's head : — of which seed all must be born, or 
 they cannot see the kingdom of God, which is excel- 
 lent in celestial brightness and sweetness, full of glory, 
 immortality, peace and joy. 
 
 0 Friends ! everywhere, in the bowels of Christ 
 Jesus, even in the yearnings of the Father's love, I 
 beseech you, feel and read in the deep, what you 
 know of this blessed work, in which the happiness of 
 the immortal soul consisteth : for there may be a 
 coming out of Egypt, and to the law, which was 
 added because of transgression, until the seed should 
 come ; yea, to the prophets, who saw and prophesied 
 of his coming ; and in these states there may be open- 
 ings and heavenly tastes ; but the eternal welfare of 
 the soul is, inwardly to experience the working of the 
 divine hand of Him who is the good Husbandman ; 
 a cutting off from the wild olive and planting into 
 the Vine of life ; a translating out of the evil nature 
 and kingdom, into the divine nature and kingdom. 
 
144 A GENERAL EPISTLE TO FRIENDS 
 
 All come here to know a being born of the quicken- 
 ing Spirit, the second Adam, the Lord from heaven ; 
 here is the state [which] truly avails, even the new 
 creature, which, in Christ Jesus, hath a right to enjoy 
 the favour and presence of God the Father, for ever 
 and for evermore. A profession of religion, under 
 what name or denomination soever, without this 
 work experienced in some measure, doth the souls of 
 men and women no good. 
 
 Therefore Friends and professors of the truth every- 
 where, — in the fear, dread and awe of the most high 
 God, live low before him ; that so where this inex- 
 pressibly precious work is not experienced, there may 
 be a true waiting and travailing in Spirit, in which a 
 living cry and supplication will arise to the living 
 God to accomplish it. 
 
 And now, unto all who feel true longings, living 
 breathings, and ardent desires in their souls, this 
 blessed work to know, I say in the name and power of 
 the Lord, and in rolling bowels of love, — bow down in 
 tenderness of spirit and sincerity of heart to this seed 
 of the kingdom, if but as a grain of mustard seed. 
 Be low within, and love that which doth discover the 
 seed of the serpent ; love its workings and bringings 
 forth in the heart ; suffer with it, sorrow and mourn 
 with it ; give up not only to the discoveries of the 
 seed of the kingdom, but also to its judgment, that 
 the nature and works of the seed of the serpent may 
 be destroyed. For the soul can never come to be one 
 with the seed incorruptible, nor be born of it, in 
 which the promises are all yea and amen, but 
 through the wasting, working under, and destroying 
 of this nature and work of the seed of the serpent, 
 which hath been as a separating or partition-wall 
 
AND PROFESSORS OF THE TRUTH. 145 
 
 between the soul and Christ Jesus. So through he- 
 coming passive and subject to the power, and the 
 working of this incorruptible seed, in the least and 
 lowest appearance, it will bring every one that is 
 acquainted therewith, very low and tender in spirit ; 
 and possess the heart and soul with the fear and 
 dread, and awe of the Most High ; and [will make 
 such] truly careful ; diligent to attend to, and tender 
 of neglecting, its secret motions, and sweet, powerful 
 workings in the soul. JSTow tender people, that come 
 here, diligently and constantly cleave with your souls 
 unto it ; and you shall feel and see, as your faith 
 stands in it, the working of it as leaven, to leaven you 
 into the di\4ne nature. So be not weary of bearing 
 the cross of Christ, nor of mourning here in these 
 deep exercises of spirit ; but persevere daily in the 
 love of this immortal seed ; for then, coming to be 
 born again and brought forth by the power of its 
 workings in the soul, ye shall be tenderly nursed up 
 by that of the same nature, namely, the sincere 
 milk of the word, which lives and abides for ever, of 
 which you were begotten ; and so grow thereby up to 
 the day of espousal in the marriage-chamber of 
 divine love and life, where the soul is safe in the 
 enjo}Tnent of the unutterable joy of the Lord God and 
 the Lamb for ever. 
 
 That God Almighty may arise in his great power 
 and bright glory everj^vhere, for the bringing down 
 and laying waste of every false birth, and the works 
 of it ; and bringing forth the birth of the morning 
 of his sweet day, through this and [other] nations, to 
 the magnifying, renowning and exalting his blessed 
 name for ever, is the breathing and travail of your 
 tribulated brother. 
 
 C. M. 
 
 1680. 
 
146 
 
 A GENERAL EPISTLE TO FRIENDS, kc. 
 
 POSTSCRIPT. 
 
 Dear Friends everywhere, feel that divine Hand 
 and mighty Arm that gathered you out of the rollings 
 and tossings of the nations and people, into the sweet, 
 safe habitation of Israel, where you may dwell alone 
 out of the defilements of the nations ; where the hiding 
 place will be known, until the word of the Lord be 
 fulfilled, and his indignation pass over, to accomplish 
 his own determination in the earth. 
 
AN EPISTLE TO FRIENDS, CHIEFLY AT BRISTOL. 147 
 
 An Epistle to Friends, chiefly at Bristol. 
 
 Dear Friends, 
 
 Who are called of God, by the heavenly voice of 
 his Spirit, out of the world, its evil ways, evil works, 
 vain worships, and corrupt nature, to walk in the 
 way of the Lord, and take up the daily cross, which 
 crucifies you to the world, and the world to you, and 
 brings you to the divine, sweet nature of God, in 
 which is life, virtue and peace : dear Friends, tra- 
 vail on in the faith of God's elect ; be not discouraged 
 at the mountains and hills, the sea nor the Egyp- 
 tians ; but look to the fiery pillar of God, the preser- 
 vation of his called and chosen : stand still in the 
 light of the glorious gospel, and see the salvation 
 which the mighty God will bring this day, unto all 
 that endure in well-doing ; not looking out nor 
 wavering in your minds ; for to all that so do, darkness, 
 weakness and offences come in, and they start aside 
 like a broken bow, fall short through unbelief, die 
 in the wilderness, and obtain not the promise ; but 
 all that keep in the loveliness, amiableness and divine 
 brightness of the truth, they look over all here below, 
 of the fading, uncertain, corrupting treasures and 
 pleasures of the world, which perish in the using. 
 Therefore gird up in the power of the Lord"; arise, shake 
 yourselves from the dust, the serpent's food, and go 
 on in the name of the Lord : run in the heavenly 
 chariot of life, the heavenly race and do not look upon 
 
 l2 
 
us 
 
 AN EPISTLE TO FRIENDS, 
 
 the present mess of pottage, the enjoyments of this 
 life, and lose both birth-right and blessings from 
 the immortal Fountain of eternal delight. Ah dear 
 Friends ! consider how good the Lord hath been to us; 
 how he hath made bare his holy arm these many 
 years ; how he hath risen early in excellent power, 
 and sent forth his labourers, who have neither spared 
 their lives nor substance in their travails, to bring to 
 you the message of eternal life. Ah, the plowing, 
 digging, dressing, pruning and watering, that there 
 hath been for many years ! The fitting and preparing, 
 nursing and feeding, strengthening, encouraging, that 
 you might come into that frame of spirit, able to 
 endure the day of proving and trying the many pro- 
 fessions and professors of God and Christ ! How hath 
 the power of the Lord God Almighty wrought to 
 settle you, in every place, that profess the light of his 
 holy morning, on the Rock ; that you may stand in 
 the tempestuous day, and seasons of proving foun- 
 dations and buildings, which were declared and 
 sounded in your years, in the power and demonstra- 
 tion of the Spirit ! Blessed are all they that are not 
 offended in him, nor with anything that he worketh 
 or permitteth to come to try and prove, to winnow 
 and to sift ; he hath a care of you that have a care 
 to walk sincerely before him, and live to him in the 
 spirit of the gospel ; the Angel of his presence is 
 with you everywhere, in all your sufferings, imprison- 
 ments, strippings, and impoverishings : he remembers 
 you in all straits, and is near to you when fainting 
 would overtake. 
 
 Ah poor oppressed Zion ! Thy God beholds all, and 
 looks in the morning- watches upon thy oppressors; 
 therefore let us live in His nature who brings peace 
 on earth and goodwill to men. Let us meet the 
 
CHIEFLY AT BRISTOL. 
 
 149 
 
 furious, angry man in His lamb-like nature, whose 
 meekness shall out-live all malice ; resolving, if we 
 live, to live with and in Him, and if we die under our 
 sufferings, to die in Him. The God of glory is with 
 us, his fountain is unsealed, his river Shiloh flows ; 
 the windows of heaven are opened, his showers de- 
 scend ; visits from the throne of his eternal glory are 
 experienced, which comfort our souls in the midst of 
 many tribulations, and bring forth an offering of 
 thanksgiving and sacrifices of high praises to Him 
 that rides upon the wings of the wind, and spans the 
 heavens as with a span, binds the sea as with swad- 
 dling bands, and commands the proud waves : this is 
 our God, we will trust in him. Finally, dear Friends, 
 live in that love, everywhere, that gives dominion 
 over enmity, and over every thought, word and action 
 that rises from that root : grow to God in the root of 
 life ; so shall you be preserved alive, fresh, green, and 
 in sweetness of spirit before the Lord. 
 
 God Almighty visit you all everywhere, in the 
 glorious descendings of his immortal power, and shine 
 amongst you all in his Divine brightness; in whose 
 love I am your friend and brother, in the tribulation 
 and patience of Christ our Lord. 
 
 C. M. 
 
 The Ninth Month, 1 683. 
 
150 
 
 A TENDER VISITATION 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 A Tender Visitation in the love of God, unto all 
 people everywhere; particidarly unto the inhabitants 
 of Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, and Bristol, and to my 
 neighbours in and about Tetherton^ Galloways, and 
 the adjacent towns and villages. 
 
 " And unto this people thou shalt say ; thus saith 
 the Lord, behold I set before you the way of life, and 
 the way of death." — Jer. xxi. 8. 
 
 " Tor the commandment is a lamp, and the law is 
 light, and reproofs of instruction are the way of life." 
 — Prov. vi. 23. 
 
 "Take fast hold of instruction, let her not go : 
 keep her ; for she is thy life." — Prov. iv. 13. 
 
 " For we must all appear before the judgment-seat 
 of Christ ; that every one may receive the things done 
 in his body, according to that he hath done, whether 
 it be good or bad. Knowing therefore the terrors of 
 the Lord, we persuade men." — 2. Cor. v. 10, 11. 
 
 " Tribulation and anguish upon every soul of man 
 that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the 
 Gentile ; but glory, honour, and peace to every man 
 that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the 
 Gentile : for there is no respect of persons with God." 
 —Rom. ii. 9, 10. 
 
 Friends, Neighbours, and Countrymen, 
 
 Amongst whom I have had my conversation in times 
 past, in the fear of the Lord God of heaven and 
 
IN THE LOVE OF GOD. 
 
 1.31 
 
 earth ; and now being a sufferer in this prison, for 
 Jesus Christ's sake, I am constrained in his tender 
 love, to visit you by these lines, [in order to] to stir 
 you up to a serious and tender examination and con- 
 sideration, what way you are walking in ; seeing 
 there are but two ways, as Christ Jesus saith. Matt, 
 vii. 13, 14. "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for 
 wide is the gate, and broad is the way that leadeth to 
 destruction, and many there be that go in thereat ; 
 because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way 
 which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find 
 it." Now commune with your own hearts, and be 
 truly still in your minds, and say unto your own 
 souls, — what way are we walking in ? — For Christ 
 Jesus here took no notice of the many ways and 
 professions of religion among Jews and Gentiles, but 
 plainly concluded all people walking in one of these 
 ways, namely, by the wide gate in the broad way, or 
 through the strait gate in the narrow way. It is 
 true, there are now many ways and professions of 
 religion in this age of the world ; but now, as then, 
 they are all concluded under these two, the way of 
 life, and the way of sin and death. And as these two 
 ways are contrary one to another, so are the fruits 
 different, that are brought forth by men and women 
 walking in these ways. All that are walking in the 
 broad way, are bringing forth the fruits of the broad 
 way, which are "evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, 
 fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies," Matt. 
 XV. 19 ; which the apostle also, summing up together, 
 saith, are these, "adultery, fornication, uncleauness, 
 lasci^dousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, 
 emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, 
 murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like and 
 saith, " that they which do such things shall not inherit 
 
152 
 
 A TENDER VISITATION 
 
 the kingdom of God." Gal. v. 1 9—2 1 . Now these are 
 the fruits of the broad way, and of those who walk 
 therein : and this way is called broad, because here men 
 may walk in their sins and iniquities, .in the pleasure 
 and vanities of their minds ; and the gate is wide, to 
 receive all that spend their precious time, the morning 
 and evening of their day, out of the fear, awe and dread 
 of the holy God. The multitude walk in this way ; 
 for the enemy of mankind, the devil, cares not what 
 men may profess in words, of God, of Christ, the 
 kingdom of heaven, religion and worship, while they 
 continue walking in the broad way, which leads to 
 his kingdom of darkness. 
 
 The great God, by his servants the prophets and 
 apostles, testified against the worships and perform- 
 ances [of some formerly,] and that of several things 
 which were once commanded. And why 1 Ye may 
 see it was [because] they had forsaken the right way 
 of the Lord, and were performing their worship in 
 the same nature, spirit and way they were sinning in 
 against God ; their hearts were corrupt and con- 
 sciences defiled. And he complains by Isaiah, chap, 
 Ixv. 2. " I have spread out my hands all the day unto 
 a rebellious people, which walketh in a way that was 
 not good, after their own thoughts." This way that 
 Avas not good, was the broad way, in which they 
 were, as now many are walking in, notwithstanding 
 all their outside profession of religion. And as saith 
 the Lord, by his prophet Isaiah, chap. i. 11 — 17. 
 "To what purpose is the multitude of your sacri- 
 fices unto me ? saith the Lord ; I am full of the burnt- 
 offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts ; and I 
 delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or 
 of he-goats. When ye come to appear before me, who 
 hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts ? 
 
IX THE LOVE OF GOD. 
 
 153 
 
 Bring nomore vain oblations ; incense is. an abomi- 
 nation unto me ; the new moons and sabbaths, the 
 calling of assemblies, I cannot away with ; it is 
 iniquity, even the solemn meeting. Your new moons 
 and your appointed feasts my soul hateth : they are 
 a trouble unto me ; I am weary to bear them. And 
 when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine 
 eyes from you : yea, when ye make many prayers, I 
 will not hear : your hands are full of blood. Wash 
 you, make you clean ; put away the evil of your 
 doings from before mine eyes ; cease to do evil ; learn 
 to do well ; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, 
 judge the fatherless, plead for the widow." 
 
 So you may see, that no performances of worship or 
 service, were acceptable in the sight of God, but those 
 that were performed by men and women [who were] 
 walking in the way of the Lord, denying themselves, 
 and cleaving to the good Spirit of God, which the pro- 
 phet said, God gave to instruct and guide [his people 
 Israel,] but they rebelled against it. This is the broad 
 way, Adam and Eve, through degeneration, went into, 
 when they disobeyed God, and transgressed his righ- 
 teous law and commandment : this is the broad way 
 that Cain walked in, when he slew his innocent 
 brother Abel : this is the way that the old world 
 walked in, when they had, through disobedience, 
 turned aside, so as that the Lord said, " my Spirit shall 
 not always strive with man "and it repented the 
 Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it 
 grieved him at his heart." This is the broad way in 
 which Israel walked when they had forsaken the 
 Lord, the fountain of their living mercies, and pro- 
 voked him to anger, both in the wilderness, and 
 through several generations ; as you may read in the 
 prophets, whom the Lord sent to testify against 
 
A TEXDER VISITATION 
 
 tliem. This is the broad way the scribes and phari- 
 sees were walking in, notwithstanding all their great 
 professions of religion, who killed the Lord of life and 
 glory, Christ Jesus. T his broad way is th^t in which the 
 apostatizing Christians walked, whom Jude pronounced 
 woe against, because they walked in the way of Cain. 
 It was going out of the narrow way of obedience, and 
 walking in the broad way of disobedience, that brought 
 the judgments, plagues and calamities, miseries and 
 depopulation of nations and kingdoms, from Adam's 
 day to this day. It was going out of the narrow way 
 of obedience into the broad way of disobedience, that 
 brought misery on Adam, the curse on Cain, destruc- 
 tion by a flood on the old world, judgments on the 
 children of Israel in the wilderness, and sore plagues 
 and calamities through several generations, as you 
 may read even all along in the prophets ; and then 
 what befel Jerusalem and that people, and [the 
 disobedient] since, through ages and generations to 
 this day. 
 
 Now having said something of the broad way and 
 wide gate, and of the walkers therein, I am to say 
 something of the narrow way and strait gate, which 
 Christ Jesus saith, few find. This is the way called 
 in Scripture, " the way of holiness," and is called the 
 narrow way, because no double-minded man can walk 
 therein. For all mankind, that come to walk in this 
 way, must leave their iniquities behind : for there is 
 no coming out of the broad, into the narrow [way], 
 but by putting off (as the apostle saith,) the old man 
 with his deeds ; and this is effected by adhering, 
 joining to, and obeying the grace that came by Jesus 
 Christ, which the apostle saith, bringeth salvation, 
 teaching to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts ; and 
 not only so, but leads into a living godly, righteously 
 
IN THE LOVE OF GOD. 
 
 155 
 
 and soberly, in this present world. This makes 
 manifest the broad way, gives a sense of the destruc- 
 tion it leads to, and leads out of it into the narrow 
 way. And albeit this way is narrow, and the gate 
 strait, to mankind in the fall and alienation from 
 God, walking in the broad way, laden with sins ; yet 
 as men and women come out of the broad way, and 
 from delighting in unrighteousness, and come to 
 delio^ht in followinsf the Lamb of God, Christ Jesus, 
 by his Spirit, who leads the obedient on in the blessed 
 work of regeneration, they will see that the way of the 
 Lord is a pleasant way, and " the just man's path a 
 shining light, that shineth more and more unto the 
 perfect day and so shall drink of the brook of 
 comfort and consolation by the way, and say with 
 Solomon, " in the way of righteousness is life, and in 
 the pathway thereof there is no death." (Mark,) life 
 to the soul is death to sin : here the ransomed by the 
 precious blood of Christ Jesus, return to Zion with 
 everlasting joy upon their heads. 
 
 But now, all that come to walk in the narrow way, 
 and enter in at the strait gate, must take up the 
 cross of Christ Jesus daily, and deny themselves ; and 
 in the strength received by the heavenly grace of 
 God, resist and withstand all the temptations of the 
 devil, who tempts most to that sin and iniquity which 
 he knows man is most prone to. But when he comes 
 to tempt, and thy mind is exercised in the light of 
 Christ Jesus, thou seest his temptations ; and thy 
 soul's desires and breathing supplications ascend to 
 the Lord God of strength, for the lifting up of his 
 spiritual standard in thy soul, against the temptations 
 and power of the enemy, in every evil thought and 
 inclination, in which the enemy worketh first. And 
 therefore in Matt. xv. 18, thou mayst read, Christ 
 
156 A TENDER VISITATION 
 
 Jesus put "evil thoughts" first, before "murders, 
 adulteries," &c. : for there is a time of sin's conceiving 
 in the inward parts, before bringing forth and finish- 
 ing ; which the apostle observing, saith, " when it is 
 finished it bringeth forth death ;" " for the wages of 
 sin is death ; but the gift of God is eternal life 
 through Jesus Christ our Lord." 
 
 Now the holy light and saving grace of God, gives 
 the sight, and makes a discovery of sin in its first 
 arising, even when the power of the enemy worketh 
 to tempt and allure man, and draw him aside : 
 while man in the spirit of his mind is not joined 
 to the temptation, it is not charged as sin ; but when 
 man gives up and closes with the temptation, so as to 
 obey it, then is sin finished, and bringeth forth death. 
 For " his servants ye are," saith the apostle, " to 
 whom ye obey ; whether of sin unto death, or of obe- 
 dience unto righteousness." 
 
 Now read here a little, neighbours and coun- 
 trymen, how far reacheth your experience in this 
 narrow way, where men and women with their sins 
 cannot walk. For this is the holy way and divine 
 path, which man finds on his coming out of sin, and 
 departing from all iniquity. But some will be ready 
 to say, " if we should hearken to this counsel, and 
 obey the grace of God thou art directing to, (which 
 brings salvation, which the apostle says, teacheth to 
 deny ungodliness and worldly lusts ; and not only 
 so, but it brings to live soberly, godly and righteously 
 in this present world; and so teacheth to forsake the 
 devil and all his works, the pomps and vanities of 
 this evil world, and all the sinful lusts of the flesh, 
 which many have promised in their baptism ;) and so 
 have our whole conversation changed, and become 
 other men, not walking in the way most of our coun- 
 
IN THE LOVE OF GOD. 
 
 157 
 
 try, town or village walk in, we fear we shall become 
 a by-word and a scorn to our neighbours and ac- 
 quaintance ; nay, we doubt our kindred and near 
 relations would forsake us, and we should become as 
 strangers unto them, and lose their respect; and it 
 may be lose our employ and trade, and endanger a dis- 
 appointment on ourselves of the expectation we had 
 from some relations : and should we go to markets 
 and fairs, and use but few and savoury words in our 
 dealing, as the fear of the Lord teacheth ; and refuse 
 to drink to excess, or beyond what nature requires 
 for its nourishment and refreshment, and not be 
 vainly merry, as in times past we were, we should be 
 a derision and a by-word, and scorned by such as 
 have been our companions in those things in times 
 past : and this might be very hard to bear, not only 
 to us, but also to some nearest relations." 
 
 To which I answer ; if any should meet with such 
 exercises as these, for turning from sin and evil, and 
 ceasing to walk in the broad way, which many walk 
 in, as aforesaid, there is no cause to be discouraged ; 
 * for the scripture saith, " he that departeth from evil 
 maketh himself a prey and the servants of the Lord 
 were "the song of the drunkards;" and the apostle 
 saith, " wherein they think it strange that ye run not 
 with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of 
 you : who shall give account to Him that is ready to 
 judge the quick and the dead." So look over all the 
 reproaches you meet with for righteousness sake : for 
 ye may remember how Christ Jesus the Lord was 
 reproached, for following whom ye may be reproached. 
 But after ye are exercised in the narrow way, taking 
 up the cross of Christ Jesus, despising the shame, 
 you will feel that soul-satisfaction, inward peace and 
 divine consolation, that heavenly content, which will 
 
158 
 
 A TENDER VISITATION 
 
 out-balance all exercises and trials of this nature ; so 
 that you will often hare cause to magnify the Lord, 
 and to say, he is good, and abounding in his love and 
 tender mercies over the workmanship of his own 
 hand ; who hath visited our souls when we were post- 
 ing on in the broad way of destruction, and had only 
 a profession, by the hearing of the ear, of God, Christ 
 and his kingdom, the scriptures, religion, and once a 
 week confessing, we were miserable sinners, erring and 
 straying from the right way of the Lord ; but knew 
 not the true repentance which is always accompanied 
 with a true forsaking of sin and iniquity. But the 
 God of the Hebrews hath met with us, who beheld 
 us as bond-slaves in spiritual Egypt ; and he hath 
 visited our souls with his heavenly morning of light, 
 by which we have seen our sinful ways and life in 
 iniquity ; also our vain worship, which was so far 
 from being performed in the Spirit, that we were some 
 of that number in our parish who despised the Spirit, 
 and mocked them that worshipped in it ; this is the 
 ancient worship set up by Christ above sixteen hun- 
 dred years ago, when Jesus said unto the woman of 
 Samaria, " the hour cometh and now is, when the 
 true worshippers shall worship the Father in Spirit 
 and in truth ; for the Father seeketh such to worship 
 him. God is a Spirit ; and they that worship him, 
 must worship him in spirit and in truth." So we see 
 that now, all worship not performed in the spirit and 
 in truth, hath no acceptance with the holy, righteous 
 and equal God of tender mercies and compassions; 
 through whose favour we contemn and despise all 
 reproaches for his name's sake ; rather chosing to 
 suffer reproaches with a people truly fearing God and 
 eschewing evil, than live in the pleasures of sin, 
 which are but for a season, and then end in torments, 
 
IN THE LOTE OF GOD. 
 
 159 
 
 pains, miseries and astonishment, beyond all expres- 
 sion of words. 
 
 Now where any poor travailing souls are thus 
 exercised in coming out of the broad way into the 
 narrow way of life eternal, and are inwardly waiting 
 on the Lord, receiving the instruction of his heavenly 
 gift, such will see and understand more and more 
 of the heavenly, strait gate and narrow way, and it 
 will be daily more and more easy and delightful to 
 the obedient : so that such wdll experience what 
 Christ Jesus saith, " take my yoke upon you and 
 learn of me ; for I am meek and lowly in heart ; and 
 ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is 
 easy, and my burden is light." The yoke of Christ 
 is indeed easy, when thy mind is subjected unto the 
 saving grace of God, which teacheth, as I mentioned 
 before, what to deny and how to walk, so as thou 
 mayst have an answer of peace, in pleasing God the 
 Fountain of all our mercies. And then when any 
 mock or scoff, thou wilt remember thou wast walking 
 once in Ishmael's way of scoffing, as they are ; and thou 
 wilt pity them ; and thy soul will be concerned for 
 thy neighbours, relations and acquaintance ; crying 
 to the Lord, that as he has visited thy soul through 
 his grace that brings salvation, and shewed thee 
 kindness, so he would do for thy neighbours. For 
 this [grace] leads into the christian nature and spirit, 
 not to render evil for evil, anger for anger, scoffing 
 and reproaching for the same ; but good for evil, 
 love for hatred ; praying for [persecutors] as Christ 
 Jesus did, " Father, forgive them, for they know not 
 what they do." 
 
 So following this meek Lamb of God, the Saviour of 
 mankind thou wilt have an increased sight of the dif- 
 ference between a Christian in name and a Christian 
 
160 
 
 A TENDER VISITATION 
 
 in nature. A Christian in name, is one that has only 
 an outside profession of Christianity, God, Christ, the 
 Scriptures and religion ; drawing near to the Lord with 
 the lips and honouring him with the mouth, whilst the 
 heart is going after sin and vanity, and is far from righ- 
 teousness. A Christian in name and profession only, 
 is a talker of the narrow way and strait gate, but is a 
 walker in the broad way ; having a name to live, but 
 is dead in sins and trespasses. But a true Christian 
 in the divine nature is circumcised inwardly, and is 
 a Jew inward ; one that is born again, without which 
 Christ saith, there cannot be an entering into the 
 kingdom of heaven ; so is really changed in nature, 
 and cut off from the wild olive, and planted into the 
 true Vine, the divine nature, from whence fruits of 
 Christianity are brought forth. Here the circumcision 
 is not that of the flesh, but that of the Spirit : a 
 Christian in the divine nature, is one that hath fol- 
 lowed the Lamb in the regeneration, hath put off the 
 evil, corrupt nature, and appears amongst men in 
 simplicity, bringing forth the fruits of the Spirit, 
 love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, 
 faith, meekness, temperance, mercy and goodwill to 
 mankind. And [as thou who hast begun to walk] in 
 the way of the Lord, perseverest therein, thy expe- 
 rience will increase in the knowledge of the footsteps 
 of the flock of Christ Jesus ; seeing first how thou 
 wast turned from darkness unto the marvellous light 
 of God's holy day, with which thy heart was searched, 
 and sin became exceedingly sinful and inexpressibly 
 burdensome. Then thy soul cried out in distress 
 unto the Lord God for deliverance ; who hath heard 
 the cry of the poor in spirit, and the sighing of the 
 needy; and hath made bare his delivering arm, and in 
 due time gave remission of sin and a blotting out of 
 
IN THE LOVE OP GOD. 
 
 161 
 
 transgression. And then times of refreshment came 
 from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of 
 his divine power, that hath wrought effectually for 
 the cutting off from the wild olive, brought thee out 
 of the broad way, and planted thee into the heavenly 
 Vine of life, that is the way, and made thee a branch 
 of the heavenly Vine, daily receiving sap and divine 
 virtue from this heavenly, holy Root : and then lets 
 thee see thy daily, spiritual, incumbent duty, which is, 
 to abide in the Vine, Christ Jesus. For as the natural 
 branch cannot bring forth fruit, except it abide in 
 the natural vine, no more can any,tbring forth fruit 
 acceptable to God, except they abide in the heavenly 
 Vine, Christ Jesus. 
 
 So neighbours and countrymen, thus coming out 
 of the broad way of sin and iniquity, and walking in 
 the narrow way of righteousness and holiness, follow- 
 ing the Lamb of God, Christ Jesus, in the regenera- 
 tion, ye are fitted for his glorious kingdom. And 
 they are indeed blessed that are come to that state ; 
 who can in truth say, " for me to live is Christ, and 
 to die is gain :" surely these have put off the sins of 
 the flesh, the old man with his deeds, and have " put 
 on the new man, which after God is created in righ- 
 teousness and true holiness." 
 
 For our life here is very uncertain and momentary ; 
 so that when we lie down in the evening, we are 
 uncertain of rising in the morning ; and when we 
 rise in the morning, we are uncertain we shall live 
 until the evening. Our life is like " water spilt on 
 the ground, which cannot be gathered up again it 
 is like unto " a weaver's shuttle," quickly displayed 
 and cut off ; and like the trace of a bird through the 
 air. 
 
 Well, therefore, since our life is so uncertain and 
 
 M 
 
162 
 
 A TENDER VISITATION 
 
 death so certain^ dear countrymen and neighbours, in 
 the tender bowels of Christ Jesus, I beseech you, for 
 your own poor souls' sake, whilst you have time, a 
 very little time, so to number your days,, and remember 
 your latter end, as to apply your hearts to that 
 heavenly wisdom, which teacheth and instructeth to 
 walk in the narrow way of self-denial, which leads to 
 life eternal : that when the messenger of death comes, 
 the king of terrors to all evil-doers, it may meet with 
 you walking in the way of life : which will be the 
 comfort, joy and satisfaction of all men and women 
 who have prized their precious time, that God 
 Almighty hath given them in the riches of his 
 infinite love, to obtain the heavenly translation out 
 of the kingdom of darkness, into the kingdom of his 
 dear Son, Christ Jesus, and are thereby fitted for that 
 hour. When nothing but death is expected every 
 moment, thy breath in thy nostrils is withdrawing, 
 and thy dear relations, friends and acquaintance are 
 about thy death-bed, mourning and lamenting, thou 
 who art [thus] passed from death unto life spiritually, 
 canst comfort them with telling thy spiritual ex- 
 perience ; that thou art assured, when this earthly 
 tabernacle is dissolved, thou hast " a house not made 
 with hands, eternal in the heavens," an eternal man- 
 sion of joy and blessedness; that having fought the 
 good fight, thou hast overcome sin, death, hell, and the 
 grave, through Him that hath loved thee, and redeemed 
 thee with his precious blood, Christ Jesus, the King 
 of eternal glory ; and that the seal of God's favour is 
 upon thy soul, and the joy of his salvation on thy 
 spirit. And [thou canst say to] thy neighbours who 
 are ignorant of this precious work ; " 0 neighbours ! 
 do not content yourselves with the pleasures of sin 
 which are but for a season, (0, a little season indeed !) 
 
IN THE LOVE OF GOD. 
 
 163 
 
 and lose your own souls, and be shut out of the 
 paradise of God. 0 ! but redeem your time ; spend 
 no more of it in sin and iniquity, in vain and foolish 
 discourses ; but prize every hour : enter in at the 
 strait gate, walk in the narrow way, that ye may 
 enter into the kingdom of joy and immortal glory ; 
 where the redeemed enjoy endless blessings of peace, 
 and unspeakable consolations, and behold the amiable, 
 celestial beauty of Him who sits at the table of divine 
 love, saying, — eat, 0 friends ! of the bread of life, and 
 drink, and let your souls be satisfied with the fatness of 
 the house of God." — 0 ! here, in this kingdom, is an end 
 of all pains, sorrows, burdens, tears, conflicts, cruelties 
 of wicked men ; an end of inhuman, ungodly imprison- 
 ments j here the redeemed of the Lord are out of the 
 reach of all cruel, hard-hearted men ; yea, here the 
 weary are at rest in an eternal sabbath, beholding Him 
 who is "a fountain of gardens, a well of living waters" 
 and divine streams. And here the new song is sung 
 before the throne of God, in the springing up of end- 
 less, increasing joy and divine refreshments, in which 
 ariseth blessing and glory, wisdom and thanksgiving : 
 honour, power and might be unto our God for ever 
 and evermore. Amen. 
 
 Friends, neighbours and countrymen, who may 
 have any doubt, which are true prophets, min- 
 isters and teachers of Christ Jesus, and which are 
 false prophets, ministers and teachers of anti- 
 christ, (since there have been both through many ages, 
 of the world ;) unto all such I make this friendly, 
 reasonable, and Christian proposition, namely, to do 
 like the noble Bereans, who were desirous of truth, — 
 search the Scriptures from Genesis the first, to Revela- 
 tions the last, and mark in what way they walked, 
 and what fruits they brought forth, who were true 
 
 3f 2 
 
164 
 
 A TENDER VISITATION 
 
 prophets, ministers or teachers, both under the law 
 and the prophets ; and on the other hand, -what way 
 they walked in, and what fruits they brought forth, 
 who were declared to be the false prophets, ministers 
 and teachers, by the true prophets, Christ Jesus and 
 his apostles ; — so may ye safely conclude, those that 
 walk in the way, and bring forth the fruits of the 
 true ministers of Christ, to be now true ; and those 
 false now, that walk in the way and footsteps of the 
 false prophets and ministers of antichrist. So, search 
 the Scriptures in the spirit of truth, that leads into 
 all truth, and receive Christ's precept, about the strait 
 gate and narrow way. Matt. vii. 13, 14, of which 
 I have, in his love, before treated ; and in verses 15 
 and 16, he saith, "beware of false prophets," &c. "Ye 
 shall know them by their fruits," &c. 
 
 TRUE MINISTERS. 
 
 Christ sent them forth 
 to preach the kingdom of 
 God ; saying, the harvest 
 truly is great, but the 
 labourers are few ; pray 
 ye therefore the Lord of 
 the harvest, that he would 
 send forth labourers into 
 his harvest. Go your ways : 
 behold I send you forth 
 as lambs among wolves. 
 Carry neither purse, nor 
 scrip, nor shoes : and into 
 Avhatsoever house ye enter, 
 first say, Peace be to this 
 house. And if the Son 
 of Peace be there, your 
 peace shall rest upon it : 
 
 FALSE MINISTERS. 
 
 Thus saith the Lord 
 concerning the prophets 
 that make my people err, 
 that bite with their teeth, 
 and cry. Peace ; and he 
 thatputteth not into their 
 mouths, they even pre- 
 pare war against him. 
 The heads thereof judge 
 for reward, and the priests 
 thereof teach for hire, and 
 the prophets thereof di- 
 vine for money. Micah 
 iii. 5, 11. 
 
 Woe be to the shep- 
 herds of Israel that do 
 feed themselves ! should 
 not the shepherds feed 
 
IX THE LOVE OF GOD. 
 
 16.5 
 
 if not, it shall turn to 
 you again. Luke x. 2 — 6. 
 
 The elders which are 
 among you I exhort — to 
 feed the flock of God, 
 which is among you, 
 taking the oversio'ht there- 
 01, not by constraint, but 
 willingly ; not for filthy 
 lucre, but of a ready mind ; 
 neither as being lords 
 over God's heritage, but 
 being ensamples to the 
 flock. 1 Pet. V. 1—3. 
 
 C. M. 
 
 Fleet Prison, 
 
 tlie 9th Month, 1683. 
 
 the flocks] Ye eat the 
 fat, and ye clothe you 
 with the wool, ye kill 
 them that are fed : but 
 ye feed not the flock, <tc., 
 Ezek. xxxiv. 2 — 5. 
 
 0 ! thou holy, most high God of mercy and tender 
 compassion, look down with an eye of pity on the 
 inhabitants of the earth ; and send forth thy light and 
 truth more and more, to guide the people out of the 
 broad way of destruction into thy narrow way of life, 
 which leads to thy holy mountain, where there is no 
 hurting nor destroying. 0 ! that through the glo- 
 rious, outstretched arm of thy salvation, sin may be 
 finished and iniquity brought to an end ; that the 
 righteousness of Christ Jesus, the dear Son of thy love, 
 may cover the earth as the waters cover the sea. Ah ! 
 for thy name's sake, hear the cry of the poor and 
 sighing of the needy ; and stretch forth thy arm and 
 deliver thy oppressed out of their distresses; tliat thy 
 creation, 0 Lord, may be eased, and thy great name 
 and the noble acts of thy Almighty arm and Divine 
 power may be renowned gloriously through all lands. 
 Amen, Amen. 
 
166 
 
 A CALL TO THE 
 
 CHAPTER XIIL 
 
 A few words or call, in the universal love, to all the 
 scattered sheep, who in the sense of their captivity in 
 Babylon, feel so7ne drawings, longings, and breath- 
 ings in their souls, towards the Lord and his holy 
 hill, which he is now exalting on the top of all hills. 
 
 The everlasting God hath beheld you and your suf- 
 fering state j and your cries, your sighs and your 
 groans, are come up before the Lord God of Sabaoth ; 
 he hath looked down upon desolate Zion, from his 
 honourable dwelling-place ; his bowels are moved to 
 return the captivity and bondage of worm Jacob, 
 who is small and as one helpless among the people : 
 God hath beheld thy wounds and taken notice of thy 
 bruisings, and he is waxed angry with the people, 
 because of thy oppression, 0 worm Jacob ! Thy 
 captivity hath continued for many ages, thy oppres- 
 sions for many generations ; thy cry is great through 
 all lands, and thy sighings, 0 virgin daughter of Zion ! 
 is come up before thy Deliverer ; the violence that is 
 done to thee in the midst of the earth, the Almighty 
 God hath seen ; and he hath taken notice of the 
 dominion, or reign, that mystery Babylon, the mother 
 of harlots, hath had over the nations, tongues, and 
 people ; whereby thou art become as a desolate widow 
 that sits mourning on the ground, with thy mourning 
 apparel on, and as one covered with ashes : thou art 
 as a speckled bird in all lands, and as a turtle dove 
 forsaken of her mate. How is my soul often bowed 
 down, my heart oppressed, and my spirit filled with 
 
SCATTERED SHEEP. 
 
 167 
 
 sorrow, in the consideration of thy mournful, sorrow- 
 ful cries and sighings, misery, trouble, servitude, 
 bondage, wounds and bruisings ; but I am comforted 
 through beholding the Almighty God's being arisen 
 and arising in his glory, might, majesty, and heavenly, 
 everlasting power, to work thy deliverance. 
 
 And therefore come forth every one of you, who 
 have any desires to be brought into the image of God 
 again, wherein man, before transgression was ; come 
 out of Babylon, come out of all the false ways, wor- 
 ships, professions, practices and ordinances, to the 
 standard which the Almighty God hath set up in the 
 view of all people ; namely, his holy Light, saving 
 Power, and quickening Spirit, which is revealed in 
 the inward parts, for the saving the soul, and bringing 
 of it from under the shadow of death, into the land 
 of the living. Remain no longer in the outward 
 court, for that is given to the Gentiles to be trodden 
 under foot ; but come to within the vail, and to the 
 holiest of all, where the mercy-seat is to be found of 
 every one of you. Remain no longer in the images, 
 shadows, likenesses and figures, but come to the thing 
 typified of, to the thing itself; to the circumcision that 
 is without hands, of which the circumcision with 
 hands was a figure ; to the baptism with fire and the 
 Holy Ghost, typified forth by the baptism with water; 
 to the unspotted Lamb of God, the Saviour, held forth 
 by the paschal Lamb ; to the true sabbath of the 
 Lord, signified by the outward sabbath ; to the wor- 
 ship in the inward temple, of w^hich the worship in 
 the outward temple was a figure ; to offer up the 
 bestial lusts to be slain, instead of the offering up of 
 beasts; and come to the spiritual worship, to the wor- 
 ship of the new covenant, namely, the worship in 
 spirit and in truth, that Christ spake of at Jacob's 
 well : for this worship the mighty God is now exalting 
 
168 
 
 A CALL TO THE SCATTERED SHEEP. 
 
 and setting up, that all people may bow unto it, and 
 all nations may tremble before the glorious, infinite 
 power of the everlasting God, who is bringing to pass 
 and prospering his glorious work in the earth ; and 
 by his Almighty arm of power is gathering the dis- 
 persed of Jacob, and scattered of Israel ; and shall 
 return, and is returning their captivity, as the streams 
 in the south. 
 
 And therefore, awake, awake ; the spiritual trum- 
 pet of the Lord is sounded, to proclaim the year of 
 Jubilee, after the long night of apostacy, wherein 
 antichrist hath reigned. Tarry not, delay not, go not 
 about to reason with flesh and blood ; but come to the 
 obedience of the Light and Spirit of God, which gives 
 a true sight and sense of sin and unrighteousness, and 
 the nature of it : and being come to this true feeling 
 and sight, you will come to the true sorrow, and the 
 forsaking that accompanies it : and so, through the 
 judgment of the Lord upon the transgressing nature, 
 you will find mercy for your souls ; for Zion is re- 
 deemed through judgment. Here then the blotting 
 out of sin, and the times of refreshment from the 
 presence of the Lord will be witnessed ; and by the 
 truth in the inward parts, that makes free indeed, 
 and is beyond all outward profession, an inward, 
 spiritual work will come to be wrought. 
 
 To this are you now called, through the sound of 
 his powerful voice from his holy place, all of you who 
 have any desires towards the Lord ; and be assured 
 that all that come here, shall find a sure hiding place 
 in the day of the fiery indignation of the Lord, that is 
 ready to break forth upon all the inhabitants of the 
 earth. 
 
 Charles Marshall. 
 
 Written from Harwich, 
 
 the \st of the Fifth Month, 1 687. 
 
AN EPISTLE TO FRIENDS. 
 
 1G9 
 
 -471 Ejyistle to Friends, [exhorting them to self-examina- 
 tioUy and warning against false liberty.^ 
 
 Dear Friends, 
 And all professing the precious truth of our God, 
 unto whom the redeeming arm of the Lord hath 
 reached, to redeem out of the nature of sin, into the 
 Divine nature ; your mercies herein have been in- 
 expressible. 
 
 Friends, it hath pressed on my spirit day and 
 night, for some time, to visit you with a few lines in 
 tender bowels of love ; to call unto you, in the name 
 of the Lord, to come into a spiritual communing with 
 your own hearts, in openness of soul, as before the 
 Lord ; with his heavenly light, inquiring how far you 
 have answered his heavenly call ; whether you have 
 made your calling sure, by persevering in an inward 
 hearkening thereunto ; and whether you have made 
 your election sure, by coming out of the reprobating 
 nature, and obeying and closing in spirit with that 
 heavenly power, that translates out of the kingdom of 
 Satan, into the kingdom of the dear Son of God. 
 
 Now, dear Friends, the Lord God Almighty is 
 drawing near to judgment, and will judge in right- 
 eousness, according to the root in which every one 
 grows, and the fruit they bring forth ; for all the 
 worshippers in the outward court will be trodden 
 down under the swift judgments of the eternal God, 
 and made desolate. Therefore, in his name that lives 
 for ever, I say unto you everywhere, be inward, inward, 
 inward ; haste inward into the Divine nature, which 
 
170 
 
 AN EPISTLE TO FRIENDS. 
 
 alone will be a safe abiding place, in the dreadful 
 pleading-day of Almighty God, that comes on apace. 
 And in his name I warn all who are gone from the 
 obedience to the daily cross of Christ Jesus, and 
 abide not in the daily, holy watch, and thereby have 
 got into a false liberty, in their ways, words, conver- 
 sations, meats, drink and apparel, to return speedily 
 inward, under the operation of the spiritual circum- 
 cising-knife ; that all which offends the Lord, and 
 grieves his good Spirit, given to profit withal, may be 
 effectually cut off and removed, and you may be 
 brought back into your first fear, dread and awe, and 
 holy watchfulness in the light of the Lamb. So will 
 the Lord be with you in the day of the dreadful 
 overthrow, when both the sandy foundations, and the 
 buildings thereon, will fall together. Therefore, in 
 the name, strength, and power of Almighty God, and 
 in the sense of the majesty of his divine, glorious 
 presence, I cry to you, — To the Bock, to the Rock, to the 
 Rock; — so will the Lord favour you, and encompass 
 you, and make you sing of his praise ; here is safety, 
 food and water, heavenly and never-failing. 
 
 And unto you, young men and women, and children 
 of the people of the Lord, I say, fear and dread the 
 living God of truth and love ; bear the yoke of the 
 Lord Jesus in your youth, and love his heavenly cross, 
 that crosseth all your inclinations to vanity and vain 
 pleasures ; abstain from all hurtful company, beware 
 of your desires, that go out to pleasures, meats, 
 drinks and apparel, out of the fear of God ; let your 
 words be few and savoury, and your conversation in 
 all places be in solidity and gravity, in the heavenly 
 awe of the omnipresent God, feeling after the enjoy- 
 ment of his heavenly joys and divine consolations. 
 Read the Scriptures of truth in seriousness, as oft as 
 
AN EPISTLE TO FRIENDS. 
 
 171 
 
 jou can, with your minds turned to that heavenly 
 wisdom that will open them unto you ; so will your 
 youth preach forth the honour of truth, and you will 
 be blessed of God, and be a joy and comfort to your 
 tender parents : but, if you grow up in another 
 nature, namely, that which is evil, and leads into 
 vanity and evil, God Almighty will cut off many 
 of you from the land of the living : for he can raise 
 up seed to Abraham even of the stones. Hear, fear 
 and tremble before the Most High God, who hath 
 beheld you with an eye of jealousy ; bow before him, 
 and let none of your enjoyments puff you up into 
 pride and stout-heartedness, vanity and a loose life. 
 God Almighty incline your hearts, and put his fear 
 in your inward parts, that ye may see beyond all 
 terrestrial riches, glories, pleasures and vanities ; and 
 be taken up with fervent love [to God,] and delight 
 in the heavenly treasures and enjoyments that never 
 fade away. Amen, Amen. 
 
 And all you tender-hearted babes that love the 
 sincere milk of the word of life, keep you near the 
 breast of consolation, and suck daily thereat ; letting 
 nothing come between it and you ; so will your growth 
 be daily from one degree of strength and stature to 
 another ; in the light, beholding the snares and temp- 
 tations of the enemy, and abiding in a living inward 
 diligence, out of the foolish virgins' state, where 
 through spiritual idleness, comes spiritual slumber, 
 to the losing the oil, and so the lamp goes out : but abid- 
 i»gin a daily subjection to the heavenly cross, in the 
 holy watch, [you will] grow up to the young man's 
 state, wherein ye become strong, and the word of God 
 abides in you ; and you abiding in it, will overcome 
 the wicked one, and escape the high-way, stony and 
 thorny ground : and so the increase of riches, or any 
 
172 
 
 AN EPISTLE TO FRIENDS. 
 
 terrestrial enjoyment, will not harm you; for you will 
 feed on another life, and behold clearly another glory, 
 even that which is eternal and celestial ; and so grow 
 up into the state of fathers, eating of the tree of life : 
 for you will see Him that was from the beginning, in 
 whose Almighty power is preservation out of Jesurun's 
 state : you will walk in wisdom, and in the valley of 
 humility, where Shiloh's brook runs and flows, by 
 whose water ye will be washed ; and by the holy blood 
 and life of the Lamb sprinkled inwardly, and with his 
 holy oil anointed ; and so come within the vail, into 
 the holy of the holies, where the glory of the Ancient 
 of Days is beheld on the mercy-seat of infinite loving- 
 kindness : and in the enjoyment of his sweet smiles 
 and divine favours, being overcome with the majesty 
 of his presence, [you will ascribe], in the strength of 
 his love, might, majesty and dominion, to the Lord 
 God and the Lamb ; and heavenly praises will ascend 
 to his throne, who is over all, in heaven and earth, 
 God blessed for ever and ever. Amen, Amen. 
 
 From your tender Friend and Brother in the labour 
 and travail of the gospel, 
 
 Charles Marshall. 
 
 The Fifth Month, 1689. 
 
AN EPISTLE TO THE WOMEn's ilEETIXGS. 173 
 
 An Epistle to the Women's Meetings. 
 
 My Dear Friends, 
 
 Whose souls love Mount Zion and Jerusalem that is 
 from above, the beautiful dwelling-place of the re- 
 deemed, where the glorj of the Lord shines, the tree 
 of life grows, and the river of life runs : meet you 
 together in the adorning of the ancient, virtuous, holy 
 women ; and wait to feel [your] spirits gathered down 
 into the deep, where the wonders of God are seen, 
 and where life and power, and wisdom from above, 
 spring into the immortal soul ; by which you will be 
 opened to the Lord, and one unto another. And 
 dear friends, you here sitting in great humility be- 
 fore the Lord, his precious, living power, will spring 
 amongst you; which when you feel warming your 
 hearts, and in it any of you open your mouths, keep 
 within the compass of the motion thereof ; so shall 
 you minister refreshment, and come to no loss nor 
 hurt in yourselves. And dear friends, stay not be- 
 hind the motion of the power, nor go beyond it ; 
 begin, continue, and end, in that in which the king- 
 dom of God stands. 
 
 And now, forasmuch as there is a spirit of con- 
 tention risen, that would divide from the precious 
 shepherd of Israel, and scatter lambs from lambs, 
 and sheep from sheep, and all from the fold of ever- 
 lasting rest and safety ; in the power of the Lord God 
 Almighty stand over it, and in the life of righteous- 
 ness live it down ; and let none have an occasion to 
 
174 
 
 AN EPISTLE TO 
 
 say that any of you do exercise yourselves in pulling 
 the mote out of others eyes, and do not see a beam at 
 home in your own and families. Therefore in the 
 name of the Lord Jesus Christ, be careful, watchful 
 and circumspect at home, to keep down evil in your 
 children and families ; that under the conduct of the 
 sweet, saving wisdom of God Almighty you may be 
 managed; that so you may live down all evils and op- 
 position, and stop the mouths of all gainsayers with 
 your upright walking. 
 
 And dear friends and handmaids of the Lord 
 Jesus, let the remissness, carelessness and opposition 
 of them that give up to the enemy's leadings, and 
 thereby neglect to serve up their generation, accord- 
 ing to the will of God, be ensamples unto you to 
 beware of unwatchfulness : that you that stand may 
 take diligent care, and walk in the Lamb's innocency \ 
 that day after day, more and more of the nature of 
 meekness, patience and temperance, and the fear of 
 the Lord may appear in you; that your just, careful, 
 watchful, awful, tender, living, pure and unrebuk- 
 able walking, in all your respective places, may preach 
 forth the life of Jesus. And then the Lord will bless 
 you with dominion over his and your enemies. 
 
 And dear friends, endeavour not to reason down ; 
 but as I said, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, 
 live down all opposition and contention. 
 
 The Lord will hasten his work, to put an end to 
 that which in this day dishonours his worthy, glo- 
 rious, renowned, dear name. So keep your meetings 
 in the name of the Lord Jesus, our Leader, Com- 
 mander, Saviour, Shepherd, and Bishop of our souls; 
 who will supply all your wants, and bow down his 
 ear to your cries, in the sense of your wants, and 
 answer your supf)lications, tears, sighs and groans. 
 
THE women's meetings. 
 
 175 
 
 God Almighty be with you, and fill you with the 
 fillings of his life and heavenly wisdom, is the breath- 
 ing and travail of the soul of your bowed-spirited 
 friend and brother, 
 
 Charles Marshall, 
 postscript. 
 
 And the Lord Almighty cause a plenteous, plea- 
 sant, heavenly, refreshing shower to descend amongst 
 you ; that thereby you may be as a well-watered gar- 
 den ; that all may be melted and dissolved down into 
 that heavenly frame of spirit, that would make you 
 shine in all your respective places and dwellings. 
 
 And dear friends, manage those affairs of truth 
 presented before you, in the grave, heavenly wisdom : 
 and be swift to hear, and slow to speak ; that in the 
 comely ordering of the heavenly wisdom, you may be 
 ordered, and weigh things ponderously before you 
 speak ; wait, to see things first clearly, and how you 
 may be co-workers together and helpers, and then 
 speak one by one : so will you go through things in 
 a short time, and come to comfortable satisfactory 
 conclusions; and in the end, part in heavenly con- 
 tentedness of mind, in the sense of the Lord's helping 
 you along in his work and service. God Almighty 
 be with you, and bless you with his heavenly pre- 
 sence, power, light, life and glory. Amen, Amen. 
 
 Let this be read in the assemblies of women, in the 
 fear and feeling of the power of the Lord of glory; 
 and copied carefully, and sent abroad. 
 
 C. M. 
 
 Tetlierton, the 23rd of Second Month, 1697. 
 
176 
 
 A GENERAL EPISTLE TO FRIENDS. 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 A General Epistle to Friends, [cautioning against the 
 spirit of the world, and recommending watchfulness, 
 unity, humility and stillness.^ 
 
 Dear Friends and Brethren, 
 
 Who with a high and heavenly calling have been 
 called out of darkness, and all the ways and works 
 thereof, to walk in the marvellous light of the glorious 
 day of God Almighty, that hath preciously dawned 
 in this our day ; grace, mercy, and peace from God, 
 with the virtues of his Eternal Spirit, be multiplied 
 in and amongst you. 
 
 Friends, the great Husbandman of the whole earth, 
 having in the riches of his love, planted a vineyard 
 with the choicest vine, in a fruitful hill, in this age of 
 the world, which he hath pruned, dressed and plen- 
 tifully watered, is coming to take a view thereof, to 
 see what fruit it bringeth forth ; and therefore it 
 weightily concerns you to see with the light of the 
 Lord, how you have answered his great and inex- 
 pressible love, which for many years hath been 
 abundantly extended unto you ; and to prize your 
 time whilst you have it, and it is called a day 
 of mercy. 0 ! have a care that you give no room 
 to the spirit of the world, that blinds the eye of the 
 mind, and subjects the afiections to things below, and 
 raisethup the old love to the world again : beware of 
 the going out of the simplicity of the gospel; and let 
 there be a tender, inward care to watch against all 
 
A GENERAL EPISTLE TO FRIENDS. 177 
 
 thoughts that darken you, and grieve the Spirit of 
 the Lord. Let your words be few, and seasoned with 
 heavenly grace : go not out of the exercise of the 
 precious cross of Christ Jesus, into any excess in 
 meats, drinks, or apparel ; and make no provision for 
 the flesh to fulfil the lusts thereof : let not your gold 
 and silver, lands and livings, furniture or apparel, 
 any way ensnare you, or entangle, surfeit, or over- 
 charge you. 
 
 0 Friends ! the enemy of Zion's prosperity hath 
 laid deep snares in the spirit of the world in those 
 things, to draw out the mind from the pure, inno- 
 cent life, obtained and enjoyed through the spiritual 
 exercise of the cross of Christ Jesus, which crucifies 
 us to the world, and the world unto us ; for if the 
 mind goes out of the awe, and dread, and fear of the 
 Lord, and holy cross and heavenly watch, into a false 
 liberty, then you will live to the world and the world to 
 you ; and here is the way that death comes over again. 
 
 Therefore dear Friends, this is jhe word of truth 
 to all the professors thereof everyAvhere, — home, home, 
 inward, inward ; and in the spiritual watch-tower 
 stand and abide, — where you will receive manifold 
 spiritual advantages, and will see the approaches of 
 your souls' enemy, when, where, how, and in what he 
 works ; and here you will see clearly how sin is con- 
 ceived in the thoughts, which, when it is finished, 
 brings forth death ; and so you will receive an under- 
 standing how sin is strengthened, and how overcome ; 
 how it is finished and brought to an end, and the 
 everlasting righteousness of Jesus Christ brought in ; 
 and how the knowledge of God increases, and comes 
 to cover the earth as the waters cover the sea ; and so 
 shall your peace flow as a river. 
 
 And dear Friends, keep the unity of the Spirit 
 in the bond of peace, and grow up in it : for whilst 
 
 N 
 
178 A GENERAL EPISTLE TO FRIENDS. 
 
 the churches kept in the purity, they were in the 
 greatest unity ; here they were with one accord, 
 and great grace was upon them, under the dominion 
 and beauty of the glorious power •• of the Lord : 
 for Zion is a city at unity with itself, and the 
 body edifies itself with love ; but when the enemy 
 prevailed to draw out of the love of Christ Jesus, 
 (where all the members that hold the Head, are 
 knit together as with joints and bands,) then other 
 fruits did appear. Now dear Friends, the pure, 
 glorious, sweet unity of the churches is in the spirit, 
 where all have unity with God who is a Spirit, and 
 with one another in his Spirit : this is increased 
 as all grow up in the nature of Christ Jesus, which 
 is meek and lowly ; here all are preserved in the 
 dominion of the sweet, edifying love of God, and in 
 unity one with another, let there be ever so many 
 tens of thousands : but when the enemy prevailed to 
 draw out of the quickening Spirit of the second Adam, 
 and out of his nature, and led into another spirit and 
 into the wisdom which is from beneath, therein arose 
 those bitter fruits mentioned in the Scriptures of truth. 
 
 Therefore, dear Friends, everywhere, in the name, 
 and pure, weighty dread of the Most High keep ; and 
 grow up in the sweet nature and wisdom of the Ancient 
 of Days, and watch against the least appearance of 
 that which would break your unity ; and if any- 
 thing of this nature hath broken in anywhere, in the 
 name of the Lord God everlasting, let it be driven out 
 of his camp, it being one of the greatest enemies of 
 Zion's peace, comfort, growth, and beauty : for unity 
 is our strength ; and keeping our ranks here, all the 
 enemy's endeavours without, will not be able to pre- 
 vail. So Friends, in the spirit of meekness, which 
 keeps in a sound judgment and spiritual discerning, 
 dwell ; where no wrath, fleshly passion, envyings or 
 
A GE>-ERAL EPISTLE TO FRIE>,-DS. 170 
 
 emulation can have any place : for no strife and 
 division can have room, as all grow up in tlie divine 
 nature, in the faith of Abraham, who said to Lot — let 
 there be no strife between us, for we are brethren ; 
 if thou wilt take the right hand, I will take the 
 left ; and if thou wilt go to the left, I will go to the 
 right : — here all controversies are ended and shut 
 out. Bear Friends, with the light of G-od's holy day 
 search, see and discern how it is with you ; that so 
 if the enemy of Zion's prosperity hath gotten any 
 entrance, to hinder the precious work of the Lord, from 
 prospering in your souls, by [prevailing on you to] 
 turn aside into any by-path, or to sit down by the way, 
 or take up a false rest, with the glorious light of the 
 Lamb you may see and discern it ; and speedily retire 
 inward to hear the voice of the good Shepherd, that 
 by him you may be led out of all the enemy's snares. 
 
 And now, 0 tender Friends ! make use of your 
 time and day : and all to your spiritual tents 
 everywhere, in the sweet valley of humility ; where 
 you will not only see all the devices and snares of the 
 unwearied enemy of your souls, but will also see, feel, 
 and enjoy the descendings of the glory of the God of 
 Israel, in the daily openings of his divine hand, which 
 is full of blessings. And here you will be tenderly 
 concerned in Spirit, to cry fervently to God for your- 
 selves and families, and for a people that have not 
 hearts to seek and cry to God for themselves, that the 
 tender compassionate God would open their hearts, 
 that they might see and be sensible of the mercies of 
 a long-suffering and long-provoked God, who hath 
 often shaken his hand, and threatened his terrible 
 judgments ; and on the other hand, hath largely and 
 wonderfully extended his mercies. And in this tender 
 exercise of spirit, you will approve yourselves the 
 true friends of your neighbours, and you will have a 
 
 n2 
 
180 
 
 A GENERAL EPISTLE TO FRIENDS. 
 
 hiding-place in the day of his dreadful, consuming 
 judgments, which he will assuredly bring to pass 
 upon all the professors of Christianity, that are out of 
 the nature thereof, unless they repent. 
 
 And now, 0 Friends ! let a true silence and sweet 
 stillness come on all your spirits ; so shall your inward 
 ear be opened to his heavenly counsel ; and you will 
 be ready, in true bowedness of spirit to say, what the 
 Lord hath commanded and required, that will we do, 
 through his divine strength : and here you will be 
 preserved in all the various exercises of the day, out 
 of the hurries of the people, in this season of the 
 fulfilling what was said in many of our ears, many 
 years ago; — disappointment upon disappointment, sor- 
 row upon sorrow, exercise upon exercise, and distress 
 upon distress : — and as you are inwardly staid upon 
 the Lord, in his eternal light, you will feel help from 
 him in all your straits. Therefore gather to the 
 munition of rocks, where your bread shall be sure, 
 and waters never fail : be faithful in the Lord's 
 work, and keep your meetings, as the Lord God hath 
 required, and that diligently, on week-days as well 
 as First days ; and the Lord will appear in the bright- 
 ness of his power, and the glory of the Majesty of 
 his presence you shall enjoy more and more. And 
 dear Friends, you that God hath blessed with out- 
 ward substance, feel the love of Christ Jesus, who 
 offered himself up for us, to open your hearts, and 
 give you wisdom to take effectual care of the poor 
 and needy, according to your ability. So to the 
 glorious arm of God's Almighty power I commit you ; 
 and having done his will, I rest in my Father's love, 
 your tender friend and brother, in the labour and 
 travail of the gospel, 
 
 Charles Marshall. 
 London, the 25th of the Second Month, 1697. 
 
CONCERNING THE PRECIOUS UNITY, etc. 181 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 Concerning the precious U nity of ths Spirit in 
 Christ Jesiis. 
 
 The unity of the Spirit is so precious a virtue, 
 and glorious a qualification in all the churches of 
 Christ Jesus, that whilst the people of the Lord did 
 abide therein, in every age, they were in a thriving, 
 flourishing, sweet and glorious station. For as long 
 as they truly held the head Christ Jesus, and kept 
 in unity with him, unity and amity were preserved 
 amongst them in their several stations and services, as 
 members of one body. 
 
 Of this unity, David speaketh preciously and com- 
 prehensively, saying, " behold how good and how plea- 
 sant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity ! It is 
 like the precious ointment upon the head that ran down 
 upon the beard, even Aaron's beard : that went down 
 to the skirts of his garments ; as the dew of Hermon, 
 and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of 
 Zion : for there (mark) the Lord commanded the 
 blessing, even life for evermore." This was the state 
 the holy power of the great God gathered a people 
 into, [in the apostles' days :] for concerning them, it 
 is left upon record, "they continued stedfastly in fellow- 
 ship, and were daily with one accord in the temple," 
 
 Now dear Friends, we clearly saw, felt and under- 
 stood, in the precious morning of our tender visitation, 
 that the same ancient power of the Lord wrought 
 powerfully, first to disunite us from the nature which 
 
182 
 
 CONCERNING TEE PRECIOUS 
 
 separated us from God, and then to bring us up into 
 unity and felloAvship \Yith himself, in his dear love, 
 and therein, one with another. 
 
 For here ever was, and is the foundation of the true 
 unity, even that of the Spirit ; in which love the body 
 edifies itself, and is increasing and building up a holy 
 habitation for God, through the Spirit. So then, all 
 abiding and growing up in the love of God, and 
 walking with him in the divine nature, unity in- 
 creaseth amongst all the members and branches taken 
 out of the wild olive ; and [they are] planted and 
 abide in the Vine of life, Christ Jesus, our Head 
 and Lawgiver : here the church of Christ grew up, 
 into a state of being clothed Avith the sun, having 
 the moon under her feet. Ah ! precious, blessed, 
 sweet and glorious station. But did it always thus 
 continue, even in the apostles' days ? Ah ! no. The 
 old serpent, the enemy of man's welfare, wrought 
 powerfully and cunningly, to draw forth from the 
 root of life, and out of the holy love of, and spiritual 
 subjection to, this glorious power which had gathered 
 them to a daily, inward walking with God ; and out 
 of the spiritual exercise of the spiritual cross and holy 
 watch : and then fruit from another root was brought 
 forth, as the reader may note in several of the Epistles 
 [addressed to the primitive believers,] and in John's 
 testimony to the seven churches of Asia. Then the 
 power of the Lord that had gathered them, moved to 
 exhort to put away bitterness, wrath, anger and 
 clamour, evil-speaking and malice. Ephes. iv. 
 
 And now, dear Friends, with your lamps trimmed 
 and burning, look inward ; search every corner of 
 your hearts, that clear unto your own understandings 
 every one of your states may appear, as they are in 
 the sight of the pure, all-seeing God ; that so all the 
 
UNITY OF THE SPIRIT. 
 
 183 
 
 enemy's darkenings and veilings and turnings aside, 
 by what way or means soever, may be clearly, with 
 the light of the Lamb, seen and discovered. 
 
 And, tender Friends, [remember] the sweet, lovely, 
 precious state of unity and concord, that the excellent 
 power of the Lord God Almighty gathered into, and 
 was gathering into, in the blessed morning of our day ; 
 and the spiritual advantages, comforts, joys, refresh- 
 ments and divine satisfaction that attended the church 
 of Christ in this true and spiritual unity with our 
 Lord Jesus Christ, and one with another : and on the 
 other hand, heed the anxious, exercising consequences 
 of the enemy's prevailing to break unity : all the true- 
 hearted and sincere-spirited to God, cannot but, on 
 the one hand, admire, prize and inexpressibly esteem 
 this precious unity ; and on the other hand, greatly 
 dread the turnings aside, and going out of it. For 
 those who have kept their habitation, and lived to 
 God, as they have tasted and enjoyed the sweetness, 
 and beheld the amiableness of this unity and amity, 
 so they have felt the sorrows and anguish of the effects 
 of the contrary ; which have caused them to go many 
 days and months with mournful souls, crying to the 
 Almighty God of tender compassion night and day, 
 under the inexpressible weight thereof And the God 
 of love has bowed down his ear to the cry of the poor, 
 and sighing of the needy : he has arisen in the might of 
 his power, and the majesty of his glorious presence hath 
 relieved : his holy arm hath been made bare, through 
 which he hath redeemed his darling from the dog, and 
 his dear ones from the devourer ; and still continues 
 working to bring into this precious unity, in the holy 
 light of life, with God in Christ Jesus, and one with 
 another. And now, dear Friends, every where, unto 
 you and to the generation coming after, I have this 
 
184: CONCERIs'ING THE PRECIOUS 
 
 warning and tender advice to leave behind me, in the 
 name of my God, who hath been with me by his 
 power, in my travails, work and labour in the gospel 
 of life and salvation : keep the unity bf the Spirit in 
 the bond of peace ; and let none give way to a pre- 
 judicing spirit, which leads into secret whisperings, 
 backbitings, and such-like evil and pernicious fruits ; 
 the working of which spirit is like a moth in a gar- 
 ment, dividing, destroying, spoiling and eating up. 
 For indeed, as Zion is a city at unity with itself, 
 under the seamless garment of Christ Jesus, and there 
 all are well and safe, growing, increasing and flourish- 
 ing ; so when the spirit aforesaid prevails, to draw 
 out of Zion's gates, and from within her walls of salva- 
 tion, 0 ! what deplorable work and havock will it 
 make in its growth and progress ; working, as I said 
 before, [like] the moth, gradually and secretly first ; 
 but as it prevaileth and increaseth in its growth and 
 strength, it will appear as a roaring, devouring lion, 
 seeking whom it may devour and swallow up. Here 
 comes in pride and haughtiness, a spirit puffed up 
 with the abundance of enjoyment of outward things. 
 Emulations, heart-risings, evil jealousies, bitter speak- 
 ings, detractings, and abundance of evil fruit, arise 
 from this root of bitterness ; which root and fruit are 
 to be brought under, and sunk down under the eternal 
 judgmentof the holy, glorious, sweet power of the Lord. 
 And therefore Friends, I say unto you, in the name of 
 the Lord God eternal, let none give strength, or any 
 encouragement or nourishment to this spirit in any of 
 its murdering workings in the heart ; but let it be 
 looked upon as a vagabond and fugitive on the earth : 
 and so, as it is kept out of the camp of God, and from 
 Israel's dwellings, by the sweet, living, bright power of 
 the great God of heaven and earth, it will perish 
 
UNITY OF THE SPIRIT. 
 
 185 
 
 under Truth's judgment set up in every soul ; and the 
 nature thereof, as well as its evil, rending and divid- 
 ing fruits will be worn out and destroyed for ever. 
 And then, all keeping in the first love, pure fear, 
 living awe, and holy dread, fearing to offend our God 
 and tender Father, persevering in an inward keeping 
 the holy watch, and abiding in subjection and obe- 
 dience to the spiritual cross, in staidness of mind, 
 soundness of judgment and clearness in understand- 
 ing, you [will] see, comprehend, and fathom all the 
 enemy's devices, temptations and snares : and the 
 Lord God beholding you in a stedfast habitation of 
 obedience and spiritual tenderness before him, his 
 power will descend wonderfully in an increasing man- 
 ner, his glory will shine, and his river of life flow ; 
 yea the spring of the great deep will be broken up, 
 and the windows of heaven will be opened, that you 
 may be abundantly filled with joy, thanksgivings, 
 and songs of deliverance ; and spiritual high praises 
 will ascend to his throne, as sweet incense, and a 
 sacrifice acceptable to our God. And here you shall 
 spend the residue of your days in dominion over the 
 snares of the enemy which attend both prosperity 
 and liberty, and adversity and persecution ; seeing 
 over all things that have their rise in mortality aDd 
 time; feeling mortality swallowed up of life immortal ; 
 and so be gathered to the general assembly, to the 
 church of the first-born, to the spirits of just men 
 made perfect ; yea, to the First and Last, to God the 
 Judge of all ; to whom be immortal high praises and 
 holy renown, for ever and for evermore. 
 
 But if the wonderful blessings, tender mercies, and 
 loving-kindnesses that the Lord God Almighty every 
 way extends to us in this age, be not duly, reverently 
 and obediently taken notice of ; and instead thereof. 
 
186 
 
 CONCERNING THE PRECIOUS 
 
 any shall forsake and be unmindful of the Lord's 
 tender mercies, and embrace lying vanities ; going 
 out of the spiritual diligence into a spiritual idleness, 
 through which a spiritual slumber overtakes, and the 
 lamp thereby be inwardly neglected, the spiritual 
 watch and cross slighted, and not duly regarded, but 
 the earth and earthly things take up the exercise 
 of the mind and affections ; then, I say, instead of 
 enjoying what is above expressed, tribulation and 
 anguish will seize upon all such ; and the dreadful 
 judgment of the eternal God who lives for ever and 
 ever, will overtake all such unfaithfulness : a dreadful 
 cup ye [unfaithful ones] shall drink of, from the hand 
 of God, and the rebukes of the Lord's countenance 
 shall distress you ; and you shall be numbered amongst 
 the people of his indignation, in his dreadful approach- 
 ing day of signal pleading with all flesh that have 
 corrupted their way before him. Therefore hear, 
 fear and dread the holy name of the Lord : and 
 whilst it is called to-day, bow before him, and speedily 
 return unto him, lest your day pass over, and ye sleep 
 the sleep of eternal death and destruction, and be 
 separated for ever from his refreshing presence, in 
 which is life, and from the glory of his divine 
 power. 
 
 Therefore, all dear Friends everywhere, retire in- 
 ward ; see, feel and understand the counsel of the 
 Lord which unto you springs ; all retire inward, in 
 great humility before the Lord, that you may grow in 
 the root of life, and feel his blessed work perfecting 
 your inward man: that as you have professed the 
 knowledge of a spiritual oracle before the na-tions, 
 you may approve yourselves in the sight of God, 
 following its instructions in all things. Go not with- 
 out it ; lean upon the Lord, and cry to him to guide 
 
UNITY OF THE SPIRIT, 
 
 187 
 
 you with his eye, and lead you by his arm in the way 
 everlasting. And this is his promise, whilst you keep 
 with him, he will be with you, and will never leave 
 nor forsake you if you do not leave nor forsake him ; 
 his presence and glorious arm of salvation shall sur- 
 round you, to the renown of his name, and consola- 
 tion of his people. Amen, Amen. 
 
 Charles Marshall. 
 
 1697. 
 
1 88 AN EPISTLE TO FRIENDS 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 An Epistle to Friends in Pennsylmnia. 
 
 Dear Friends, 
 
 In the heavenly covenant of Eternal Life, is the 
 salutation of my love in the Lord Jesus, unto all 
 that love and fear him in [your] country. I am sen- 
 sible that God has sown a good seed amongst you ; 
 therefore be careful to receive it rightly and deeply, 
 that the fruit may appear : for though the testimony 
 is true, of the rich and plentiful visitation of the hea- 
 venly power among you, [yet] if there be not a true 
 and right receiving the seed, and a tender waiting 
 for the watering rain and dew of life, and its taking 
 root in the honest heart, the good ground, thorns 
 may grow up instead thereof. Therefore, in the fear 
 and dread of the great God, keep low; and out of the 
 snares of the enemy, in the cares of this life and the 
 deceitfulness of riches ; and I warn you in the name 
 of Him who is the dread of nations, let none defile 
 that land in which ye are strangers. But walk in 
 the way of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, &c., and the 
 Lord God will pour out wonderful blessings upon you. 
 But if ye will not cleave unto him with your whole 
 heart, and serve him in fear and trembling, that a good 
 savour may go forth from you, then will he bring his 
 righteous judgments over you, according to the swift- 
 ness of his goings in his sanctuary. Therefore sanc- 
 tify the dreadful God of the whole earth before the 
 
IN PENNSYLVANIA. 
 
 189 
 
 heathen ; so shall ye prosper. In his love and fear, 
 I send these few lines unto you ; hoping you may be 
 watchful and diligent in all things to glorify his 
 name, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Your 
 tender friend, 
 
 Charles Marshall. 
 
190 
 
 A SALUTATION TO THE 
 
 A Salutation to the Men's and Women's Meetings about 
 the City of Bristol. 
 
 Dear Friends, 
 
 In the ever-blessed truth of our God, which endures 
 for ever, I tenderly salute you at this time ; desiring 
 greatly your prosperity and growth therein, [and that 
 you may] serve up your generation according to the 
 will of God; in which you will have peace for ever. 
 Now the God of heaven hath not only called you to 
 watch and take care of your own hearts and families, 
 but also the flock and family of God where you live ; 
 therefore be careful and diligent in your meeting 
 together, and in a faithful discharge, as before the 
 Lord, to answer the service of your meetings effec- 
 tually : and to that end I exhort you, in the dread of 
 Israel's God, to wait diligently upon the Lord, to feel 
 his sweet, opening power and spring of divine wis- 
 dom, that you may see your several places in the 
 body, and service in that place faithfully performed. 
 
 And dear Friends, for some time it hath lain before 
 me, in the name of the Lord, to stir you up to an 
 increase of love : and you that have families, sons 
 and daughters, stir them up often to come to meet- 
 ings, and into the service with you, answering the 
 Lord's requiring ; that they may remain with you, 
 serving the Lord : then, when you are taken away, 
 they may be ready to serve the Lord, being thus 
 trained up in his way, in a holy freedom. And there- 
 fore I charge all young men and women, in the sight 
 
MEETINGS ABOUT BRISTOL. 
 
 191 
 
 of Him who shall judge righteously, who hath put 
 you, in some measure, in a capacity to serve the 
 Lord in the men's and women's meetings, that you 
 neglect not your care herein ; lest the Lord God 
 exercise you with various trials, unthought of by the 
 careless mind. For if ye do love, and give up to 
 serve the Lord, and bring of your substance to serve 
 the poor, as the Lord hath commanded, you will find 
 a reward in your bosom, and satisfaction by being in 
 your duty and service. 
 
 And, dear Friends, lift up your heads in the light 
 of the Lord ; feel his eternal arm to gather you into 
 a growing state, in the holy root of life ; that therein 
 you may be able to stand in the dreadful day of his 
 vengeance, fury and fire, that breaks over a sinful 
 people, for the humbling of thousands to the dust. 
 Arise, shake yourselves in the strength of the Lord, 
 from the dust of the earth; put on strength and 
 heavenly zeal for his name, and his sweet counsel ; 
 with your minds gathered to stand and see the fulfilling 
 of his words that have dropped over this land. 
 
 The God of our tender mercies incline you all his 
 counsel to take, that so you may serve him in all 
 faithfulness ; that now, as living travellers, ye may 
 journey on, and come to Zion, the city of the heavenly 
 King ; where his glory shines, his love flows, his mercy 
 extends, and the joy of the Lord springs up, to furnish 
 man with living high praises to him that sits upon the 
 throne, and to the Lamb for evermore. That you may 
 have your lot and portion in that city, hath been the 
 travail of soul and ardent desire of your tender friend 
 and brother, 
 
 C. M. 
 
192 
 
 AN EPISTLE TO THE CAPTIVES. 
 
 Aoi Ejnstle to the Cajytives. 
 
 Dear Friends, 
 In the everlasting, living, sweet Trutli of our God, I 
 dearly salute you ; bowing in spirit to our God and 
 Father, in supplication, that he would remember you 
 in the greatness of his love and heavenly providences ; 
 making your captivity the more easy through his 
 divine and glorious shinings in your souls ; making 
 you to sit together in heavenly places in the Son of 
 his love ; and in his own time make way for your 
 redemption, to see your dear relations and families. 
 
 We often yearn over you, and remember you ; and 
 our eye is to the Holy God, that his right arm of 
 salvation you may find underneath ; that his Divine 
 counsel may guide you, and that your time may 
 be improved to a spiritual advantage ; that out of the 
 inward captivity you being redeemed and ransomed, 
 may joy in the Lord, and magnify his great and 
 glorious name. 
 
 Your letter was read in our meeting, and the spirits 
 of Friends sympathised with you ; and I believe they 
 will let no time or opportunity slip wherein they 
 might hasten your redemption. The salutation oi 
 their dear and tender love is unto you ; so is mine ; 
 and I rest your tender friend, 
 
 Charles Marshall. 
 
 [It is probable, " the Captives" to whom this 
 Epistle was addressed, were those mentioned in 
 Sewell's History of Friends, as some seamen of the 
 people called Quakers, who were in slavery at Algiers, 
 
AN EPISTLE TO THE CAPTIVES. 193 
 
 and concerning whom he states — " it was a pretty 
 long time before opportunity was found to redeem 
 them ; but in the meanwhile they so faithfully served 
 their masters, that they were suffered to go loose 
 through the town, without being chained or fettered ; 
 and liberty was also allowed them to meet at set 
 times for religious worship j and their patrons them- 
 selves would sometimes come and see what they did 
 there ; and finding no images or prints, as papist 
 slaves in the exercise of their worship made use of, 
 but hearing from their slaves, that they reverently 
 adored and worshipped the living God, Creator of 
 heaven and earth, they commended them for it, and 
 said it was very good, and that they might freely do 
 so. And since one of them was raised to speak by 
 way of edification to his friends, some other English 
 slaves frequenting that meeting, came to be united 
 with them. In the meanwhile the Quakers' name 
 came to be kno^\'n at Algiers, as a people that might 
 be trusted beyond others."' — Ed.] 
 
 0 
 
194 
 
 AN EPISTLE TO 
 
 A71 Ejnstle to Friends of Charlecot, in Wilts. 
 
 Dear Friends, 
 All keep on the watcli-tower, wherein alone you are 
 in a capacity to hear what the Lord saith, and in 
 which you will find peace spoken unto you, that none 
 may go back into folly, into earthliness, carelessness, 
 or double-mindedness again. And tender Friends, 
 keep your meetings diligently, and therein wait with 
 an earnest expectation of Christ Jesus' coming in 
 amongst you and breathing on you invisibly ; through 
 which breath of life, your senses can alone be made 
 living; and so being daily watered and refreshed, you 
 will go away inwardly strengthened and increased. 
 So dear friends, be faithful in watering and diligent in 
 watching, and then you will find and feel the break- 
 ings in of the pure, heavenly power of the everlasting, 
 true God upon your spirits, through which your 
 meetings will be kept living and fresh ; so will the 
 great travail that hath been for you be answered. 
 And this I say unto you in the name of the Lord, if 
 after such dressing, pruning, and watering that hath 
 been amongst you, you keep not in the Son of the 
 endless, boundless love of God, but suffer your minds 
 to go into the earth, the Lord shall bow you down 
 dreadfully, and render unto you the reward of forget- 
 fulness, carelessness and earthly-mindedness ; out of 
 which, dear friends, in the love of God, I earnestly 
 desire you all may keep, a sweet savour unto the 
 Lord; that so the servants of God coming amongst 
 you, may be refreshed, your souls therein abundantly 
 
FRIENDS OF CHARLECOT. 195 
 
 consolated, and the worthy name of the Lord God 
 magnified : this is the breathing of your travailing 
 friend and brother, 
 
 Charles Marshall. 
 
 Friends, be diligent in keeping your week-day 
 meetings ; it lies on my spirit to lay it on you at 
 this time. 
 
 0 2 
 
196 
 
 A LETTER TO 
 
 A Letter to Friends of Falmouth. 
 
 Dear Friends of Falmouth, 
 My love in the living, quickening truth of God, 
 saluteth you all that are faithful to the Lord, in the 
 manifestation of his light of righteousness revealed 
 in your imvard parts, wherein is Zion's way cast up 
 before your understanding; in which pure path of 
 life, which the vulturous eye never saw, nor ravenous 
 beast ever trod in, my soul breathes to the God of 
 Heaven you may be preserved. 
 
 And, dear Friends, many know the truth, but it is 
 obedience to it that gives the entrance into the pur- 
 chased possession ; purchased by the Captain of our 
 salvation, who through suffering and doing the will 
 of his Father, is entered within the vail. So dear 
 Friends, we must follow him in the daily dying and 
 baptism : for here lies the mystery of the entrance 
 into the kingdom, even in the daily dying; and being, 
 through a daily dying, at last baptized into his death, 
 then there is a rising in his life. Dear Friends, here 
 it is, that many missing that, have, or may have some 
 sight of truth, and enjoyment thereof; yet not 
 keeping down to the daily cross, thereby to die daily, 
 that lives which is for death; and such will hold the 
 truth in the unrighteous ground : and here lies the very 
 ground why many, being convinced and knowing the 
 truth, do not grow and thrive in the innocent, virtuous 
 life of righteousness ; not giving up all to be slain by 
 the daily appearances of the working of the power of 
 God Almighty. So Friends, God Eternal hath deter- 
 mined to put an end to all professions, where posses- 
 sion of life is not the ground thereof, by bringing 
 
FRIENDS OF FALMOUTH. 
 
 197 
 
 forth the substance of all profession, even the perfect 
 work of holiness, in the hearts of thousands of his 
 subjected, obedient people ; and by his eternal power, 
 and by his dreadful arm of strength, will he dash in 
 pieces every thing that is not weighty and real : and 
 that day will certainly come, and hasteneth, that will 
 deeply try all that are not born of God ; and in this 
 day the chaff, the dross, the tin, yea, and reprobate 
 silver [will be rejected.] 
 
 So dear and tender Friends, wait diligently in the 
 invisible power, to be born into the nature of Him 
 that is the first-born of every creature ; and here 
 will be your inexpressible comfort for evermore. God 
 Almighty preserve you diligent, with the loins of 
 your minds girt up unto him from the morning to 
 the evening ; that the travail you may know in the 
 power, and the bringing forth, in which is the lasting 
 and true joy that will stand for ever. 
 
 I received your tender lines, and often before have 
 you lain in my remembrance, in dearness : and [I 
 have] tendered the living breathings and springing 
 desires God ward, that I saw and felt amongst you, 
 which oft have refreshed me. God enlarge the bor- 
 ders of his sanctuary thereaway, and preserve you as 
 a city set on a hill, to be a good savour in the 
 righteous, holy life before the world. 
 
 My dear love saluteth dear Friends about you : so 
 in the yearning bowels of true love, after your pros- 
 perity and growth, I rest your travailing friend and 
 brother, 
 
 Charles Marshall. 
 Dear Friends, as to my coming into your parts, I 
 know nothing of it at the present; in God's counsel 
 and name I visited you, [and may again] if he require it 
 of me ; in his will I desire to live to the end of my day. 
 
198 
 
 AN EPISTLE, EXHORTING TO 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 An Epistle to Friends, exhoHing them to wait on the 
 Lord. 
 
 Friends, 
 
 In the fear and dread of the Almighty it is upon 
 me to say unto you, wait upon the Lord in the gift 
 of his own Spirit, made manifest in us, for the reve- 
 lation of his eternal, unlimited power ; that by the 
 powerful operation thereof, all may be cut off, rooted 
 out, and burned up, that hath hindered or broken 
 our unity with the Lord, or one with another ; that 
 so by its working we may all come into the unity of 
 the one eternal Spirit, where the everlasting, unchange- 
 able love of God will be shed abroad in our hearts ; 
 in which being all united as one body, and the 
 government being on His shoulders, who was a man of 
 sorrow and acquainted with grief, we shall with one 
 consent, put our hearts and hands to the work of 
 reformation. 
 
 And Friends, I cannot but say in the name and 
 power of the Lord God, this ought to be the first 
 thing desirable amongst us: and it is upon me to 
 remind you of the tender visitation that reached 
 unto us some months since, which was in order to 
 what I have afore spoken; for as we all come, 
 through the operation of this immortal power of 
 God, into the unity of the one eternal Spirit of life, all 
 those outward exercises [which have been] run into, as 
 the cvstoms, fashions, ways and ivords of the world thM 
 
WAIT ON THE LORD. 
 
 199 
 
 are evil, ivill he cast off : yea, there will he a great 
 tenderness in the very use of needful things, that the 
 heaH may he kei^t out of them. And Friends, it is on 
 me to say unto you, let none of us quench the Spirit 
 nor despise prophecy in ourselves, or in any of our 
 brethren or sisters ; for if we do, we hurt our own 
 souls, and bring a famine thereon : but where the 
 Lord God requires any, in the motion of his eternal 
 power, to bear a testimony for his name, be faithful 
 unto it : and on the other hand, let us all be careful 
 not to spend our own bread, for that will burden 
 others instead of refreshing them ; for the heart may 
 be refreshed and the power felt, and may be lost 
 again through going forth. But this is certain, the 
 motion of God's power liveth and abideth in the still- 
 ness of all flesh ; and [the more] the mind is retired 
 into the true, inward silence, the motion of life doth 
 the more shew itself, and the heart and mind come 
 to be satisfied of God's requirings ; and these in due 
 time and season being brought forth, are a savour of 
 life unto the living ; but it is not so with the false 
 birth, nor with the abortive. 
 
 And dearly beloved Friends, it is furthermore on 
 my spirit to say unto you, it was the immortal power of 
 the Lord God that first touched and pricked us at the 
 heart in the day of our first visitation ; which immortal 
 power of God brought down many lofty cedars, and 
 cut down many sturdy oaks in that day. It brought 
 many of us into deep humility of spirit, and into 
 great tenderness of heart; it made the earthly taber- 
 nacles to tremble and shake, and wrought through 
 the members, where the law of sin and death had 
 ruled : in that day it ploughed up the fallow ground 
 of our hearts, and discovered the root of iniquity; 
 and the axe was laid to the root of the corrupt tree. 
 
200 
 
 AN EPISTLE, EXHORTING TO 
 
 And that immortal power and arm of strength must 
 finish that good and holy work that it began in us 
 in the day of our first tender visitation. Therefore 
 Friends wait diligently, being inwardly turned to feel 
 the arising and effectual operation of this living, 
 eternal power and arm of the Lord God ; that the old 
 heaven and old earth may both pass away, and that all 
 may know the new heavens and the new earth wherein 
 dwells righteousness. As this immortal power of the 
 Lord God ariseth, it will break every bond of iniquity, 
 and snap in pieces every chain of darkness ; it will 
 rend the rocks, and break in pieces the mountains ; 
 it will burn up the stubble and drive away the chaff* : 
 and here we shall know the fan in the hand of his 
 power that thoroughly purgeth his floor, and that 
 truly makes the separation, gathering the wheat, 
 and burning up the chaff" with unquenchable fire; 
 which is the power of the Lord. And Friends, I am 
 pressed in spirit to entreat all, in the pure bowels of 
 tender love, to make a true and a thorough search 
 with the light of the Lord, that nothing of the 
 accursed thing may be in any of the tents of Israel, 
 which should cause them to fall before their enemies : 
 and therefore this runs through me in much fear and 
 trembling; — sanctify yourselves, and be ye holy; that 
 in the day at hand of the breaking forth of the glory 
 of the Lord as a devouring fire, all of us being sancti- 
 fied and thoroughly cleansed, we may be able to abide 
 and to stand. — For a day of calamity, even a day of 
 distress, is at hand; and the Lord in his everlasting 
 loving kindness, which is unspeakable, is laying his 
 hand on many, to draw them out of Sodom and Go- 
 morrah spiritually. Oh! that all hearts might be 
 broken, and all spirits tendered, and all dissolved 
 down into a tender, broken frame of spirit before the 
 
WAIT ON THE LORD. 
 
 201 
 
 Lord ; that all may tremble at the word of his holi- 
 ness, and dread and fear his holy, glorious name, who 
 is coming out of his place to visit the earth in his 
 everlasting dread: and all the earth shall be filled 
 with his glory, because of the work which he will 
 work amongst his people, and also among the heathen 
 that know him not. And Friends, as all are brought 
 down here into this melted, dissolved frame of spirit, 
 supplication will ascend from prevailing Jacob to the 
 Lord God ; and he will bow down his ear to the cry of 
 his distressed, and deliver them with a great deliver- 
 ance, and save them with a mighty salvation : and 
 his Jerusalem shall be made the praise of the whole 
 earth. The Lord God of heaven and earth bring all 
 his people into this city and into this frame of spirit ; 
 so shall Friends be as the garden of the Lord, which 
 shall give a pleasant smell ; and you may be raised up 
 to stand in the gap in the day of the fierce anger of 
 the Lord God, that comes on this nation, the land of 
 our nativity. 
 
 And Friends that are masters and mistresses of 
 families, and have the tuition of children and ser- 
 vants, this to you is the counsel of the Lord God of 
 heaven and earth : — wait daily on the Lord for the 
 arisings of his holy power, that therein you may keep 
 down all evil in your families. — In the everlasting 
 power you will have ability to reach to the consciences 
 of your children and servants, that all the families of 
 the people of the Lord may be sweet and clean before 
 him. For the Lord will pass through his whole 
 camp; and where sin, iniquity and uncleanness are 
 cleaved to and lived in, there will he break forth as a 
 consuming fire : and Friends, where any have been 
 visited with the day of God springing from on high^ 
 have professed the truth, and made confession and 
 
202 
 
 AN EPISTLE, EXHORTING TO 
 
 profession of the pure way of the Lord, and have 
 erred from the pure path, through the receiving and 
 bowing down to the Spirit of this world, by which 
 they order not their conversation!? aright ; but 
 through careless walking in their dealing and in their 
 converse with the world, cause the truth to be evil 
 spoken of, and the name of the Lord to be blas- 
 phemed ; I declare in the counsel, fear and dread of 
 the Almighty Lord God of heaven and earth, if such 
 do not speedily return to that pure principle, unto 
 which they were directed in the day of their first 
 tender visitation, in that to wait to know God's im- 
 mortal power to heal their backslidings, and his free 
 love to come over all again, in which a testimony 
 may arise in them against all that ever they have 
 acted in their dealings or otherwise, that hath caused 
 the worthy, dear name of the Lord to be evil spoken 
 of : I say that if such do not thus return, the day 
 hastens, [in which] God will make them an astonishment 
 to themselves and to all round about them; and will 
 honour his great name over them in their destruction. 
 Bear Friends, it was the arm of the Lord that gathered 
 lis to he a people; and it was, and is in obedience to 
 him tliat we met and do meet together ; our meetings 
 did not rise hy the will of men, neither ivill they go 
 down hy the will of men ; for God Almighty will fill 
 the assemblies of his people, through this nation, with 
 his dread ; and no power, strength, nor arm shall 
 ever break them, so as the people of the Lord shall 
 not meet together to wait upon him and to worship 
 him ; but all that riseth up against them shall fall 
 and come to nothing : and therefore doth the Lord 
 require his people to meet together, as boldly, as 
 diligently, as faithfully as ever, without fear of men; 
 and whatever makes careless incoming to meetings or 
 
WAIT ON THE LORD. 
 
 203 
 
 draws from meetings, is the antichristian spirit, in what 
 vessel soever it shall appear. But to all that meet 
 faithfully, and gather into the name of the Lord in 
 their meetings, and wait diligently on him, the Lord 
 God, in his everlasting power, will appear, to their 
 inexpressible comfort and to the honour of his great 
 name, which shall over all be renowned in this nation. 
 
 And so I have cleared my conscience in the sight 
 of my God ; and if any shall rebel and not walk in 
 his counsel, nor be faithful unto him, I am clear of 
 their blood ; and 0 ! that every one of us may know 
 the things that concern our peace. I am your friend 
 and brother in the tender bowels of love, 
 
 Chakles Marshall. 
 
204 AN EPISTLE TO THE MEETINGS 
 
 CHAPTER XVIIL 
 
 Aqi Ejnstle to the Men's and Women's Meetings, in and 
 about the City of London. 
 
 Dear Friends, Brethren and Sisters, 
 
 Partakers of the heavenly calling of God, through 
 Jesus Christ, in the riches of his love, in this his 
 gospel-day, wherein he hath made bare his holy, out- 
 stretched arm of eternal salvation, for the gathering, 
 and saving, and thereby bringing many sons and 
 daughters to glory : 
 
 Grace, mercy, and peace, with all the fruits of the 
 eternal Spirit, from the fountain of mercies and bless- 
 ings, be multiplied in and amongst you, and all the flock 
 and family of Christ Jesus everywhere. Dear Friends, 
 being led in spirit, into a deep sense of the tender mer- 
 cies of the Lord extended unto you, in inexpressible 
 visits in his power ; the living waterings, holy dewings, 
 daily instructings, and wonderful preservations that 
 you have enjoyed, and what God hath wrought and 
 would work amongst you, and to what you are called I 
 say, in the inexpressible sense and sight hereof, my soul 
 is deeply affected and bowed before the Lord our God ; 
 and my spirit is stirred in the love of Christ Jesus, 
 to exhort all to stand fast in that liberty unto which 
 you are called, which is the liberty of the sons and 
 daughters of God Almighty ; a glorious liberty from 
 the embondaging power of hell and death, under 
 which we were captives. Now, unto all you that are 
 witnesses of this liberty, I say, in my Father's love, 
 good will and counsel, watch diligently in living sub- 
 
IN AND ABOUT LONDON. 
 
 205 
 
 jection to the holy power of an endless life; that in 
 nothing ye may be entangled again with any part of 
 the yoke of bondage, under which we could not serve, 
 please, nor worship God aright. 
 
 The Lord God hath called and gathered you from 
 off the barren mountains and desolate hills, to his 
 holy mountain ; so that you may walk where there is 
 no hurting nor destroying, no rending nor dividing. 
 Here you are preserved, and see every barren moun- 
 tain and hill, where the hurting, dividing rents and 
 schisms are; against which the judgment of truth is 
 set, and unto which they go, that go from the holy 
 mountain of God. 
 
 Dear Friends, brethren and sisters, who appertain 
 unto the flock and fold of our blessed Shepherd, walk 
 ye, as he walked, in the harmless life of innocency. 
 0 ! let none cast off his heavenly yoke, nor cast away 
 his spiritual burden, nor get above his crucifying 
 cross, into any fleshly liberty, or self-exaltation ; but 
 let the dread of Israel's God be on your spirits, eying 
 your excellent and high calling ; [for ye are called,] 
 not only out of the world, its ways, impure religions 
 and fallen worships, into a testimony against such ; 
 but further into the spiritual worship, therein to be 
 exercised night and day in the temple of the Lord ; 
 and also into an inexpressible care and concern for 
 others. 0 ! let the deep sense of this heavenly call 
 and requiring of our Heavenly Father, weigh upon all 
 your spirits, according to the inexpressible weightiness 
 of it. And I am to put you in mind, that you are, 
 above many of the called of God, set as a city upon a 
 hill, in the view not only of your friends but enemies. 
 Therefore as you tender the honour of God, your own 
 soul's welfare, and Zion's prosperity, walk in the self- 
 denying path : and you whom God hath any way 
 
# 
 
 206 AN EPISTLE TO THE MEETINGS 
 
 honoured with a service in his church, and amongst 
 his people, this counsel is given me to send unto you, 
 in the name of Almighty God ; — seek the honour that 
 comes from God only, and walk befor^ his people, his 
 tender lambs, and babes, and little ones, in the self- 
 abasement. 0 ! humble self to the death, even to the 
 death of the cross of Christ Jesus ; — for if any get 
 out from this path, they will hurt instead of heal, 
 starve instead of feed, make naked instead of clothe. 
 0 ! the blessed words and practice of Christ Jesus, 
 who knew what there was, even in his disciples, that 
 would seek who should be greatest. He taught them, 
 by setting a child amongst them : he girded himself 
 with a towel, he washed their feet ; shewing thereby, 
 not only that if he washed them not, they could not 
 be clean ; but also shewed them, how they should walk 
 and do for one another. He also said to Peter, " lovest 
 thou me more than these? feed my lambs and this, 
 in universal care and inexpressible bowels for his 
 little ones, he repeated again and again, that he might 
 perform his duty well. Friends, let us all walk as we 
 have Him for an example and a Captain : and this 
 opens in my soul, that the greater the growth is in 
 the seed immortal, the more self will be abased and 
 denied, and the more will the interest and weighty 
 concern of truth be in every one's eye ; seeing the 
 glory of God, the good of souls, and the welfare of his 
 people are concerned in the care and diligence, and 
 in the performing that service in the church of Christ, 
 which every one is called unto. 
 
 And Friends, be very diligent in [attending] all 
 those your meetings, and all other meetings ; and 
 when met, be as diligent to wait upon the Lord with 
 tender breathings, in the girding up with the girdle 
 of truth, the loins of your minds : wait on every 
 
IN AND ABOUT LONDON. 
 
 207 
 
 occasion, for the fresh descendings, fittings and 
 capacitatings of heavenly wisdom, which is pure and 
 peaceable. And set not about the affairs of truth 
 ^^^thout some feeling and helping of it ; for this I 
 have seen, no parts nor acquirements whatever, with- 
 out this guiding, counselling, instructing wisdom of 
 the Lord, will carry on truly, or affect rightly the 
 affairs of Truth, although it be in outward things. 
 And my heavenly Father whom I have loved and 
 feared from very tender years, hath shewn me that in 
 the sensual ^^isdom stands the strife, and out of that 
 ground arise the exaltedness, haste, rashness, schisms, 
 rents, sects, (fcc. 
 
 Therefore in the meekness and gentleness of Jesus, 
 treat one another ; and if any feel their spirits 
 warmed, and not wdth the heavenly power of God's 
 love, (that guides to speak tenderly and respectfully 
 one unto another,) let such an one, saith the Spirit of 
 Truth, sit silent until that is brought under, and the 
 nature of the Lamb's wisdom and meekness comes up, 
 to leaven and rule the heart and guide the tongue. 
 
 And you that are rich and full in the outward, you 
 are charged of the Lord not to trust nor have confi- 
 dence in uncertain riches, nor to be puffed up out of 
 your places in the body by reason thereof; but rather be 
 the more humble, in the sense of the mercy and bounty 
 of the Lord ; and supplicate the Giver to give you 
 wisdom to be stewards well pleasing in his sight j so 
 shall a blessing be in your basket and store. 
 
 And Friends, live in self-denial and self-abasement 
 in meats, drinks and apparel ; let nothing of fulness 
 lead you beyond self-denial, and so to forget the 
 afflictions of Joseph, many distressed, straitened, 
 imprisoned, impoverished members of the same body. 
 
 And [let] those that are ancient and much in 
 
208 AN EPISTLE TO THE MEETINGS 
 
 Truth's service, in all humility, labour and delight to 
 bring up the young therein ; and when any son or 
 daughter, in simplicity, and as enjoyers of the new wine 
 in some little measure, speak as children, help them, 
 strengthen them, taking them by the hand, and bowing 
 to their state, in honouring the lowest members ; so 
 shall not the tender bubblings up of life be stifled, nor 
 the tender grapes bruised; but all preserved, and the 
 Lord thereby honoured. For I testify, in the power of 
 the Most High, as it is given me, he will abase all that 
 exalt themselves, and they shall be brought low ; and 
 all that seek themselves, and their own honour, the 
 Lord will discover. 
 
 And dear Friends, brethren and sisters, watch over 
 the flock of God, over which he hath made you over- 
 seers, that the rending, dividing spirit of opposition 
 may not enter secretly. Visit, exhort, seek, warn, 
 reprove, and set judgment in the Lord's power and 
 counsel, over all that which would hurt the tender 
 flock of God ; the way and works of which destroy- 
 ing spirit the Lord God will blast, and the bringings 
 forth and product of it consume, with the brightness 
 of his arising and coming, and blow away with the 
 breath of his mouth. 
 
 Finally, Friends, brethren and sisters, be of one 
 mind, and dwell low ; live with and in life itself; 
 deny yourselves ; be in the daily bearing of the cross 
 of Christ Jesus, that crucifies you to the world, and 
 the world to you ; live above the world's heights and 
 depths, joys and sorrows : for a sore and dreadful day 
 will the Almighty God bring upon the world that 
 lies in wickedness ; and a bitter cup must many of 
 the inhabitants of this nation and that city drink off". 
 
 But if ye walk with God, and grow to him, you 
 shall know the hiding-place of his love, wherein 
 
IN AND ABOUT LONDON. 
 
 209 
 
 safety is, and bread and water shall be sure and cer- 
 tain to your souls. And the Lord God Almighty 
 cause his power in great glory and brightness, more 
 and more to arise amongst you ; and send plentiful 
 showers of divine rain, and cause his sweet evange- 
 lical dews to descend morning after morning, on your 
 souls, in your meetings and families ; through which 
 ye may be kept green and fresh, like the growing 
 innocent lilies, and lovely as the rose of Sharon. The 
 Lord God of our life warm all your hearts and souls, 
 with his beams of glory, and cause you, in the inward 
 man, to partake of the blessings of the second cove- 
 nant. 
 
 So, having done the will of my God, and eased my 
 spirit before him, I commit you to the word of God's 
 grace, that is able to build you up in his most holy 
 faith, and give you an eternal inheritance with his 
 saints in light : [that this may be your portion] is the 
 earnest breathing of your travailing brother, in the 
 lubour, tribulation and faith of the gospel, 
 
 Charles Marshall. 
 
 Glory and honour, might, majesty, with holy 
 reno^vn, and immortal dominion, be ascribed, with 
 living high praises, to the Lord God, and the Lamb, 
 who reigns in Zion, and before his broken-hearted, 
 bowed-spirited ones, gloriously. 
 
210 AN EPISTLE IN THE 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 An Epistle in the Love of God, to Fy^iends everywhere, 
 [exhorting them to per sever ance.'\ 
 
 Dear Friends, 
 
 Who have been visited with the morning of the 
 heavenly day of God's everlasting love, and have seen 
 the clear inshining of the celestial light thereof, 
 through which the ancient, precious way of eternal 
 life is cast up in the view of your understanding ; in 
 the sense of which mercy, and inexpressible kindness 
 of the Lord, which unto you hath been largely 
 extended, your hearts have been tendered before him : 
 dear lambs and babes of my Father's fold, in the 
 bowels of inexpressible dearness is the salutation of 
 my love and life unto you ; and in the pure stream of 
 love and life, and precious power of the Lord, I say 
 unto you, walk on in the heavenly path of life, and 
 way of peace ; the mark is before, the glorious prize, 
 that all shall obtain that run well. Therefore in the 
 name and power of the everlasting God, cast off every 
 weight and burden that hath hindered or would 
 hinder you, and now walk on towards Zion's city, the 
 palace of the Great King, where he reigns before 
 his ancients gloriously : shut out all weakening and 
 discouraging thoughts and reasonings, and come away 
 in this the day of the arisings of the glorious, powerful 
 God of heaven and earth, who in this his day is 
 freshly visiting his inheritance, causing his latter, 
 plenteous, sweet rain of love, life and heavenly virtue, 
 
LOVE OF GOD, TO FRIE^'DS. 
 
 211 
 
 to descend abundantly thereon. And therefore, all 
 everwhere, who are convinced of the heavenly truth, 
 in the dread, fear, and pure awe of the Almighty, 
 wait to be capacitated to enjoy what the Lord is now 
 plentifully dispensing, of the increase of his goodness 
 and blessings. And the way to be so capacitated for 
 this precious, spiritual enjoyment, is, diligently to wait 
 upon the Lord, in the inward, sweet, retiredness of 
 the mind and spirit; in the feeling of, and subjecting 
 to that heavenly leaven that leavens the whole three 
 measures; so shall every one come to receive the holy 
 divine dispensings of love, life and nourishing virtue, 
 whereby the inward man grows up in strength and 
 stature, and so comes to have an heavenly place of 
 joy in the mansion-house of the Lord. 
 
 So to the heavenly, sweet Comforter, to his teachings, 
 leadings and feedings I commit you all every^vhere: 
 and rest in the satisfactory knowledge of the prosperity 
 of the Lord's work, your brother in the labour, tribu- 
 lation and hope of the gospel of peace, 
 
 Chakles Marshall. 
 
 POSTSCRIPT. 
 
 AxD DEAR Friends and Brethren, 
 
 The Lord hath suffered several trials to arise, since 
 we have been a people, through which there hath 
 been, and is, a sifting and winnowing: but as you 
 grow in the knowledge of Him that is true, and abide 
 in Him that is true, you shall receive a certain under- 
 standing to know him that is false ; and so be preserved 
 in the word of his patience, from entering into the 
 hour of temptation, that all those fall into that, go 
 from the heavenly into the earthly ; in which grows the 
 
212 AN EPISTLE, (fee. 
 
 heady, stubborn, and murmuring birth of sensuality, 
 which is born after the fleshly wisdom, and therein 
 makes war with the birth that is after the Spirit; 
 which the Lord Almighty will debase and consume 
 by the brightness of his appearing, arising and 
 coming, and by the breath of his mouth. And many 
 hearts shall be broken with the joy of the Lord, and 
 overcome in the power of his love, who is arising, 
 ah ! mournful Zion, to comfort thee through accom- 
 plishing thy spiritual warfare, and laying low the 
 enemies of thy prosperity; causing more and more 
 thy light to come, and break forth as brightness, and 
 the glory of the Lord to arise on thee. Amen, Amen, 
 saith my soul and spirit. 
 
 C. M. 
 
AN EPISTLE TO FRIENDS. 
 
 213 
 
 An Ejoistle to Friends, [recommending them to waif 
 for, and live under the power of the Lord?[ 
 
 Dear Friends, Brethren and Sisters, 
 Who have been visited with the morning of the eter- 
 nal day, and by the arm of the mighty God, gathered 
 from the barren mountains of lifeless professions ; and 
 called to come to the mountain of the Lord's house ; 
 grace, mercy, and peace, life and divine virtue, God 
 Almighty multiply and increase in and among you 
 all ; Amen, Amen. 
 
 Dear Friends, a necessity is upon my travailing 
 soul this to say in the name of the Most High : your 
 growth, increase, and preservation is alone in that 
 which first reached unto you, and gathered you, 
 namely, the mighty power of the living God ; and 
 therefore, dear Friends, wait diligently in that lowli- 
 ness of mind, and contrition of heart and soul, wherein 
 you may have an increased knowledge thereof, and of 
 its bright, powerful arisings and appearing amongst 
 you ; without which you cannot be safe, nor bring 
 forth anything that is truly acceptable in his sight ; 
 for TN-ithout this, all testimonies and performances are 
 lifeless and senseless, and such as the Lord hath no 
 delight in. Therefore, in the sense of the heart- 
 breaking love of my God, this counsel ariseth unto 
 all Friends, in all your assemblies, and families ; — 
 wait diligently to feel this living power of the Lord 
 to spring in strength and might in all your souls ; 
 and when felt, bow with all your hearts unto it, so 
 
AN EPISTLE TO FRIENDS. 
 
 shall you know that the miad thereof is purely to 
 purge away all the dross, the lead, the tin, and the 
 reprobate silver, and to make a clean habitation for 
 him to appear and dwell in. — And as the pure power 
 of the Lord is [submitted to] in its arisings, it will 
 search thoroughly, and find out all that nature, that 
 is not, nor can be at unity with it, nor with his 
 works j the burning up of which nature will be known, 
 and so the power of the Lord will appear, and make 
 chosen vessels to bear his name, and to honour him 
 in your respective places. 
 
 And dear Friends, in this is the living cross of 
 Christ Jesus known, which crucifies to the world, 
 (mark), and the world to you, in which all will be 
 preserved in the pure awe, dread and fear of the 
 Almighty God : and all that are here truly preserved 
 grow to God, and come up in his service ; serving 
 him in their generation, according to his will; know- 
 ing their places in that body which edifieth itself in 
 love. Here all are led up in the pure, sweet unity, 
 none moving out of their proper places ; he that 
 speaketh in this, speaketh as the oracle of God ; and 
 they that hear in this, hear so also : and a few words 
 heard in the motion of the glorious power, are of 
 more service than thousands spoken out of it j for 
 these burden and grieve the Spirit of the Lord, and 
 them that are in the tender sense thereof. 
 
 And here tender Friends, brethren and sisters, wis- 
 dom from above [will] descend into your souls ; and as 
 in it, and with it, and under the conduct thereof, in the 
 dread of the Lord God Omnipresent, you manage the 
 affairs of Truth in all your meetings, heavenly bless- 
 ings and prosperity will attend you, strengthening and 
 encouraging you, and the whole flock and family 
 of God. 
 
AX EPISTLE TO FRIENDS. 
 
 215 
 
 My dear Friends, this further lies upon me to say to 
 parents, masters, and mistresses of families, in the fear 
 and counsel of the Lord : — watch over your children 
 and servants diligently, and let your souls be lifted 
 up with strong cries and supplications to the mighty 
 •God, that your families may be brought under the 
 government and seasoning of this sweet, precious power 
 of the Lord, [and] that in this you might rule well. — 
 And to young men and young women, and children, I 
 say, — let the dread of this power be over you, keeping 
 you in that blessed, sole state of fearing God Almighty, 
 and trembling at his word. — And here it will be the 
 delight of children, to love honour, and obey their 
 parents ; and of servants, to perform their services 
 truly and faithfully, as in the sight of God, in their 
 respective places. Finally, dear Friends, nothing 
 but the bright shinings and pure operation of this 
 power, and living obedience thereunto, can keep and 
 preserve you a savoury people. And therefore, once 
 more I say, in the name of the God of truth, wait 
 for the increasing, feeling knowledge of it, and cleave 
 fully to it ; so shall you be defended and fenced about. 
 And as the mountains were round about Jerusalem, 
 so shall a wall be round about you, even the compass- 
 ing, ancient, honourable and renowned arm of God 
 Almighty ; which alone can fence out the wild boar of 
 the forest, and the roaring lion, that now goes about 
 seeking for an entrance to destroy and lay waste the 
 heritage of the Lord. 
 
 God Almighty be with you in your meetings and 
 assemblies ; and 0 ! that his heavenly blessings, rain, 
 and pure refreshings, as sweet dews, may plentifully 
 descend among you to your great joy and inex- 
 pressible consolation ; that high praises may be in 
 your souls to the Lord God that ruleth and reigneth, 
 
216 
 
 AN EPISTLE TO FRIENDS. 
 
 and to the immaculate Lamb that sits with him upon 
 his throne of celestial glory; to whom my soul 
 [ascribes] might, majesty and dominion, for his daily 
 arisings, and the bright goings forth of his mighty 
 power; for he is worthy to receive all honour and 
 glory, with heavenly renown, for ever and ever. Amen, 
 Amen. 
 
 Your tender, travailing brother, in the fellowship of 
 the gospel of life and salvation, 
 
 Charles Marshall. 
 
 postscript. 
 
 Dear Friends, 
 The Lord's living call and counsel unto you all 
 everywhere, is, that you diligently feel after, and 
 wait for the living operations of that power of love, 
 which brings to true contrition of spirit ; that under 
 the mighty hand of the Lord, [and his] dissolving- 
 life and power, all the families of Friends may be 
 humbled before the day of the Lord's humbling the 
 people in judgment ; that in that day you may be 
 favoured of the Lord, as those were that sighed for 
 the great iniquity of Jerusalem : so you being made 
 sensible of the grievous oppressions of the iniquity of 
 the land of our nativity, may with strong cries and 
 groans, night and day, cry mightily unto the Lord God 
 of Sabaoth, for the finishing of the sins thereof, and 
 bringing to an end its transgression ; that so it may 
 enjoy deliverance, and thereby a Sabbath. 
 
 C. M. 
 
AN EPISTLE TO FRIEXDS 
 
 217 
 
 All Epistle to Friends, [exhorting them to walk in the 
 light; warning the disobedient, and recommending 
 inwardness of spirit, humility and diligence.^ 
 
 Dear Friends, 
 The High and Holy One, that inhabiteth eternity, 
 condescends in his love to dwell with those that are 
 of a broken heart and contrite spirit, and tremble at 
 his word ; these are the qualifications of the people 
 he will uphold, refresh, and be with, in the dreadful, 
 astonishing day of his fierce anger, and terrible, con- 
 suming indignation. 
 
 Therefore, home, home, to live and walk in that ye 
 have made profession of, in the sight of the nations, 
 namely, the holy light of the Lamb, in which ye will 
 see all your states and conditions, how you stand 
 before the Lord this day ; for the Lord God Almighty 
 will extend his wonderful loving-kindness unto all 
 the obedient, that walk uprightly before him, in his 
 pure fear, awe and dread; sanctifying his great and 
 glorious name before the people, in a Christian con- 
 versation, as becomes the gospel of Christ Jesus : and 
 [as you] inwardly in spirit walk with God, he will 
 appear more and more for your safety in a dreadful, 
 stormy day, and give you the desire of your souls, in 
 perfecting his work begun in you, to the honour of 
 his own name, and consolation of your own souls ; 
 your habitation shall be sure and pleasant in the 
 
218 AN EPISTLE TO FRIENDS. 
 
 munition of rocks, where bread shall be given you, 
 and your waters shall not fail ; the everlasting arm of 
 Jacob's God will surround you, where ye may behold 
 the magnifyings thereof before the naCions. 
 
 But to all the disobedient, unfaithful, earthly-minded,* 
 that grieve and vex the Spirit of the Lord, dishonour 
 his name, and harden the hearts of the people, caus- 
 ing them to speak evil of the way of Truth ; I have 
 sad tidings to send unto all such, in the sound of 
 the trumpet of the Lord ; and to tell them I have seen 
 a dreadful day hastening apace over them, wherein 
 that which they have been delighted in, in their de- 
 parting out of the pure fear and awe of the Almighty, 
 will be removed ; and a fire not to be quenched 
 will be kindled in their bosoms, consuming dread- 
 fully and astonishingly. Therefore awake, awake ; 
 arise, trim your lamps ; see to your oil, before the 
 lamp goes out never to be lighted any more, and the 
 day of shutting out for ever, overtakes. 
 
 So dear Friends everywhere, be inward, inward ; 
 in great bowings down of spirit and humility of soul, 
 wait to feel the invisible power of the mighty God to 
 sanctify, that ye may be able to stand in the day of 
 his fanning the nations, and treading the winepress 
 of his indignation amongst the people : and as ye 
 stand here, divine rain and heavenly dew will descend 
 upon you, causing you to grow as a well-watered 
 garden, even like Eden, before the Lord ; in which he 
 may take great delight. 
 
 ^0 dear Friends everywhere, double your diligence ; 
 redeem your time ; feel and love the girdle of Truth to 
 gird up the loins of your minds ; and where any have 
 been unwatchful, careless, or earthly-minded, let the 
 time past he sufficient, I entreat you ; and now in pure 
 fear, living obedience and spiritual watchfulness, wait 
 
AN EPISTLE TO FRIENDS. 
 
 219 
 
 to feel the mighty power of the Lord, in that to increase 
 in tlie increasing of God ; in the power of whose love 
 this comes unto you, through a servant of the Lord, 
 and travailer for Zion's welfare. 
 
 Charles Marshall. 
 
 BICUAED BARRETT, PUIMEI!, MAllK I.AN i'., LO>D0X. 
 
DATE DUE