, 2.0.3 
 
 LIBRARY OF THE THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY 
 
 PRINCETON, N. J. 
 PRESENTED BY 
 
 Dr. Henry E. Hale 
 
 BX 7795 .PSmk 1842a 
 Penington, Isaac, 1616-167 
 Letters of Isaac Penington 
 
Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 in 2015 
 
 https://archive.org/details/lettersofisaacpeOOpeni_0 
 
ISAAC PENIFGTOF, 
 
 AN 
 
 EMINENT MINISTER OF THE GOSPEL 
 
 THE SOCIETY OF FEIENDS, 
 
 WHICH HE JOINED ABOUT THE YEAR 1658. 
 
 From the Second London Edition. 
 
 PHILADELPHIA : 
 rOR SALE AT FRIENDS' BOOK-STORE, 
 
 No. 304 ARCH STREET. 
 
PREFACE TO THE LONDON EDITION. 
 
 'HE editor of the present volume, having been much 
 
 J- instructed in perusing " Letters of Isaac Peningtou," 
 &c., (published in the year 1796, by John Kendall of Col- 
 chester, and now, for a considerable time out of print,) 
 was induced to turn his attention towards reviving them. 
 In this object he was further encouraged, by the circum- 
 stance of having access to a large number of manuscript 
 letters of the same author, some of which were originals. 
 
 When the greater part of the materials now before the 
 reader were nearly prepared for the press, it was ascer- 
 tained, that the work above mentioned was compiled from 
 an extensive collection of Isaac Peningtou's papers in the 
 possession of John Kendall, which he eventually presented 
 to the Society of Friends. This important document 
 (copied with much assiduity and care by the son of I. P.) 
 has been by permission examined ; and those letters of the 
 former publication, which are retained in the ensuing, 
 (thirty-three in number,) have been revised and corrected 
 by it ; a few others being introduced from the same source. 
 It will also be proper here to state, that sliglit verlial 
 alterations, not affecting the sense of the author, have been 
 adopted, where perspicuity seemed to require ; and that 
 some portions of the letters have been occasionally ex- 
 cluded, when they appeared to bear too close a resemblance 
 to other passages, or to be adapted rather to the circum- 
 stances of those times than the present. 
 
 iii 
 
iv 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 On piodiK^ing from obscurity these valuable records, for 
 the perusal of the Society of Friends and others, the editor 
 cannot well refrain from stating, that his concern and in- 
 tention has been, to promote, if it be ever so feebly, the 
 spiritual edification, harmony, and enlargement of our 
 Divine Redeemer's Church Universal ; his desires having 
 been much in unison with the expressions of the apostle 
 Paul,^ — that, " speaking the truth in love," we may "grow 
 up into Him in all things, which is the Head, even Christ." 
 For we are further assured, it is from Him alone, that 
 " the whole body " can be " fitly joined together, and com- 
 pacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to 
 the effectual working in the measure of every part," and 
 thus be known an " increase of the body, unto the edifying 
 of itself in love." Ej^hes. iv. 15, 16. The very weighty 
 and confirming character of these letters, their quicken- 
 ing tendency, — the clear doctrine, and deep experience 
 throughout evinced, must, it is apprehended, if perused 
 with desires after spiritual good, prove salutary in various 
 ways to most classes and states of Christian believers. 
 They are not the pi-oduct of a speculative imagination or 
 of uncertain reasonings ; they comprehend many of the 
 plain positions of Scriptural faith and practice, conveyed 
 in simple but foi'cible, nay, pathetic appeals ; indeed, they 
 are evidently dictated under a very deep sense of the ines- 
 timable value of heavenly things, refined and proved by 
 no ordinary exercises of spirit, as well as by manifold out- 
 ward sufferings. 
 
 And here, it may with deference be suggested, that this 
 particular desci'iption of ministerial communication, (for 
 such it is,) will be likely to prove more beneficial, if but 
 a few, or even a single letter be read at one time, and a 
 sufiicient interval be allowed for the mind to reflect on 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 V 
 
 and appropriate their contents. In order to this, and with 
 a view that the reader may be in some degree apprized of 
 the topics before hini, the editor has attempted, (however 
 imperfectly,) at the head of each letter, and in the Table 
 of Contents, to give some brief account of the subjects 
 of it; the advantages of which plan will, he trusts, be 
 evident. 
 
 To the Society of Friends, it is presumed, little need be 
 said by way of information respecting the author of these 
 letters — his life, character, sufferings for the testimony of 
 a good conscience, or services in the church of Christ. 
 Such readers as have not had the privilege of access to 
 his collected works, of which there have been several 
 editions, may be referred to his " Life," &c. by Joseph 
 Gurney Bevan ; wherein, besides a detailed and interest- 
 ing memoir, they will find extracts from his writings. 
 Our historian, Gough, has also given a biographical sketch 
 of him. It may, however, still be desirable to insert some 
 particulars of this excellent man ; that, in conjunction 
 with these specimens of his labours of love, may be held up 
 to view his lively, consistent, and blessed example. This 
 Preface shall therefore be followed by a brief notice of 
 Isaac Penington, being, with some slight variations, the 
 testimony of his contemporary, William Penn. 
 
 John Bakclay. 
 
 Alton, Fifth Month, 1828. 
 1 * 
 
TESTIMONY OF WILLIAM PENN, CONCERN- 
 ING ISAAC PENINGTON. 
 
 S 'the memory of the just is blessed,' so to me there 
 
 -lA- seems a blessing upon those, that have a right remem- 
 brance of them ; wherefore, to the memory of this just 
 man, my dear Friend and relation, Isaac Penington, I do, 
 with a sincere and religious affection, dedicate this ensu- 
 ing testimony. 
 
 " He was well descended as to his worldly parentage,* 
 and born about the year 1617, being heir to a fair inherit- 
 ance ; his education was suitable to his quality among 
 men, having all the advantages the schools and universi- 
 ties of his own country could give, joined with the con- 
 versation of some of the most knowing and considerable 
 men of that time. His natural abilities, the gifts of his 
 Creator, excelled ; he was a :r.a:i quick in apprehension, 
 fruitful in conception, of a lively wit and intelligence, but 
 adorned with an extraordinary mildness and engaging 
 sweetness of disposition. 
 
 " His father's station in public business, gave him pre- 
 tensions enough to share of this world's greatness ; but he, 
 with blessed meek Moses, refused the Egyptian glory of 
 it, and chose rather a life dedicated to an inquiiy after 
 God, and holy fellowship with him and his despised 
 Israel. 
 
 " Very early did the Lord visit him, with more thaa 
 ordinary manifestations of His love ; and it had such an 
 
 * He was the eldest son of Isaac Penington, of London, many 
 years an Alderman, and for two years successively Mayor of the 
 city, also a noted Member of the Long Parliament. 
 
 VI 
 
LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 
 
 Vll 
 
 effect upon him, that it kept him both from the evils and 
 vain worships of the world ; he became the wonder of his 
 kindred and familiars, for his awful life and serious fre- 
 quent I'etirements, declining all company that might inter- 
 rupt his meditations : by thus giving himself over to a life 
 of mourning and pilgrimage, he was as unpleasant to those 
 of the world, as they were to him. Nor did this sorrow 
 flow from a sense of former vice, for he was virtuous from 
 his childhood : but, with holy Habakkuk, from the dread 
 he had of the majesty of God, and his desire to find a 
 resting-place in the great day of trouble. Nothing in these 
 exercises gave him ease or comfort, but the smiles of God's 
 countenance upon his soul, and thai he thirsted after with 
 a continual solicitation ; first, ' How shall I appear?' and 
 then, ' O that I may appear before God ! ' 
 
 " His inward exercises and enjoyments being of a very 
 peculiar nature, made him take little comfort in any of 
 the religious societies then known to him. He was as 
 one alone ; for he saw so much of that uncircumcised and 
 uncrucified flesh, which is as grass, professing the myste- 
 ries of the heavenly kingdom ; — I mean, people under 
 but ordinary convictions, who had never known Jacob's 
 troubles, nor the fear and trembling with which salvation 
 is to be wrought out ; — and that, in religious duties, the 
 spirit and abilities of man took up so great a share among 
 them, and the Spirit of the Lord so little. With such he 
 was often burdened, and pressed in spirit to lay open their 
 carnal state under a Christian profession. For, though 
 they held the notions of Truth, it was not in the precious 
 experimental sense of the holy virtue and life of it ; inso- 
 much, that he found it his duty to endeavour to break their 
 false peace, and bewilder their lofty wisdom and profes- 
 sion : rather approving of a state of humble doubting, than 
 hypocritical confidence. For, the Lord's coming in spirit, 
 without sin, to the salvation of the soul, is to be waited 
 
Vlll LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 
 
 for ; that people may truly know him and his work, and, 
 from thence, speak forth his praise to others ; rather than 
 profess the eujoymeuts of other saints, which have been 
 obtained through great tribulation, while they, have never 
 known this in themselves, and so, can have no true sense 
 of an acceptable sacrifice of God's preparing. 
 
 " Such views drew reproach upon him from the worldly 
 professors, as a man singular and censorious ; yet those 
 who with him waited for the consolation of Israel, and the 
 coming of the Son of inan in power and great glory, found 
 him out, valued and honoured him; and sweet, was i/ieir 
 fellowship to him, who boasted in nothing more, than that 
 they had nothing to boast of, while the Laodicea of their 
 age thought she wanted nothing. In that emptiness, they 
 waited to be filled of Him, who filleth all things at his 
 coming and kingdom, that they might be the witnesses of 
 his resurrection and appearance. Some of them died be- 
 fore that blessed time came ; some saw it, and were glad, 
 and with good old Simeon departed in peace ; others lived 
 to see that blessed day both dawn and break forth upon 
 them, to their admiration and comfort ; among whom, my 
 dear fother-iu-law, Isaac Peuiugton, was not the last, nor 
 the least of note. 
 
 " About the year 1657, it pleased the Lord to send him 
 a Peter, to declare to him, that a time of pouring forth of 
 the Holy Spirit, and breaking forth of a heavenly work of 
 God in the souls of men and women, was come ; and many 
 Aquilas and Priscillas came after, who instructed him in 
 the way of God more perfectly. Though he was advanced 
 above many in his knowledge of Scripture, and had form- 
 erly received many heavenly openings of Truth's myste- 
 ries ; yet, did the Lord's way of appearance disappoint his 
 expectation. And when the light broke forth in his heart, 
 which his sincerity longed for, he found in himself a great 
 mixture ; and that he had much to lose and part with, 
 
LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 
 
 ix 
 
 before he could become that blessed little child, that new 
 aud heavenly birth, which inherits the kingdom of God : 
 this, indeed, made him cry, ' Narrow is the way, and strait 
 is the gate that leads to life.' 
 
 " But, to ihe glory of the living God, and praise of this 
 just man's memory, let me say, — neither his worldly sta- 
 tion, (the most considerable of any, that had closed in with 
 his way of religion,) nor the contradictions it gave to his 
 former conceptions, nor the debasement it brought upon 
 his learning aud wisdom, nor yet that reproach and loss 
 which attended his public espousal of it, did deter him 
 from embracing it. With an humble and broken spirit, 
 he fell before this holy appearance of Jesus, — that true 
 Light of men whose power and life he felt revealed within 
 him, to the saving of his soul ; and boldly confessed this 
 spiritual coming of the great Messiah, who was able to 
 teach him all things ; to His name his knee truly bowed, 
 and with Nathaniel he could cry, ' Thou art the Son of 
 God, thou art the King of Israel.' Now, he saw clearly 
 between the precious and the vile in himself, between that 
 which was truly of God, in his former exercises, and that 
 which was merely of man : he was not stiff nor stout in de- 
 fence of his own building, and former apprehensions ; no, 
 but sold all for the ' pearl of great price,' and became 
 willingly ' poor in spirit,' that he might enter ' the king- 
 dom of God.' Thus, parting with all he had not received 
 of God, he received a new stock from heaven, wherein the 
 Lord prospered him ; the dew of heaven rested upon his 
 branch and root, he grew rich and fruitful in all heavenly 
 treasure ; full of love, faith, mercy, patience, and long- 
 suffering ; diligent in the work of the Lord, and his duty 
 to God and men. Insomuch, that I may say, he was one 
 of a thousand ; zealous, yet tender ; wise, yet humble ; a 
 constant and early attendant at meetings, watchful aud 
 reverent in them ; one that ever loved power and life, more 
 
z 
 
 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 
 
 than words ; and, as it was for that he waited, so would he 
 be often deeply affected with it, — even, enabled to utter such 
 testimonies, as were greatly to the help of the poor and 
 needy, the weary and the heavy-laden, the true sojourners 
 and travellers to eternal rest. To this, his writings as 
 well as ministry tended ; wherein, it will be easy for the 
 reader to observe, his peculiar and mighty love to the 
 great professors of religion in these kingdoms ; whom 
 carnal apprehensions or unjust prejudices, have hindered 
 from closing with the blessed Truth, as it is known and 
 felt among us. His fervent labour to remove these ob- 
 structions, was with such tenderness, yet great clearness, 
 that I may venture to style him their apostle ; for, as in 
 almost every meeting, so in every book, the bent of his 
 spirit was towards them : — that those who made a more 
 than ordinary profession of God, — not without some an- 
 cient touches of the divine grace, and experience of his 
 heavenly visitation, (though much extinguished by human 
 and worldly mixtures,) — might come to know what that 
 was they once tasted of, how they lost it, and which is the 
 way to recover the living and full enjoyment of it, — even, 
 the inward knockings and appearance of Jesus, the Sa- 
 viour, to the salvation of their souls. I pray God, they 
 may answer his love ; for, he was much spent on their ac- 
 count ; that so his ministry, writings, travels, and tears, 
 may not be matter of charge and evidence against them 
 in the day of judgment.* 
 
 *Some account of his sufferings is here added, given by Thomas 
 Ellwood, who was well acquainted with him. " And, as it was 
 given him to believe in Clirist, so he bad also to suffer for his sake; 
 bis imprisonments being many, and some of them long; which he 
 underwent with great constancy and quietness of mind. He was 
 first imprisoned in the year 1661, in Aylesbury Gaol, for worship- 
 ping God in his own house; and endured great hardships for seven- 
 teen weeks, in a cold, incommodious room, without a chimney, great 
 
LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. xi 
 
 "As his outward man grew in age, lis inward man 
 grew in grace, and in the knowledge of our dear Lord and 
 Saviour Jesus Christ, for the excellency of which, he had 
 justly counted all things else but as dross and dung. 
 Foi" it was observable, among them that rightly knew him 
 in his declining time, when the candle of his natural life 
 burnt more dim, his soul waxed stronger, and, like a re- 
 plenished lamp, shined with greater lustre ; and truly, he 
 had a double portion of the Spirit upon him, being 
 anointed with judgment and zeal for the Lord, which ap- 
 peared in two eminent respects. 
 
 " First, he was very urgent, that all those who knew any 
 thing of the heavenly gift of ministry to othei'S, would 
 always wait in their several exercises, to be endued with 
 matter and power from on high, before they opened their 
 mouths in a testimor y for the Lord. And that, at all 
 times, as well out o^ r .«etings as in them, they might live 
 so near the Lord, f feel the key of David opening the 
 mysteries of the nea ^uiy kingdom ; and, by experiencing 
 the depth of tho ^ iavenly travail, and the trials, deliver- 
 ances, and cnnp stations of it, — with that dominion and 
 victory that, a the end, by perseverance is obtained, — 
 they might ';e as true saviours on mount Zion, the salt and 
 lights of the world, thoroughly furnished unto every good 
 word and work, and master builders in God's house : — 
 that a pure and living stream of ministry, might be con- 
 tinued and conveyed to the generations to come, — that 
 they might not only hear, but taste of what we have 
 
 part of tlie time in winter; from which usage, his body contracted 
 so great a disorilov, that, for several weeks, he was not able to turn 
 liiniself in his bed. He was imprisoned five times after this, on 
 account of his religious profession ; and being of a tender constitu- 
 tion, was in danger of losing his life from the liardship he endured. 
 Thus, through many tribulations did he enter the kingdom, having 
 been long exercised, tried, and approved of the Lord." 
 
xii LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 
 
 known of the Word of life and work of redemption in our 
 age. 
 
 " But, Lis excellency in the second respect, was his fer- 
 vent love to the heavenly union of brethren ; whatever 
 struck at that, though under ever such specious pretences, 
 he no sooner perceived, however subtle the mischievous 
 workings thereof, than with deep wisdom he detected, and 
 with his whole might opposed it. For, though by nature 
 he was long suffering, to a degree of letting his mercy to 
 others, almost wound his own soul ; yet, so deeply did his 
 love to the Lord and his people, and to that comely order 
 in which God had settled them, engage his soul ; that he 
 was bold as a lion, yea, warlike as a champion against 
 that spirit, that went up and down to sow jealousies, to 
 smite and reflect upon the holy care of the brethren, 
 interpreting their tender love and great pains, as if what 
 was done by them were not intended for the edification of 
 the body, but for the exaltation of some particular per- 
 sons over it. This ingratitude and injustice his soul ab- 
 horred, and often he mourned for such as were so seduced ; 
 as if it were the design of those, that had from the begin- 
 ning laid themselves out in the service of God and his 
 people, to bring them at last to a blind and unwarrantable 
 subjection, that they themselves might the better exercise 
 dominion over them. This evil eye he helped to put out; 
 and, in his opposition to this wandering and destroying 
 spirit, that ever leads out of the love and unity of brethren, 
 he approved himself a valiant of Israel, a Phinehas for the 
 God of his salvation; — and the rewards of heaven were 
 poured into his bosom ; for his holy niinistry manifestly 
 increased in life and power, and his peace flowed as a 
 river, and many were witnesses of his enlargements. Let 
 those that have lost their first love, and are gone from 
 their ancient habitation, ' rage, and imagine vain things,' 
 if they will ; surely, the travails and testimonies of this 
 
LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. xiii 
 
 blessed man will be a witness against them, that will not 
 easily be silenced, and a burden upon their backs, that 
 will not readily be taken off. Yet, because he desired not 
 their destruction, but prayed earnestly to the last for their 
 return, let me not, whilst I am writing his character, fall 
 short of his compassions : no, I pray God also, with my 
 whole spirit, that they may repent, be contrite in heart, 
 and faithfully return ; at which, if the angels in heaven 
 rejoice, certainly the spirits of the just, that dwell in heav- 
 enly places, will abundantly rejoice too. 
 
 " These two cares were chiefly and almost continually 
 before him. And as he was, in these respects, a light in 
 the church, so he was a blessing to his own family ; a 
 loving husband, a very tender and prudent father, a just 
 and kind master, — I will add, a good neighbour, and a 
 most firm friend : of all unapt to believe ill, never to 
 report it, much less to do it to any ; a man that ruled his 
 tongue, swift to hear, slow to speak ; but when he did 
 speak, he was serious, yet sweet, and not uncheerful. 
 What shall I say more? for great and many were the gifts 
 God honoured him with, and with them he truly honoured 
 his profession. 
 
 " Being thus fit to live, he was prepared to die, and had 
 nothing else to do, when that summons was served upon 
 him, which was in the 63d year of his age ; at which time, 
 it pleased the Lord, he fell very sick, under a sharp and 
 painful distemper, which hastened his dissolution. How- 
 ever, to internal peace so well established, the anguish of 
 that bitter exercise could give no shock ; for he died, as 
 he lived, in the faith that overcomes the world ; whose 
 soul, being now released from the confinements of time 
 and frailties of mortality, is ascended into the glorious 
 freedom and undisturbed joys of the just ; where, with his 
 holy brethren, the patriarchs, prophets, apostles, and 
 martyrs of Jesus, he forever blesseth and praiseth the God 
 2 
 
xiv LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 
 
 and Father of the righteous generations by Jesus Christ, 
 God's Lamb, and our heavenly Redeemer — to whom 
 with the Father be all honour, glory, might, majesty, and 
 dominion, through every age of his church, and forever. 
 Amen. 
 
 " William Penn." 
 
 " Westminster, 
 " 12th of Twelfth Month, 1680-81." • 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 Letter Page 
 I. On the pure, living, spiritual Food. — To the Friends 
 
 at Chalfont in Buckinghamshire . . . .21 
 II. Christ the Eoot of all True Religion, &c.— To Thomas 
 
 Walmsley 22 
 
 III. Of a growth in Grace, amidst distressing Exercises of 
 
 Spirit. — To Bridget Atley 25 
 
 IV. On the State of the Puritans, and of Friends . . 27 
 V. The Compassions of the Sheplierd of the Flock towards 
 
 the Weak, &c. How they should follow Him. — To 
 Friends ......... 30 
 
 VI. On Searching for the hidden Treasure, and Selling all 
 
 for it. — To Catherine Pordage 31 
 
 VII. A Christian Salutation. — To Elizabeth Walmsley • 34 
 VIII. On Christ being manifested within, and the Sprinkling 
 
 of his Blood inwardly. — To Tliomas Walmsley . 35 
 IX. The Way of God's Redemption is above the ways of 
 
 Man's Wisdom 3G 
 
 X. On the Gospel, and on Preacliing it; also on tlie Scrip- 
 tures, &c 39 
 
 XI. The Duty of being Content with what is made known 41 
 XII. Of Faith in the healing Power of Christ . . .42 
 
 XIII. Advice to One respecting the dark Suggestions of the 
 
 Enemy .44 
 
 XIV. On Obedience, spiritual Growth, Establishment, and 
 
 Victory, in and tlirough our Lord Jesus Christ . . 46 
 XV. The least Messenger of the Gospel is not to be despised. 
 
 A Change of Heart is to be sought, rather than a Sign 51 
 
 XVI. Advice on Reading the Scriptures 52 
 
 XVII. On the Righteousness which is of Christ. On the Man- 
 hood and Godhead of Clirist. — To the Friend of 
 Francis Fines 53 
 
 XV 
 
xvi 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 Letter Page 
 XVIII. On the religious Care of Children. — To a Parent 59 
 XIX. A Day of Calamity. — To a Friend in London : sup- 
 
 po.sed to be written on occasion of the Plague . 61 
 XX. The spiritual Life is to be cherished. — To Friends 
 
 of Truth in and about the two Chalfonts . . 62 
 XXI. On true Judgment, and on Prejudices; also on the 
 variety of Gifts and Stations in the Church. — To 
 Friends of Truth in and about the two Chalfonts 64 
 XXII. To a Couple about to many 67 
 
 XXIII. The Day of God's Power and Love. — To John 
 
 Mannock 69 
 
 XXIV. On Simplicity of Faith and Dedication. — To John 
 
 Mannock 73 
 
 XXV. The Blessedness of Suffering for Christ's sake. — To 
 
 Elizabeth Walmsley 75 
 
 XXVI. Exhortation, chiefly, on Rev. xiv. 7, " Fear God, give 
 
 glory to Him," &c. — To Widow Hemmings . 78 
 
 XXVII. Advice and Sympathy under Trial. — To Elizabeth 
 
 Walmsley 83 
 
 XXVIII. Of Obedience in confessing Christ ; also on the Light 
 
 of Christ. — To Elizabeth Stonar . . . .84 
 
 XXIX. On tlie Life, inward Sense, and power of the Spirit; 
 
 also respecting the Scriptures, and the Church, 
 &c. — To Nathaniel Stonar .... 86 
 
 XXX. Of Truth in the inward Parts. — To Widow Hem- 
 mings 91 
 
 XXXI. Deliverance from spiritual Enemies by Christ, &c. ; 
 
 also of OfJences 93 
 
 XXXII. Encouragement to Faithfulness under apprehension 
 
 of Sufferings. — To Widow Hemmings . . 96 
 
 XXXIII. Exhortation relative to the Christian Life and Travel. 
 
 — To Dulcibella Laiton 97 
 
 XXXIV. On Decay of " first Love," and a hardened State 
 
 "through the Deceitfulness of Sin." — To George 
 Winkfield 99 
 
CONTENTS. XVU 
 
 Letter Page 
 XXXV. Propositions relating to the Truth and Substance 
 of Religion. — To Sir William Drake (so 
 
 styled) 101 
 
 XXXVI. Concerning the Seed of the Kingdom. — To S. W. 105 
 XXXVII. Comfort and Counsel under Affliction. — To the 
 
 Lady Conway ....... 107 
 
 XXXVIII. On the benefit of Chastening by Afflictions. — To 
 
 the Lady Conway ...... 109 
 
 XXXIX. On being ingrafted into Christ, being preserved 
 alive in Him, and growing up in Him in all 
 
 Things. — To S. W 112 
 
 XL. Counsel to One tossed as with Tempests . .116 
 XLI. Encouragement under Trials incident to bearing 
 
 the Cross of Christ 117 
 
 XLII. On being ofiended with those who fall into Temp- 
 tation . . .118 
 
 XLIII. The Mind may be stayed in Peace amidst the 
 
 Enemy's Accusations. — To "Widow Hemmings 120 
 XLIV. On resisting, and on receiving God's Spirit ; also 
 on Redemption by Christ Jesus. — To Nathaniel 
 
 Stonar 122 
 
 XLV. Respecting .some Snares of the Adversary to dis- 
 tress the Soul. — To Bridget Atley . . .125 
 XLVI. Weighty Counsel. — To Sir William Armorer (so 
 
 styled) 126 
 
 XLVII. On an unfaithful profession of the Truth. — To 
 
 Abraham Grimsden 129 
 
 XLVIII. Christ, the Resurrection and the Life. On His 
 
 Appearance in the Flesh, &c. .... 130 
 
 XLIX. To One who sent a Paper of Richard Baxter's . 132 
 
 L. Of the Gospel State in general, and of tlie State 
 
 of Believers in particular 133 
 
 LI. On shunning the Cross. — To Catherine Pordage 136 
 LII. On Love, Meekness, and watching over each 
 
 other. — To Friends in Amersham . . . 137 
 
 LIII. On the Spiritual Appearance of Christ . . 138 
 2* B 
 
XVUl CONTENTS. 
 
 Letter Page 
 LIV. To One under Divine Visitation .... 139 
 
 LV. The Kingdom of God within. Of the new Covenant. 
 Professors of the day. Trial of Spirits. Exhor- 
 tation to wait for and walk in tlie Spirit . 140 
 LVI. Encoiuagement to look up to the Lord, amidst his 
 
 Cliastenings, and the Sraitings of the Enemy . 144 
 LVII. Of tlie Gospel Dispensation, and of the States of its 
 
 Professors. — To Colonel Kenrick . . . 146 
 L VIII. On tlie Lord's Supper witli Believers. — To "Widow 
 
 Hemmings . 150 
 
 LIX. Eespecting tlie Payment of Tithes. — To James Eeles 152 
 LX. On Election, and on Falling Away. Of our own 
 Righteousness, and of Christ's in us. — To Ruth 
 
 Palm r 154 
 
 LXI. To his Brother Arthur, who became a Roman 
 
 Catholic 159 
 
 LXII. Respecting his Brother, a Roman Catholic. — To 
 
 Josepli Wriglit 163 
 
 LXIIT. On Baptism by Water. — To William Rolls . . 165 
 LXIV. On unreserved Obedience. — To Bridget Atley . 166 
 LXV. To the Poor among Friends, who are relieved by the 
 Charity and bowels of Love, which God opens in 
 other Friends towards tliem .... 168 
 
 LXVI. Afflictions may work out a weiglit of Glory. — For 
 
 Friends in Scotland ...... 170 
 
 LXVII. Against Earthly Reasonings and Expectations. — 
 
 To Sarah Bond 172 
 
 LXVIII. An Invitation to Heavenly Substance . , . 175 
 LXIX. Exhortation to walk in the Truth. — To Friends at 
 
 Lewes 177 
 
 LXX. Consolation for a Mother on the Death of her Child. 
 
 — To Sarah Elgar 178 
 
 LXXI. Advice respecting Cliurch Discipline. — To tlie 
 
 Women's Meeting of Friends, at John Mannock's 179 
 
 LXXII. On Prayer in Families, &c. Also on the State of 
 
 Professors of the Day 182 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 xix 
 
 Letter Page 
 LXXIII. Of Preservation and a Growtli in the Heavenly 
 Life; its power over tlie Eartlily Nature. — 
 To Friends in and about the two Chalfonts . 185 
 
 LXXIV. Tiie Holy Scriptures not the Primary Eule. — 
 
 To Natlianiel Stonar 190 
 
 LXXV. On true, living, heavenly Knowledge. — To the 
 
 Lady Conway 193 
 
 LXXVI. On Disputation ; and on hearing Wisdom's voice. 
 
 Also respecting the Puritan State. — To E. 
 
 Terry 19« 
 
 LXXVII. Advice as to Self-deceit. On the Unity of the 
 Sjjirit. The younger are to submit to the 
 Elder. — To Miles Stanclif . . . .198 
 LXXVIII. The Loving-kindness of the Lord. — To Eliza- 
 beth Walmsley 200 
 
 LXXIX. On Confessing Christ before Men,&c. — To Eliza- 
 beth Stonar 201 
 
 LXXX. Observations on the Ministry. — To a near Rela- 
 tive 206 
 
 LXXXI. Of Love, Humility, and Order among Friends. 
 
 Also of Persecution. — To a near Relative . 208 
 LXXXII. Danger of Self-complacency. — To Catherine 
 
 Pordage 212 
 
 LXXXIII. Against Self-exaltation; and on the Cross of our 
 
 Lord Jesus Christ. — To Catherine Pordage . 214 
 LXXXIV. To such as Drink of the Waters at Astrop 
 
 Wells 217 
 
 LXXXV. To One who sent a Message to him from Astrop 
 
 Wells 219 
 
 LXXXVI. Acknowledgment of Christ's Manhood. — To 
 
 Richard Roberts 221 
 
 LXXXVII. Postscript to some Considerations respecting the 
 Gospel Church. — Addressed to the Indej)en- 
 
 dents at Canterbury 222 
 
 LXXXVIII. The Way to Life narrow ; hard things made easy 
 to the Obedient. Also some Answers to Objec- 
 tions on Prayer, &c. — To Catherine Pordage 225 
 
XX 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 LXXXIX. The Scriptures exceedingly precious. The Gospel 
 a Ministration of the Spirit of Life in Christ 
 JesiL«. The Liability of losing the Sense and 
 
 Savour of this 230 
 
 XC. On abiding in the Root of Life. — To Friends in 
 
 and about the two Chalfonts .... 234 
 XCI. The unsearchable Eiches of Christ. Believers 
 may partake thereof through Obedience, and be 
 preserved from every Harm. — To Friends of 
 
 both the Clialfonts 235 
 
 XCII. On the Fear of God. To those persons that drink 
 
 of the Waters at Astrop Wells .... 241 
 XCIIL Some Doubts answered respecting Praj'er. — To 
 
 Widow Hemmings 243 
 
 XCIV. On Drinking of the Fountain of Living Waters. — 
 
 To Widow Hemmings 247 
 
 XCV. Considerations relative to the Cliurch ; with some 
 Cautions to Christian Professors. — To ray 
 Friends at Horton and therealxiuts . . . 250 
 XCVI. Hints on Steadfostness in the Truth and its Testi- 
 mony ; on forsaking Assemblies for Divine Wor- 
 sliip, and on slighting Gospel Ministers. — To 
 
 Thomas and Ann Mudd 254 
 
 XCVII. On liating Reproof. — To Catherine Pordage and 
 
 another 257 
 
 XCVIII. Of " Fleshly Wisdom." — To Francis Pordage . 259 
 XCIX. Advice on Church Discipline. — To the Women 
 
 Friends that meet at Armscot in Worcestershire 261 
 C. An Expostulation and Warning. — To the Earl of 
 
 Bridgewater 2C4 
 
 CL Faithful Dealing between Brethren recommended 267 
 CII. On dwelling with the lowly Seed of Life in all 
 
 Conditions.— To M. Hiorns . . . .269 
 cm. On Prejudices against Anointed Ministers. — To 
 
 his Brother 271 
 
 CIV. Of the Church and Ministry. In reply to an 
 Answer of I. H. to somewhat written on behalf 
 
 of Truth 276 
 
 A.ccount of Lady Conway 279 
 
LETTERS 
 
 OP 
 
 ISAAC PENINGTON". 
 
 LETTER L 
 On the Pare, Living, Spiritual Food. 
 To THE Friends at Chalfont, in Buckinghamshieb. 
 
 O Friends ! Feed on the tree of life ; feed on the 
 measure of life, and the pure power thereof, which God 
 hath revealed, and raanifesteth in you. Do ye know your 
 food, do ye remember the taste and relish of it? Then 
 keep to it, and do not meddle with that which seeraeth 
 very desirable to the other eye, and very able to make 
 wise. O abide in the simplicity that is in Christ, in the 
 naked truth that ye have felt there ! and there, ye will be 
 able to know and distinguish your food, which hath several 
 names in Scripture, but is all one and the same thing : — 
 the bread, the milk, the water, the wine, the flesh and 
 blood of Him that came down from heaven, &c. John vi. 
 51, &c., — it is the same, only it is given forth weaker and 
 stronger, according to the capacity of him that receiveth 
 it ; and so hath different names given to it accordingly. 
 
 O keep out of that wisdom, which knoweth not the 
 thing ; for that is it, which also stumbles about the names. 
 But keep to the principle of life — keep to the seed of the 
 
 21 
 
22 
 
 LETTERS OF ISAAp PENINGTON. 
 
 kingdom — feed on that which was from the beginning. Is 
 not this meat indeed, and drink indeed ! flesh indeed, and 
 blood indeed ! The Lord hath advanced you to that 
 ministration of life and power, wherein things are known 
 above and beyond names ; wherein the life is revealed and 
 felt, beyond what words can utter. O dwell in your habi- 
 tations ; and feed on the food which God brings you into 
 your habitations ; which is pure, living, s])iritual, and will 
 cause your souls and spirits more and more to live in and 
 to God, as ye eat and drink thereof So, be not shaken or 
 disquieted by the wisdom of the flesh ; but feel that which 
 settleth and establisheth in the pure power. 
 
 And the Lord God preserve you, and give you to watch 
 against, and to feel victory and dominion over, all that is 
 contrary to Him in any of you ; and which stands in the 
 way of your fellowship with Him, and of your joy and 
 peace in Him. 
 
 This sprang unto you in the good will of your Father, 
 from the life and love of your brother in the Truth, 
 
 L P. 
 
 Aylesbury Goal, 
 18th of Fifth month, 1667. 
 
 LETTER IL 
 
 Christ the Root of all True Eeligion, &c. 
 
 To Thomas Walmsley. 
 
 Deak Friend. — There is somewhat on my heart this 
 morning to write to thee, in the same love wherein I have 
 hitherto written, which I feel to be pure, of God, and un- 
 feigned towards thee and all men ; though it also putteth 
 a diflference between those that are renewed by him and 
 bear his image, and those who have only a form of relig- 
 
LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 23 
 
 ion, without the power and life thereof, which sanctifies 
 and redeems up to God, wherever it is received. 
 
 That which was on ray heart to thee, in true, pure, and 
 tender love, is this which follows : 
 
 All true religion hath a true root ; and that religion, 
 profession, worship, faith, hope, peace, assurance, &c., which 
 groweth not from the true root, is not true. 
 
 Now, this root is near, and must be felt near, hearing 
 the branch, and causing it to bring forth fruit. It is not 
 enough to hear of Christ, or read of Christ ; but this is 
 the thing, — to feel him my root, my life, my foundation ; 
 and my soul engrafted into him by him who hath power 
 to ingraft. To feel repentance given me by him, faith given 
 me by him, the Father revealed and made known to me 
 by him, by the pure shinings of his light in my heart ; 
 God, who caused the light to shine out of darkness, caus- 
 ing it to shine there ; so that, in and through him, I come 
 to know, not the Son himself only, but the Father also : — 
 and then, to come out of the darkness, out of the sin, out 
 of the pollutions of the spirit of this world, into the pure, 
 holy fellowship of the living, by his holy guidance and 
 conduct ; and so, to feel all my prayers, all my comforts, 
 all my willingness, all my ability to do and suffer for God 
 and the testimony of his Truth, to arise from this holy, 
 pure root of life, which gives daily strength against sin 
 and death, to all who wait in true humility, and pure sub- 
 jection of soul and spirit, upon him : — here, is unspeak- 
 able comfort and satisfaction given by him to the soul, 
 which all the reasonings of men, with all the devices of 
 Satan, cannot damp. For, He who gave it, preserves 
 and maintains it, over all the strength that can assault it. 
 
 O Friend ! I beseech thee, mind this ; come, O come to 
 the true i-oot ! come to Christ indeed ! Rest not in an 
 outward knowledge ; but come to the inward life, the 
 hidden life, and receive life from him who is the life ; and 
 
24 
 
 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 
 
 then abide in and live to God in the life of his Son. For 
 death and destruction, corruption and vanity, may talk 
 of the fame of Christ, who is the wisdom of God; but they 
 cannot know nor find out the place where this wisdom is 
 revealed ; they cannot come at the true, pure fear, which 
 God puts into the hearts of his ; this is the beginning of 
 the true Avisdom, which cleanses darkness and impurity 
 out of the hearts of those to whom it is given. For light 
 expelleth darkness ; life expelleth death ; purity expelleth 
 impurity ; Christ, where he is received, bindeth and casts 
 out the strong man, taking possession of the heart. And 
 if any man be truly and really in Christ, he comes to wit- 
 ness a new creation, even the passing away of old things, 
 and all things becoming new. 
 
 Christ is faithful in all his house, (" whose house are 
 we," saith the Apostle, " if we hold fast the confidence, and 
 the rejoicing of the hope, firm unto the end," Heb. iii. 6,) 
 
 — faithful as a Son, who comes in the name and authority 
 of the Father, to do Avhatsoever is to be done in the heart 
 
 — faithful in discovering whatever is contrary to God 
 there — faithful in engaging his power against it. And 
 shall not his power prevail ? and where it doth prevail, 
 and the good pleasure of God's goodness is fulfilled, and 
 the work of faith with power, is not the name of the Lord 
 Jesus Christ glorified there? Read 2 Thess. i. 11, 12, and 
 consider. Did Christ overcome the devil in that body of 
 his flesh, and shall He not overcome him in the hearts of 
 his children by the power of his Spirit, which he received 
 of the Father to comfort them, and carry on his work 
 gloriously in them ? What shall become of those that do 
 not fight under Christ, and overcome through Christ? 
 Read Rev. iii. 21. I would not have thee deceived of thy 
 soul, or of that religion which saves the soul, which relig- 
 ion stands not in word, but in power. Therefore, wait to 
 feel the Spirit and power of Christ, saving thee from that, 
 
LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTOX. 
 
 25 
 
 Avliic'h nothing else can save tlice fi-om ; and bringing that 
 down in thee under his feet, which nothing else can bring 
 down. 
 
 This is from the tnio desire which ray soul hath, after 
 the eternal salvation and satisfaction of thine. I. P. 
 28th of First month, 1670. 
 
 LETTER III. 
 
 Of a growtli in Grace, amidst Distressing Exercises of Spirit. 
 To Bridget Atley. 
 
 My dear Friend, — If thy heart come to feel the seed 
 of God, and to wait upon him in the measure of his life, 
 he will be tender of thee as a father of his child, and his 
 love will be naturally breaking forth towards thee. This 
 is the end of all his dealings with thee, to bring thee hither, 
 to make thee fit and capable of entering and abiding here. 
 And he hath changed, and doth change thy spirit daily; 
 though it be as the shooting up of the corn, whose growth 
 cannot be discerned at present by the most observing eye, 
 but it is very manifest afterwards that it hath grown. My 
 heart is refreshed for tliy sake, rejoicing in the Lord's 
 goodness towards thee ; and that the blackness of dark- 
 ness begins to scatter from thee, though the enemy be still 
 striving the same way to enter and distress thee again. 
 But wait to feel the relieving measure of life, and heed 
 not distressing thoughts, when they rise ever so strongly 
 in thee ; nay, though they have entered thee, fear them 
 not, but he dill awhile, not believing in thepoiver which thou 
 fcclest they have over- thee, and it will fall on a sudden. 
 
 It is good for thy spirit, and greatly to tliy advantage, 
 to be much and variously exercised by tlio Lord. Thou 
 dost not kuov; v> hat the Lord hath already done, and what 
 3 
 
26 
 
 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 
 
 he is yet doing for thee therein. Ah ! how precious it is 
 to be poor, weak, low, empty, naked, distressed for Christ's 
 sake, that way may be made for the power and glory of his 
 life in the heart. And, O learn, daily more and more, to 
 trust him and hope in him, and not to be aifrighted with 
 any amazement, nor to be taken up with the sight of the 
 present thing; but wait for the shutting of thy own 
 eye upon every occasion, and for the opening of the eye 
 of God in thee, and for the sight of things therewith, as 
 they are from him. It is no matter what the enemy strives 
 to do in thy heart, nor how distressed thy condition is, but 
 what the Lord will do for thee, wliich is with [)atience to 
 be waited for at his season in every condition. And though 
 sin overtake, let not that bow down ; nor let the eye open 
 in thee, which stands poring at that : but wait for the heal- 
 ing through the chastisement, and know there is an Advo- 
 cate, who, in that hour, hath an office of love and a faith- 
 ful heart towards thee. Yea, though thou canst not 
 believe, yet be not dismayed thereat ; thy Advocate, who 
 undertakes thy cause, hath faith to give : only do thou 
 sink into, or at least pant after the hidden measure of life, 
 which is not in that which distresseth, disturbeth, and filleth 
 thee with thoughts, fears, troubles, anguish., darknesses, ter- 
 rors, and the like ; no, no ! but in that wliich inclines to 
 the patience, to the stillness, to the hope, to the waiting, to 
 the silence before the Fatlier: this is the sariie in nature, 
 with the most refreshing and glorious-visiting life, though 
 not the same in appearance ; and if thy mind be turned 
 to it, not minding but overlooking the other, thou wilt 
 find some of the same virtue springing up in thy heart 
 and soul, at least to stay thee. 
 
 In and through these things, tliou wilt become deeply 
 acquainted with the nature of God, and know the won- 
 derful riches and virtue of his life, the mightiness of his 
 power, and the preciousuess of his love,' tenderness of his 
 
LETTERS OP ISAAC PENINGTON. 27 
 
 mercy, and infiuiteuess of his wisdom, the glory also, and 
 exactness of his righteousness, &c. : thou wilt be made 
 large in spirit to receive and drink iu abundantly of them ; 
 and the snares of the enemy will be so known to thee and 
 discerned, the way of help so manifest and easy, that their 
 strength will be broken, and the poor entangled bird will 
 fly away singing, from the nets and entanglements of the 
 fowler ; and praises will spring up, and gi'eat love in thy 
 heart to the Forgiver and Redeemer. O wait, hope, trust, 
 look up to thy God ! look over that which stands between ; 
 come into his mercy ! let in the faith which openeth the way 
 of life, which will shut out the distrusting and doubting 
 mind, and will close up the wrong eye, that letteth in reas- 
 onings and temptations, the wrong sense, and death with 
 them. 
 
 Thus mayest thou witness, in and through thy Redeemer, 
 the abundance of his life and i^eace. I. P. 
 
 LETTER IV. 
 
 On the State of the Puritans, and of Friends. 
 
 The Lord God of lieaven and earth, who searcheth the 
 heart and trieth the reins, knows, that we, who are called 
 Quakers, have no secret thijigs or hidden principles among 
 us to win people to ; but, as we have ourselves been won 
 to the simplicity and i)lainness of Truth, as it is iu Christ 
 Jesus, and walk therein, so it is the single desire of our 
 hearts to bring men thithei', where they may have the 
 demonstration of God's Spirit, and hear the true witness 
 speaking truth in their own consciences. And indeed, 
 it was great matter of satisfaction to our hearts, when the 
 Lord turned us to his Truth, that we found it to be no 
 new thing, but that which we had witnessed and expe- 
 rienced in the days of our former profession. For, we well 
 
28 
 
 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 
 
 remembered, that we had been acquainted with it then ; 
 and God now gives us the true and certain sense, that all 
 the prayers, and knowledge, and understanding of the 
 Scriptures, faith, love, zeal, meekness, patience, humility, 
 and whatever we then had, which was dear unto us, and 
 precious in the eye of God, came from this Spirit of life, 
 this principle of life, which God hath now manifested to 
 us, and turned our minds unto. And, O, that they, who 
 yet speak against it, knew it, as the Lord hath given us to 
 know ! surely they could not then either think or speak 
 so hardly of it as they do. ^ But Christ was the Son of God 
 in his appearance in flesh, whatever the wise men and pro- 
 fessors of that age judged and spake of him. And this 
 is the appearance and manifestation of the same Christ 
 inwardly, even the same virtue, life, and power, which ap- 
 peared in that body of flesh, whatever the professors of this 
 age think or speak concerning it ; and they are not guilt- 
 less before the Lord, but deeply guilty for rising up 
 against it. 
 
 There was a precious appearance of God, among that 
 sort that were called Puritans, before there was such a rent 
 among them, by falling into several ways of worship. 
 There was among them great sincerity, and love, and ten- 
 derness, and unity in that which was true ; minding the 
 work of God in themselves, and being sensible of grace and 
 truth in one another's hearts. Now, to desire to know the 
 true worship, this was good ; but, every one that had this 
 desire, was not acquainted with the Spirit of the Lord, nor 
 did wait aright on him, to be led by him into the true 
 worship, but followed the apprehensions and conceivings 
 of tlieir own minds upon the Scriptures. Now, had these 
 known the true Leader, they would never thus have wan- 
 dered, nor have been so scattered from the Puritan state, 
 which was better than any of these. For, is it possible, 
 if the Spirit of God had been the Leader of these, they 
 
LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 
 
 29 
 
 could thus have wandered from the truth, life, love and 
 sense, into a barren dead state in comparison of that ? It 
 is true, there was a sincerity and simplicity in many of 
 them ; but Avas not that sincerity and simplicity betrayed, 
 and drawn out to seek the living among the dead, among 
 dead forms, ways, and worships ? For, though they car- 
 ried some life with them into their forms, yet by degrees 
 the form grew, and the virtue and power of godliness de- 
 creased, and they were swallowed up in high esteem of, 
 and contendings, each sort, for their forms ; but them- 
 selves had lost what they were inwardly to God, and had 
 inwardly received from God in the days of their former 
 zeal and tenderness. O that they could see this ! O that 
 they could return to their Puritan state, to the sense they 
 then had, the love and tenderness that was then in them, 
 to the feeling of the principle of life, ivhich they then felt, 
 and which then wrought in them! though, they then dis- 
 tinctly knew it not, yet they loved that which gathered 
 their minds to God, and in which they felt ability to pray,- 
 and which opened the ScrijJtures and the things of God, 
 and warmed their hearts truly and livingly in some meas- 
 ure. O that they were but there again ! they might soon 
 come further. O that they knew their state, as it is known 
 in the light of the Lord, and by the Spirit of the Lord ! 
 The Lord open the true eye in them, and give them to see 
 therewith. I. P. 
 
 Eeading Gaol, 
 19th of Seventh Month, 1670. 
 3* 
 
30 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTOK. 
 
 LETTER V. 
 
 The Compassion of tlie Shepherd of the Flock towards the weak, 
 &c. How they should follow Him. 
 
 To Friends. — He that is weak and foolish among the 
 lambs, continually ready to wander, both out of the past- 
 ures and from the fold, and thus to betray his life into 
 the hands of the enemy ; — he who is continually scatter- 
 ing and squandering away what the Lord in mercy gathers 
 for him, and freely bestows upon him ; who, through 
 drowsiness and carelessness, hath lost the benefit of, and 
 forfeited the sweet and tender visitations of the Most 
 High, and is now become dry, dead, barren, thick, earthy ;— 
 O my God ! let that soul feel the stirrings of the springs of 
 life, and find some ^encouragements fi-om thee, to hope in 
 the free and large mercies of the Shepherd of Israel, who 
 casteth not off his sheep because of their wanderings, be- 
 ■cause of their backslidings, because of their infirmities, 
 because of their diseases, nay, not because of their hard- 
 ness ; but pursues them with his love, findeth them out, 
 visiteth.with his correcting hand according to their need, 
 woundeth with his sword, and melteth in his fire, until he 
 hath made them tender and pliable, and then he pours 
 in the fresh oil of his salvation and sweetly healeth them. 
 
 O my Friends and brethren in the pure life ! be faith- 
 ful to the Lord in returning him all the incomes of his 
 Spirit ; follow on in every drawing of his love, while any 
 of the virtue of it lasts upon your spirits. Walk with him 
 all the day long, and wait for him all the night season. 
 And, in case of erring from him, or sinning grievously 
 against him, be not discouraged ; for he is a God of mer- 
 cies, and delighteth in pardoning and forgiving much and 
 very often. What tender mother can be more ready to 
 forgive and embrace the child, that appears broken and 
 
LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 
 
 31 
 
 afflicted with her sore displeasure ! Yea, He gives broken- 
 ness, he melteth the heart, that he may be tender towards, 
 and embrace it in his arras of reconciliation, and in the 
 peace of liis Spirit. 
 
 O my dear companions, and fellow-travellers in spirit 
 towards the land of the living ! aU the motions of the life 
 are cross to the corrupt [part] — dwell [in the life,] draw 
 the yoke close about your necks, that ye may come into 
 unity with the life, and the corrupt be worn out. Take 
 the yoke, the cross, the contrariety of Jesus upon your 
 spirits daily ; that that may be worn out which hinders 
 the unity, and so, ye may feel your King and Saviour ex- 
 alted upon his throne in your hearts : this is your rest, 
 peace, life, kingdom, and crown forever. L P. 
 
 LETTER VL 
 
 On Searching for the Hidden Treasure, and selling all for it. 
 
 To Catherine Pordage. 
 
 Feiend, — Thy estate and condition hath been pretty 
 much with me, since I last saw thee. I am sensible how 
 hard it is for thee, to give up to be reached by the seed 
 and power of life ; how readily and easily thy ear and 
 heart is opened to another, and the adulterer entertained, 
 who hunteth after the precious life. This word of advice 
 hath been much in my heart to thee this morning : Sit 
 down, and count the cost of ploughing up thy field, and 
 of searching after the hidden treasure of pure and true 
 wisdom, and consider seriously, whether thou canst sell all 
 for it, both inward and outward riches ; that, if thou do 
 set thy hand to the plough, thou maystnot look back after 
 anything else, within or without, but mayest be content 
 and satisfied with the pearl of true wisdom and life alone. 
 
LETTERS OF ISAAC PEXINGTON. 
 
 Now, if thou be truly willing in God's sight thus to do, 
 thou must singly give up to follow the Lord in the lead- 
 ings of his Spirit, out of all the ways of thy own wisdom 
 and knowledge, out of all things whereru thou hast a life 
 and delight out of him ; thou must not determine what 
 thou hast a life in, but the Lord must search thy heart, 
 and he will soon show thee (if thy heart be naked and 
 open before him, willing to hear and learn of him,) some- 
 what in thy heart, somewhat in thy ways, somewhat in 
 thy words, thoughts, &c., which is contrary to his pure life 
 and Spirit ; and then, that must be denied and given up 
 immediately. Aud afterwards, perhaps the Lord will soou 
 discover to thee another lover, which hath had more of thy 
 heart than thou hast been aware of ; and so, thou must 
 part with one after another, until thou hast parted with 
 all : and this will prepare thee for the bosom of thy Be- 
 loved, who is a jealous God, and seeth not with the eye 
 wherewith man seeth. But, if thou be not thus singly 
 given up, though thou should put thy hand to the plough, 
 thou wilt be looking back some time or other: and that 
 wisdom which draweth aside from the Lord, will blind thy 
 eye and deceive thy mind, and draw thee from the sim- 
 plicity and nakedness of Truth, into some image or other 
 of it, so that instead of the pure Truth itself, thou wilt 
 believe and embrace a lie. 
 
 Thou hast travelled long in the heights above the seed ; 
 O! consider, if that be not yet standing in thee, which 
 could not have been found standing, if thou hadst known 
 the true seed, aud travelled therewith. This enhances the 
 price of Truth as to thee, that thou must part with more 
 for it, than will be required of many others ; yet, if thou 
 be faithful to the Lord, and diligently follow him in the 
 simplicity. Truth will at length recompense thee for all 
 thy labours, sorrows, and travels. But a thorough work 
 will the Lord make in thy earth, if thou singly give up 
 
LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTOK. 
 
 33 
 
 unto liim, and faithfully follow ; and many devices wilt 
 thou meet with, to turn thy mind out of the way, and to 
 cause tiice to shun the bitterness of the cross, and to 
 kindle and nourish a hope in thee, that thou mayest find 
 a more easy way to the same life and everlasting sub- 
 stance. The Lord hath reached to thee, and the Lc^rd is 
 •willing to search thy heart, to find out the deceiver' and 
 enemy in his most secret lurking-places ; but, when the 
 Lord hath found him out, thou must give him up to God's 
 stroke, and not suffer him to find a shelter in thy mind 
 to save him therefrom. For he is very subtle, and will 
 twist and twine all manner of ways to deceive thee and 
 save himself ; nor art thou yet acquainted with, or able to 
 discern his devices. The Lord alone can help thee — and 
 he will help thee, if thou be not hasty to join with the 
 enemy, nor give up thy judgment to believe what he repre- 
 sents, and seems inwardly to represent to thee as true ; but 
 abide and dwell in the sense of thy own inability to judge, 
 waiting to feel that which is true, pure, and living of God, 
 judge in thee, not so much in demonstrations of wisdom, 
 as in tender and secret drawings of the beginnings of a 
 new nature, away from what is of an earthly nature. For, 
 thou must come out of the spirit of this world, if thou wilt 
 come into God's Spirit ; and thou must come out of the 
 love of the things of this world ; if thou wilt come out of 
 the spirit of this world ; for, in the love of the things of 
 this world, the spirit of this world lodgeth and dwelleth, 
 and thou canst not touch the unclean thing, but thou also 
 touchest somewhat of the unclean spirit. Therefore, said 
 John, from a true and deep understanding, " Love not the 
 world, neither the things of the world," (if thou love the 
 things of the world, thou lovest the world,) for, " if any 
 man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him." 
 
 The day of God's mercy and visitation is upon thee, 
 who is visiting that spirit in thee which hath led thee 
 
 C 
 
34 
 
 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 
 
 aside, even with the judgmeut proper for it; that Zion in 
 thee might be thereby redeemed, and thy soul converted 
 to, and truly brought forth in righteousness. I. P. 
 
 llth of Fh-st Montli, 1670. 
 
 LETTER VIL 
 
 A Christian Salutation. 
 To Elizabeth Walmsley. 
 
 Dear Friend, — My heart was exceedingly melted 
 within me at the reading of thy precious and tender hues ; 
 yea, indeed, I Avas quite overcome, and was fain several 
 times to break off, the freshness and strength of life in 
 them did so flow in upon me-; ^aud I said, again and 
 again, in my heart. It is the very voice of my Father's 
 child, whose sound did deeply reach to, and -refresh my 
 very soul. And this my heart saith, Blessed be my God, 
 for his tender mercies to thee, in visiting, leading, and pre- 
 serving thee to this day, and for teaching his seed thus to 
 speak in thee. Oh ! let his praise live and abound in thy 
 breast forever. And in the flowiugs and streamings of 
 this life, remember me at the throne of my Father's mercy, 
 by which alone I live, and have hope before him. 
 
 May the mercies, blessing, and pure presence of my 
 God, fill thy soul, and rest upon thee forever ! Amen ! 
 Amen ! 
 
 Thus prayeth for thee thy unfeigned Friend, and dear 
 lover of the pure seed of life in thee, I. P. 
 
 Mind m.y dear love to thy sister, whose inward welfare 
 and prosperity I desire, even that she may be one with 
 thee in the seed and life of God. 
 
 Aylesbuky Gaol, 
 19th of Eighth Month, 1665. 
 
LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 35 
 
 LETTER VIII. 
 
 On Christ being Manifested Within, and the Sprinkling of His 
 Blood Inwardly. 
 
 To Thomas Walmsley. 
 
 Friend T. W., — God is love : and he giveth love, and 
 teacheth to love ; and with the love which my God hath 
 given me, and wherewith he hath tatight me to love, have 
 I loved thee, and sought the everlasting good of thy soul, 
 even as of ray own. 
 
 This morning, the consideration of thee was strong upon 
 my spirit, how that thou wast stricken in years, and must 
 shortly pass out of this world, and give an account to 
 God ; and this earnest desire was in my heart, that thou 
 mightst be fitted and' rightly prepared, to give such an 
 account, as the Lord, the great, righteous, and impartial 
 Judge, might own and approve of, to thy eternal joy ; for 
 wliich end, two things Avere upon my heart to propose to 
 thee, to be rightly considered by thee. 
 
 One is, whether thou canst truly say, as in God's sight, 
 that thou hast known and experienced Christ within, 
 redeeming thee from sin within f Hath Christ indeed 
 brought salvation home to thy heart? Hast thou known 
 his inward living power, breaking the strength and power 
 of Satan within thee? Hast thou known Him stronger 
 than the strong man inwardly? Hast thou first known 
 Christ knock at the door of thy heart, and opened to and 
 let him in ; and afterwards experienced what he doth in 
 the heart, where he is let in ? Or hast thou had only a 
 notional knowledge aud belief concerning Christ without, 
 and never known what it was to have the Son revealed in 
 theef Oh! that thou mightst know, and experimentally 
 understand this Scripture, before thou go hence and be no 
 
36 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINOTON. 
 
 more seen, — " If Christ be in you, tlie body is dead because 
 of sin ; " — and this other also, — " He tliat is Christ's liath 
 crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts." The 
 Lord God make thee truly weighty and serious, and 
 rightly considerate, and give thee true, unerring judgment; 
 that thou mayst not be deceived about this thing, which 
 is of such deep and evei'lastiug concernment to thy soul ! 
 
 The other is, whether thou dost experience the sprink- 
 ling of the blood of the Lord Jesus upon thy conscience? 
 The Jews were saved by the S2)rinkling of the blood of 
 the lamb outwardly. The Lamb of God taketh away the 
 sins of the world, by the sprinkling of his blood inwardly. 
 Now, I beseech thee, consider : hast thou only a notion of 
 Christ's blood as it was shed without, or dost thou also 
 know the sprinkling within in thy own heart? Hath God 
 made that new covenant, the everlasting covenant with 
 thee, wherein the blood of sprinkling is felt, and the 
 precious effects of it experienced? for then, indeed, iniqui- 
 ties are forgiven, and sin remembered no more; but the 
 soul comes to witness real justification from sin, and that 
 peace which i;)asseth understanding, which no man can 
 give or take away ; neither doth any man know what it is, 
 but he that hath it. O that thou mayst know the right- 
 eousness of the Lord Jesus Christ, and be clothed with it, 
 that thou mayst stand justified in God's sight forever, at 
 that great day ! I. P. 
 
 12th of Eleventh Month, 1677. 
 
 LETTER IX. 
 
 The Way of God's Kedemption is above the Ways of Man's 
 Wisdom. 
 
 DEAR Friend, — This then is the way of redemp- 
 tion ; to wait to feel the appearance of the light of the 
 
LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 
 
 37 
 
 Spirit in the heart; and, at its least or lowest appearance, 
 to be turned from tlie darkness towards it. Oh ! feel the 
 redeeming arm in thine own heart, and know the love 
 which stretcheth it forth, and take heed of being preju- 
 diced against its inward visitations to thee : for, there is 
 that near thee which would darken thee, and keep the 
 seed of life in bondage. I know there is that in thee, 
 which pants and is not satisfied, somewhat that thirsts 
 after the living waters. The Spirit of the Lord saith, 
 Come, come to the fountain of eternal life ; drink, and 
 live. 
 
 0 Lord my God ! discover to the thirsty souls, what it 
 is that withholds them from the living waters; that they 
 may not labour and spend their strength in vain, in duties 
 and ordinances invented by man, for that which may lull 
 asleep for the present, but can never quiet the cry of the 
 living seed, nor ever satisfy the soul. 
 
 1 know thy snare : there is a building in the earthly 
 wisdom, a knowledge which thou boldest in the compre- 
 hension, out of the living feeling of that light, from which 
 the true knowledge springs, and in which alone it is held. 
 Thou must know the rasing of this building, the confound- 
 ing and scattering of this knowledge ; that the true heir 
 of the true knowledge may spring, and thou mayst feel the 
 babe raised, to whom God reveals the mysteries of his 
 kingdom ; which he hides from the wise' professors and 
 teachers in this age, as he hath done in all ages. Thou 
 art very wise ; but thou must sell all that, and become a 
 very fool, if thou wilt have the riches and everlasting 
 treasure of the kingdom. 
 
 And, if thou wouldst draw near and find access to God 
 in prayer, thou must wait to feel the birth pray, and take 
 heed of j^utting up requests in thy own wisdom, and 
 according to thy own will ; for these are the prayers of 
 the false-formed child, or counterfeited birth, and not of 
 4 
 
38 
 
 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 
 
 the right seed ; and the Father knows not, nor regards 
 this voice. This is our religion : to feel that, which God 
 begets in our hearts, preserved alive by God ; to be taught 
 by him to know him, to worship, and live to him, in the 
 leadings and by the power of his Spirit : and, in this 
 religion we have the comforts and appearance of his 
 Spirit; which are past all the disputings and questionings 
 of man's wisdom, yea, and of our own hearts also, being 
 demonstrated and made manifest to our sj^irits in a higher 
 j)riiiciple. 
 
 I found my heart in great love drawn to write these 
 things to thee ; and my soul pursueth them with breath- 
 ings to the Lord my God, that hereby, or by what other 
 means he shall see good, thou mayst be drawn into true 
 unity and fellowship with the spring of eternal life ; and 
 not be deceived from the precious enjoyment of the God 
 of thy lite here, or of the salvation of thy soul forever. 
 The path of life is living ; and thy feet must be guided 
 into it, and walk faithfully in it to the end, if thou wilt sit 
 down iu God's eternal rest and peace. 
 
 I have been long desolate, and a great mourner after 
 my God, and know how to pity and weep over wandering 
 souls; though I cannot but rejoice at this great day of 
 salvation and powerful visitation of God's Spirit, wherein 
 he hatli sought out and gathered many into the fold of 
 his pure rest, wliere he is become their living Shepherd, 
 and daily ministers of his life unto them. And he is seek- 
 ing out many more: — hajjpy are they, that know and 
 return at the Shepherd's voice, when he calleth after 
 them. 
 
 I remain thy true, entire, faithful, loving Friend, in the 
 love and good-will of the Lord, wishing to thy soul as to 
 my own. I. P. 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 ISAAC PENINGTON. 
 
 39 
 
 LETTER X. 
 
 On the Gospel, and on preaching it ; also on the Scriptures, &c. 
 
 There is a question ariseth iu my heart to tliee, which 
 is this : 
 
 How is the everhvsting gospel (wherein Christ is truly 
 made known, and salvation really witnessed in the hearts 
 of those that receive it,) preached at this day? How 
 hath the Lord appointed it to be preached, and how is it 
 preached, and how many men come to hear it, that their 
 souls may live ? Are not they blessed that hear the joy- 
 ful sound thereof? Are not they wretched, and miserable, 
 and blind, and naked, who mistake and miss concerning 
 the sound of it, which it pleaseth the Spirit of the Lord to 
 give forth in this our day? O Friend! I beseech thee, 
 consider it, and do not think it strange that I propose it 
 to thee ; for he that would find the gospel, must search 
 where it is hid ; and it is hid in them that are lost, who 
 go astray from the life and power of it. 
 
 It is a wonderful thing, to those whom the Lord hath 
 made truly sensible, to consider how the Truth, the gospel, 
 the life, the power which saves, is one and the same in all 
 ages and generations, and yet, still hid from the wise, pru- 
 dent, professing eye in every age and generation. O 
 Friend ! that thou didst thoroughly know that wise and 
 prudent eye in thyself, from which the Lord hides it, and 
 that eye, which perhaps thou wilt not call prudent, to 
 which the Lord opens it. 
 
 Now, Friend, let me speak a few words to thee, not only 
 from what I have felt in my heart, but have also read iu 
 the Scriptures of truth. 
 
 The gospel, after the apostacy, is thus to be preached, 
 
40 
 
 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 
 
 " Fear God, and give glorj' to him ; for the hour of hia 
 judgment is come; and worship him that made heaven, 
 and earth," &c. Rev. xiv. 7. If thou knowest the 
 Preacher that preached this, if thou hast heard this 
 preached in thine own heart, if thou hast met with that 
 fear there, which God's Spirit teacheth and giveth, if thou 
 hast known the hour of God's judgment, and had the axe 
 laid to the root of the tree ; and if thou hast been taught 
 by the Son to worship the Father in Spirit and truth ; 
 thou hast, without doubt, met with the gospel, the ever- 
 lasting gospel ; and if God require of thee, and assist thee 
 by his Spirit and power to preach this to others, thou art 
 a preacher of the everlasting gospel, and an able minister 
 of the New Testament, not of the letter, but of the Spirit. 
 But, I beseech thee, take heed of preaching thine own 
 formings and conceivings upon the letter, as too many do 
 in this day ; for that falls short of true preaching the 
 letter. O let these things be weighty with thee ! that 
 thou mayst learn aright to search and understand the 
 Scriptures, and know how the Father hath revealed the 
 Sou in this day, and how to come to him, to receive life 
 from him. For many, through ignorance, mistake in this 
 matter ; and so run on in their own wills, wisdom, and 
 comprehension of things, and miss of the drawiiigs of the 
 Father ; and thus, come not aright to the Son, but only 
 according as they imagine and apprehend, according to 
 what they have gathered and conceived upon the Scrip- 
 tures. 
 
 Friend, God who caused light to shine in this outward 
 world, hath judged it necessary to cause the light of his 
 Spirit to shine inwardly in the heart; and this gives the 
 knowledge of the Scriptures, and the true sense and dis- 
 cerning of inward and spiritual things. Yea, here the 
 Son is known, and his blood felt cleansing; which, with- 
 out this, the Scriptures do not make manifest; but, in this, 
 
LETTERS OF ISAAC PEJTINGTOJf. 
 
 41 
 
 the Scriptures are a dear aud foithful record of aud testi- 
 mony to them. O take heed hoiv thou readest, and liow 
 thou uuderstaudest the Scriptures, — in what light, iu 
 what spirit ! for, it is easy erring ; and without the pres- 
 ence aud guidance of God's Spirit herein, thou canst not 
 walk safely. Aud truly it is great presumption in any 
 man to read the Scriptures boldly, and without fear and 
 reverence to Him who penned them, or to put any of his 
 own meanings and conceivings upon God's words ; which 
 it is hard for him to forbear to do, who reads them in the 
 liberty of his own spirit, out of the light of God's Spirit, 
 which is the limit and yoke of the true readers, and of 
 those who understand the Scriptures. I. P. 
 
 4th of Fourth Month,— 
 
 LETTER XL 
 
 The Duty of being Content with what is Made Known. 
 
 The enemy kindles a great distress in the mind, by 
 stirring up an earnest desire, aud a sense of a seeming 
 necessity, to know. When a motion ariseth, how shall I 
 do, to know whether it be of God or no ? For, if it be of 
 God, it ought to be obeyed ; and, if it be not of God, it 
 ought to be resisted ; but what shall I do, who cannot tell 
 what it is? I must of necessity fall, either into disobedi- 
 ence to God's Spirit, or into the snares of the enemy. 
 Thus the enemy raiseth up a strength in the reasoning 
 part, even unanswerable there. But, what if it be better 
 for thee, at present, to be darkened about these things, 
 than as yet to know? Can that possibly be? will the 
 strong reason readily say. Yes, that it may, in many 
 respects. There is somewhat else would live and be acting 
 in thee, if the clear and heavenly knowledge were given ; 
 and thou wouldst be centering in self, that which thou 
 4* 
 
42 
 
 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 
 
 receivedst from God ; yea, thou wouldst miss of the way 
 of true knowletlge, and never learn in every state to be 
 content, nor know the pure way and actings of life in such 
 a state. Truly, this is not the way of the child's know- 
 ing ; but the child knows, in resignation and subjection of 
 its very knowledge ; and if there appear ever so great a 
 necessity of knowledge, and yet knowledge be not given, 
 it sinks, in fear and humility, into the will of the pure 
 seed; and there somewhat springs up, (unknown to the 
 natural wisdom, and not in the way of man's wisdom,) 
 which at seasons preserves and beare it up in such a state. 
 But this is a great mystery ; yet sensibly experienced by 
 the true travellers at this day. 
 
 Therefore, retire out of all necessities, according to the 
 apprehension of the reasoning mind ; and judge that only 
 necessary, which God, in his eternal wisdom and love, 
 proportions out unto us. And when thou comest hither, 
 thou wilt come to thy rest ; and as thou abidest here, thou 
 wilt abide in thy soul's true rest, and know the precious- 
 ness of that lesson, and of whom thou art to learn it, even, 
 in every state to he eonttnt. 
 
 LETTER XII. 
 
 Of Faith in the Healing Power of Christ. 
 
 Friend, — I have had of late some deep and serious 
 thoughts concerning thee, and a sense of thee, as between 
 the Lord and my own soul, yet I have not had any 
 thing to signify or express to thee, till this morning. 
 But somewhat this morning sprang up in my heart, 
 sweetly and freshly, which I had pure drawings to impart 
 to thee. 
 
 There was a quick sense of thee upon my heart, and in 
 
LETTERS OP ISAAC PENINGTOST. 
 
 43 
 
 that sense this cry was in me : — Oh ! that thou wert ac- 
 quainted with tlie pure, eternal power of the Lord, and 
 niightst feel his outstretched arm revealed in thee, and 
 witness the faith which stands in that power ; and, in that 
 faith, believe and wait for what God is doing, and willing 
 to do, in and for his children. " If ye had faith," said 
 Christ, " but as a grain of mustard seed, ye should say to 
 this mountain, be thou cast into the midst of the sea, and 
 it should be so." Indeed, the true faith, the pure faith, 
 the living faith, which stands in the power, doth remove 
 all the mountains that are in the way, and makes the 
 crooked ways straight, and the rough ways plain. If thou 
 had lived in the days of Christ's flesh, and wanted outward 
 healing, and had been willing to come to him for healing, 
 but withal had not come with faith that he was able and 
 willing to heal perfectly ; mightest not thou have missed 
 of that cleansing and outward health and salvation, which 
 others met with ? For, did not he say, " Be it unto thee 
 according to thy faith ? " And is not he the Physician of 
 the soul? and is not his skill to be trusted and believed 
 in? He that hopeth, and believeth, and waiteth, and 
 prayeth, and fighteth the good fight of faith, which gives 
 victory over sin, Satan, and the world — he may possibly 
 overcome ; yea, he that warreth lawfully, (that is, with the 
 spiritual weapon, which is mighty through God,) he that 
 warreth with this only, and with this constantly, shall be 
 sure to overcome. For, greater is He that is in the true 
 believer, than he that is in the world. 
 
 O that thou mightest have experience of these things, 
 and witness the banner of Christ's love and power dis- 
 played in thee, and the victories and conquests that are 
 thereby, and the safety and peace which is under it ! For, 
 of a truth, we do not speak boastingly, but are witnesses 
 of the majesty of God's love and power, which we testify 
 of. The Lord so enlighten and guide thee, that thou may- 
 
44 
 
 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTOTiT. 
 
 est obtain the desires of thy lieart; for, I really believe 
 thy desire is ufter holiuess and after commnnion with the 
 Father and the Son, and with the saints in light : O that 
 thou mayest be led into the true pure light of life, that 
 there thou mayest enjoy what in this kind thou desirest ! 
 
 This is from one, who singly, as in the Lord's sight, 
 wisheth well unto thee. I. P. 
 
 Eeading Gaol, 
 27tli of Eightli Montli, 1670. 
 
 LETTER XIIL 
 
 Advice to one Eespecting the Dark Snggestion.s of the Enemy. 
 
 Dear Friend, — Thou hast had the path of salvation 
 faithfully testifie^l of to thee, and hast come to a sense of 
 the thing: even to the feeling oi' fhat, whereby the Father 
 begets life, and pianifesteth his love and peace in and to 
 the soul. Now, what remains ? but that thou look up to 
 the Lord, to guide thy feet in this path, and to preserve 
 from that which .darkens and leads out of the way; that* 
 thou mayest pas| on thy journey safely, and come to the 
 inheritance and enjoyment of that, which thy soul longeth 
 after. 
 
 There is life, there is peace, there is joy, there is right- 
 eousness, there is health, there is salvation, there is power 
 of redemption — in the seed : yea, there is so. But thy 
 soul wants, and doth not enjoy these things. Well, but 
 how mayest thou come to enjoy them ? There is no way, 
 but union with the seed ; knowing the seed, hearing the 
 voice of the seed, learning of, and becoming subject to, the 
 seed. " Learn of me, take my yoke upon you," saith Christ, 
 " and ye shall find rest to your souls." Wouldst thou feel 
 thy soul's rest in Christ? Thou must know the seed's 
 
LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 45 
 
 voice, hear it, learn daily of him, become his disciple; 
 take up, from his nature, what is contrary to tJnj nature. 
 And then, as thy nature is worn out, and his nature comes 
 up in thee, thou wilt find all easy ; all that is of life easy, 
 and transgression hard — unbelief hard : yea, thou wilt 
 find it very hard and unnatural, when, the nature of the 
 seed is grown up in thee, either to distrust the Lord or 
 hearken to his enemy. And then thou wilt change that 
 dwelling-place (into which Satan brings dark thoughts, 
 suggestions, and reasonings,) for the dwelling-place which 
 is from above, which is the habitation of the righteous ; 
 wherein there is light, life, peace, satisfaction, health, sal- 
 vation, and rejoicing of soul from and before the Lord. 
 
 Now, do not say, Who shall do thus for me ? but know, 
 the arm of the Lord is mighty, and brings mighty things 
 to pass ; and that arm hath been revealed in thee, and is 
 at work for thee. O that thou couldst trust it ! (why canst 
 thou not! hath it not sown a seed of faith in thee?) and 
 come in to and abide in the path, wherein its mighty, power- 
 ful operations are felt and made manifest! And, O that 
 thou mayest find ability, to watch against that which bows 
 down, and not so let in, as thou hast done exceedingly, 
 to the grievous wounding and distressing of thy soul ! For, 
 the enemy's dark suggestions work according to their na- 
 ture; and, if thou let them lie upon thee, how can they 
 but darken, afilict, and jierplex thee ? 
 
 Therefore, in the evil hour, fly from all things that Urns 
 arise in thee ; and lie still, feel thy stay, till His light, 
 which " makes manifest," arise in thee, and clear up things 
 to thee. And think not the time of darkness long ; but 
 watch, that thy heart be kept empty, and thy mind clear 
 of thoughts and belief of things, till He bring in some- 
 what, which thou mayest safely receive. Therefore, say 
 to thy thoughts and to thy belief of things, (according to 
 the representation of the dark power, in the time of thy 
 
46 
 
 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 
 
 darkness,) " Get thee hence ! " And, if that will not do, 
 look up to the Lord to speak to them ; and to keep them 
 out, if they be not already entered, or to thrust them out 
 if they be already got in. And, if he do not so presently, 
 or for a long time, yet do not murmur or think much, but 
 wait till he do. Yea, though they violently thrust them- 
 selves upon thee, and seem to have entered thy mind, yet 
 let them be as strangers to thee ; receive them not, believe 
 them not, know them not, own them not ; and thy bosom 
 will, notwithstanding, be chaste in the eye of the Lord, 
 though they may seem to thee to have defiled thee. 
 
 Look up to the Father, that thou mayest learn this of him : 
 and, becoming faithful to him therein, thou wilt find thy 
 darkness abate, and its strength more and more broken 
 in thee ; and thou wilt not only feel and taste a little, now 
 and then, but also come to jjosscss and inherit, and rejoice 
 before the Lord in thy portion. 
 
 Thy Friend in the Truth, which changetli not, but is pure, 
 and preserveth pure forever. I. P. 
 
 From Aylesbury Gaol, 
 28th of Seventh MontJi, 1GG7. 
 
 LETTER XIV. 
 
 On Obedience, Spiritual Growth, Establishment, and Victory in 
 and tliroiigh our Lord Jesus Christ. 
 
 Deak Friend,- — Some Scriptures did spring up and 
 open in ray heart towards thee this morning. 
 
 One was, that of 2 Cor. x. 4, 5, and 6. That which was 
 chiefly on my heart therefrom, was about the fufilling of 
 obedience. First, there is a knowing the will of God ; a 
 waiting to know and understand from God, what is his 
 holy, good, perfect, and acceptable will. Then, as God 
 
LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 47 
 
 gives the knowledge, he requires obedience; which is to 
 be learned of God in the new sj)irit and life. For, in the 
 old nature, mind and spirit, there is nothing but darkness 
 and disobedience; in the new creation is the new obedi- 
 ence. So that, there is first a beginning of knowledge in 
 the Spirit, a beginning of faith in the renewing power, and 
 a beginning of obedience (in the same) to him that calls. 
 Then, there is an increase of knowledge, of true, pure, 
 living knowledge, an increase of faith, and a growing 
 more and more obedient under the exercises, judgments, 
 and chastisements of the Father's Spirit : even till, at 
 length, the soul comes to witness a full readiness, skill, and 
 strength (in and through Christ, in and through the meas- 
 ure of the gift of grace received from him,) to obey in all 
 things. When the new birth is thus grown up into strength 
 and dominion, into the stature of a- man in Christ ; then 
 the senses, which Uave been long exercised in discerning 
 between good and evil, grow strong: and there is a quick 
 discerning in the fear of the Lord, and an authority, in his 
 name and power, over the enemy and his temptations : so 
 that every stronghold is broken down, every imagination 
 and false reasoning concerning the Truth, is subjected and 
 broken by the evidence and power of Truth, every thought 
 brought under, into captivity, even to the obedience of 
 Christ; with a readiness to reject all unbelief and disobe- 
 dience, that will so much as offer to rise up. Now, is not 
 this the Christian state, which God would have his chil- 
 dren aim and arrive at? and are not they blessed who 
 witness it? and doth not the true miuistration of the gospel 
 light. Spirit, and power lead to it? and should any be at 
 rest in their spirits, in an easeful, formal, dry, dead profes- 
 sion without it? 
 
 Another Scripture was 1 Pet. ii. 2, 3, 4, and 5. It is 
 precious to witness the state of a new-born babe, to be be- 
 gotten to God by the word of life and power, even by the 
 
48 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 
 
 word which God ingrafts into the heart. O what living 
 desires, then, are there, after that wliich nourisheth the 
 birth of life, which God breathes from his own Spirit, and 
 begets the soul into ! Now, as the birth is pure, so the 
 nourishment is pure: — pure milk from the pure word, — 
 sincere, unmixed milk from the word of life, — from the 
 breast of life. Who is it that begets to God ? It is the 
 Spirit, the Word, the second Adam, he whose name is the 
 Word of God. Who is the mother of these children ? It 
 is the heavenly wisdom, the Jerusalem which is above. 
 ("Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother 
 of us all." " Wisdom is justified of her children.") Now, 
 who feeds these children ? who nourisheth, who brings 
 tliem up ? Why, the mother which bare them, she holds 
 forth the breast of life to them, she yields to them the 
 pure milk of the word. The new-born babes, they long 
 for it, they cry for their food, they earnestly desire after 
 it; and the tender mother gives it forth to them, even the 
 milk of the breast of life from the pure word of life ; and 
 by this they grow. But, how came the babes to desire 
 after such pure, sincere, unmixed food? Oh! they have 
 " tasted that the Lord is gracious." They have had the 
 heavenly taste, they have tasted that which was living 
 and pure from God, from his tender mercy and grace, 
 wherein he ministers life and salvation. O the remem- 
 brance and sense of the sweetness of this, is upon their 
 palates ! O how precious and living is it, when it comes 
 new and fresh from him ! the words which he speaks, they 
 are still spirit and life to the soul. How can they but 
 desire, that from the breast of life, from the heavenly wis- 
 dom and divine knowledge of his Father, he would minister 
 unto them of the pure food, that they may know and feed 
 on the Truth as it is in Jesus? Here, they come to him 
 as unto a living fountain, and a living stone, disallowed 
 indeed, and rejected of the builders after the flesh, in all 
 
LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 
 
 49 
 
 ages and generations; but chosen of God, and precious to 
 all that have the true sense and understanding. They 
 come thus to him daily, and so are built up into a living 
 house, or spiritual temple and dwelling-place for God. 
 He, the foundation stone, the corner stone, the top stone, 
 the hope and crown of their glory ; they, living stones in 
 him quickened and kept alive in and by him, and shining 
 in his light and glory. 
 
 A third Scripture was Eph. vi. 10, 11, 12, and 13. Is 
 not this a precious state, to be " strong in the Lord and in 
 the power of his might ? " to know " the whole armour of 
 God," and to put it on and stand armed against the 
 strength of the enemy, and to overcome him ? was there 
 ever such a state witnessed? Yea; John writeth to the 
 young men in his time, because they had " overcome the 
 wicked one." (Compare 1 John, ii. 14, with Eph. vi. 10.) 
 May not such a thing be again witn'essed, even now, in 
 these our days ? Were not he a messenger of good tidings 
 to thee, who from God could tell thee, how thou miglitst 
 come to know, to put on, to fight in this holy armour, and 
 thereby overcome all the adversaries of thy soul ? Doth 
 not the apostle say, " The weapons of our warfare are- 
 mighty through God?" Wouldst not thou be willing to 
 witness them so in thee? Mind then — -in the measure of 
 life, in the measure of grace and truth which is from 
 Christ, all the knowledge, strength, and use of the armour 
 lies. Thus, the Truth as it is in Jesus is the girdle of 
 the loins ; and from and through him, in his pure measure 
 of life, righteousness springs up as a breastplate. There 
 likewise, the feet are shod with the preparation of the gos- 
 pel of peace ; for there, the gospel, the life, the redeeming 
 power and virtue is always in readiness, whenever the 
 Lord seeth service for it. And then the shield of fuitli is 
 known, which quencheth tlie fire of the eneuiy's tempta- 
 tions. There ako, is the helmet of salvation, the true 
 5 D 
 
50 
 
 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 
 
 hope ; £)!• iu it, Christ, the hope of glory, is revealed, and 
 felt to be uear. And then, the swurd of the Spirit is wit- 
 nessed, which is the living Word, the Spirit which quick- 
 ens and gives life ; which Word is quick, piercing, and 
 exceeding powerful, able to smite and wound death. (See 
 Kev. i. 16, Isa. xxvii. 1, and xi, 4, and 2 Thes. ii. 8.) 
 And here, is pure praying in the Spirit of the Lord Jesus, 
 and watching thereunto with perseverance, both for itself 
 in particular, and the whole body of the faithful in gen- 
 eral ; but for those more especially, on whom lies the 
 weight of the service iu and towards the body : so that, 
 here, is prayer iu its due season, weight, and order offered 
 up to God, in true life and understanding : which prayer 
 God always heareth. 
 
 O mind this thing diligently, for it is of great concern- 
 ment to thee ! In the grace of the gospel, in the measure 
 of truth and life frcTm the quickening Word, thou meetest 
 with the whole armour of God. Thou mayest there know 
 it, thou mayest there put it on, stand armed with it, and 
 fight with success against thy soul's enemies. Out of this, 
 thou mayest get apprehensions iu thy mind about it, but 
 canst never truly know it, canst never come at it, or be 
 covered and armed with it, to stand and fight successfully 
 and victoriously against the enemies of tliy soul. 
 
 Ah ! little dost thou know the loving kindness of the 
 Lord in visiting thee with his Truth, in giving thee a sense 
 beyond others, in so tenderly drawing and inviting thy 
 heart ; or what this will come to, if thou faithfully give up 
 to hearken to and follow him. I. P. 
 
 20th of Tjnth Month, 1671. 
 
LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 51 
 
 LETTEE XV. 
 
 Tlie least Messenger of the Gospel is not to be despised. A Change 
 of Heart is to be sought, rather than a Sign. 
 
 What is Paul ? what is Apollos ? or what is Cephas ? 
 It is one and the same pure life and word of power, which 
 springs in all tlie holy brethren, whom God hath sanctified 
 and prepared to give forth the sound of his holy trumpet. 
 (It is the Lord himself, who gives forth. the true and 
 certain sound ; great is the company of those, whom he 
 hath chosen and sent forth to publish it ; none of whom 
 cau be despised in their message, without despising him 
 that sent them ; for, he sends forth the least and weakest, 
 as well as the greatest.) 
 
 O ! take heed of that nature and spirit in thee, which 
 desires or seeks after a sign. It is the evil and adulterous 
 generation which seeks after a sign. But wait to meet 
 with that inwardly, which changeth the heart, and renews 
 the mind to God : which teacheth to love the Lord God 
 with all the heart, soul, mind, and spirit, that so true life 
 from and in him may be witnessed. — And as for being as 
 one of us, thou must be formed so by the Lord, by being 
 inwardly changed and renewed by the Spirit and power 
 of the Lord, ere thou canst witness true unity witli us. 
 If thou feel the principle of Truth iu thy own heart, and 
 iu that know and own us, and so come among us, and join 
 to us in the Truth, and keep faithful to the principle, thou 
 wilt never be in danger of leaving us, as they that depart 
 from the principle iu their own hearts, may soon and 
 easily do. 
 
52 
 
 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 
 
 LETTER XVI. 
 Advice on Eeading the Scriptures. 
 
 Friend, — Hearken to a ^vord of advice, which is in 
 my heart to thee ; it may be of great use to thee, if the 
 Lord open thy spirit, and cause it to sink in. It is this. 
 
 Wait on the Lord, that thou mayest, from him, feel the 
 right limit to thy mind, in reading the Scriptures. For, 
 the mind of luan is busy and active, willing to be running 
 beyond its bounds, guessing at the meaning of God's 
 Spirit, and imagining of itself, unless the Lord limit it. 
 Therefore, read in fear ; and wait understandingly to dis- 
 tinguish, between God's opening to thee words, concerning 
 the kingdom and the things of the kingdom, and thy own 
 apprehensions about them ; that the one may be always 
 cast by, and the other always embraced by thee. And, 
 always wait God's season : do not presume to understand 
 a thing, before he give thee the understanding of it : and 
 know also, that he alone is able to preserve the true sense 
 and knowledge in thee ; that thou mayest live dependeutly 
 upon him for thy knowledge, and never " lean to thy own 
 understanding." Little dost thou know, what it hath cost 
 us, to have our own understanding and wisdom broken 
 down ; and how demonstratively by this Spirit the Lord 
 opens Scriptures to us, (yea, and the things themselves, 
 which the Scriptures speak of,) ever since he hath taught 
 us to deny our own understanding, and to lean upon his 
 Spirit and wisdom. 
 
 The Lord guide thee by his certain, infallible Spirit, 
 into the certain, infallible, everlasting way of life, that by 
 the shinings of his light. Spirit, and power in thee, thou 
 mayest see light and enjoy life. For, if thou didst certainly 
 and infallibly understand all the words, descriptions, and 
 
LETTER8 OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 53 
 
 testimonies concerning the thing in the Scriptures ; yet, it 
 is one thing to understand words, testimonies, and descrip- 
 tions ; and it is another matter to understand, know, enjoy, 
 possess, and live in that which the words relate to, describe, 
 and bear witness of. 
 
 And, Friend, if thou wilt be an inward Jew, and know 
 and understand the laws of life, the laws of the new cove- 
 nant, thou must read them in those tables, where God 
 writes them in and by the new covenant. Indeed, by read- 
 ing in the letter, thou mayest read testimonies concerning 
 the Spirit and his ministration ; but thou must read in the 
 Spirit, if ever thou come rightly to understand the letter. 
 And, the end of words is to bring men to the knowledge 
 of things, beyond what words can utter. So, learn of the 
 Lord to make a right use of the Scriptures ; which is, by 
 esteeming them in their place, and prizing that above them, 
 which is above them. The " eternal life," the Spirit, the 
 power, the fountain of living waters, the everlasting pure 
 well is above the words concerning it. This, the believer 
 is to witness in himself, and to draw water with joy out 
 of it. I. P. 
 
 LETTER XVIL 
 
 On the Righteousness which is of Christ, on the Manliood and 
 Godhead of Christ. 
 
 To THE Friend of Francis Fines. 
 
 Friend, — After some deep exercise of spirit concerning 
 thee, under great grief of heart for thee, I felt a constraint 
 of love, forcing these following considerations from me, 
 to lay before thee. 
 
 As for William Penn, thou didst not make mention of 
 him to me in thy former letter. And as to thy charge upon 
 5* 
 
54 
 
 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 
 
 him, that he deuics the "Trinity," redemption hy Christ's 
 blood, and imputed righteousness, thou mayest read his 
 apoh)gy toucliing those things, which it is just thou shouldst 
 seriously weigh, as in God's sight: and then, perhaps thou 
 ■wilt not so resolutely charge him as now thou dost. 
 
 Christ is made unto us righteousness, by faith in his 
 blood, and by faith in his Spirit : and he that doth not 
 believe in his Spirit, and receives not instruction and help 
 from his Spirit to believe, cannot believe aright in his 
 blood. All that is of Christ is righteous ; all that is of 
 Ciirist, the righteous and holy root, is righteous and holy, 
 wherever it is found. And, by Christ, that which is truly 
 holy and righteous is brought up in us, and we forgiven 
 and washed from our sins and iniquities for his name's 
 sake. And the receiving of the pardon of sins is precious, 
 and the bringing forth in the new life is precious also. 
 
 I am satisfied in God's Spirit, that that which I have 
 written in the last I sent to thee, is the sum and substance 
 of true religion ; the sum and substance whereof, doth not 
 stand in getting a notion of Christ's righteousness, but in 
 feeling the power of the endless life, receiving the power, 
 and being changed by the power. And where Christ is, 
 there is his righteousness. He that hath the Son, hath life 
 and righteousness ; but he that hath not the Son, hath not 
 life nor rigliteousness. And where Christ is not, there is 
 not his righteousness ; but only a notion thereof, from 
 ai^prehensious formed out of the Scriptures by man's wis- 
 dom, which should be destroyed. I would not have thy 
 knowledge here, nor thy standing here, nor thy faith here ; 
 but in the truth and life itself 
 
 Christ was anointed and sent of God, a Saviour, to de- 
 stroy the works of the devil, to break down all rule and 
 authority contrary to God in man ; for, his work is in the 
 heart. There he quickens, there he raiseth, there he brings 
 into death that which is to die, raising the seed immortal, 
 
LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 
 
 55 
 
 and bringing the creature into subjection to it. Now, to 
 feel the power that doth this, and to feel this wrought by 
 the power, this is far beyond all talk about justification 
 and righteousness. Hither would I have thee come, out 
 of the talk, out of the outwardness of knowledge, into the 
 thing itself, and into the trueness of the new and living 
 knowledge, which is witnessed here. 
 
 There is a power in Christ, to mortify and overcome sin 
 in the very root ; it is not however overcome, but in the 
 revealing of this power ; nor is the soul justified, but in 
 and by the working of this power. So that, justification 
 is not the first thing, but the J30wer of life, in and through 
 which (revealed in Christ) the soul is both justified and 
 sanctified, through the working of the faith, which is from 
 the power. And here, salvation is felt nigh indeed, to 
 those that truly fear the Lord ; and glory dwells in the 
 land which he hath redeemed. There, mercy and truth 
 do indeed meet together, and righteousness and peace kiss 
 each other. Yea, truth, there, springs out of the earth, and 
 righteousness looks down from heaven, &c. And here, 
 the heavenly place in Christ is sat down in, towards which, 
 is the travel of the disciple. For, saith Christ to his dis- 
 ciples, " I go to prepare a place," and " I will come again," 
 and translate you thither. But, the disciples do not come 
 to this place before their travel, or before any works of 
 righteousuess which God hath wrought in them. 
 
 Therefore, he that will be justified by Him, must abide 
 in the faith, where the justification is. The Father justifies 
 what is of his own life in the Son, aud the Sou in his life ; 
 ajid the Son justifies what is of the Father in us, (what is 
 of the Father's nature, the Fatner's spirit, the Father's 
 life,) aud justifies us from that, by his blood, from which 
 we cannot otherwise be justified. O how jirecious it is, to 
 see and feel this in the true light, where the blood of Christ 
 cleanseth from all sin ! Here, is no covenant for us of 
 
56 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 
 
 ourselves to perform ; hut tlie true self-denial is witnessed, 
 wherein the covenant is performed ; and Christ, the life, 
 Christ, the power, Christ, the righteousness and wisdom of 
 God, working all in us ; and we, gathered into him, and 
 living and working in him, by tlie faith whicli is of him. 
 And here, is free-ivill indeed, even of the will which was 
 bound and captivated before. And here, is the election 
 known, which obtains ; and the obedience and sufferings of 
 Christ, not looked upon as superfluous, but highly prized, 
 and looked upon as of inestimable value. 
 
 Do we cry up works against the workman ? man's grace 
 and righteousness against God's? conformity to Christ, 
 against Clirist? or make a Christ, a righteousness, a 
 Saviour of our conformity ? Oh ! how wilt thou do, wheu 
 God shall plead with thee for these things ? — Also, that 
 charge of thine on us, that we deny the person of Christ, 
 and make him nothing but a light or notion, a principle 
 in the heart of man, is very unjust and untrue ; for, we 
 own that appearance of him in his body of flesh, his suf- 
 ferings and death, and his sitting at the Father's right 
 hand in glory : but then, we afiirm, that there is no true 
 knowledge of him, or union with him, but in the seed or 
 2)rinciple of his life in the heart ; and that therein he ap- 
 pears, subdues sin, and reigns over it, in those that under- 
 stand and submit to the teaching and government of his 
 Spirit. 
 
 But, we cannot set the manhood above the life, and 
 make that the main or chief in the work of redemption, 
 and the life and Spirit of his Godhead, but supporting, 
 enabling, and carrying him up in that great undertaking. 
 
 Consider, I pray thee, If what thou sayest be not cou- 
 trary to the Scriptures ? Was the work laid by the Father 
 upon the manhood, or upon the Son, who, in the life and 
 by the life, was "mighty to save"? Who took up the 
 manhood F Was it not the Son? "Lo' I come," saith 
 
LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 
 
 57 
 
 he, " a bodrj hast thou prepared mc." And was it uot he, 
 that laid down his glory, and made himself of no reputa- 
 tion, hut came iu the form of a servant, (took upon him 
 man's nature,) did not he do the work iu man's nature? 
 Did uot the eternal Spirit sanctify the body in the womb? 
 Did uot the eternal Power act iu him all along ? Yea, did 
 not the eternal Spirit offer the body to God as a sacrifice ? 
 For, the manhood would fain have avoided the cup, 
 (" Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me ! ") 
 but, the Spirit taught him to be subject to the will of the 
 Father herein. So that, his giving up to death, was rather 
 to be attributed to his eternal Spirit, than to his manhood : 
 for that was the chief in the work, and not merely assistant 
 to him. And doth not Christ confess as much to his 
 Father, when he saith, " I have glorified thee on the earth, 
 I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do ; and 
 now, O Father! glorify thou me with thy own self, with 
 the glory which I had with thee before the world was." 
 Though we are willing to honour the manhood of Christ, 
 with the honour which the Father hath honoured it with ; 
 yet we cannot honour it in the first place, and attribute 
 redemption to it in the first place, making the Spirit aud 
 life of God, but supporting, assisting, and carrying on 
 therein. For, " God was in Christ," and it was his power, 
 life, and virtue, did all in him, as it is a measure of the 
 same life which doth all in us; iu which measure, we par- 
 take of his death, aud not only so, but also of his life and 
 resurrection. For, he is " the resurrection and the life," 
 (which we cannot deny,) and if by his death we be recon- 
 ciled to God, " much more shall we be saved by his life." 
 And, if righteousness be revealed in us, imputed to us, 
 and we partake of it, as we come into his death ; much 
 more shall we partake of it, as we come into his life. 
 
 It is precious, indeed, to hear of Christ without; but it 
 is more precious to feel him within ; where the wisdom of 
 
58 
 
 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 
 
 our Solomon, his love, his riches, his treasures of life, 
 and the glory of his kingdom, and order of his family, and 
 food of his children and of his servants, are witnessed and 
 revealed on his holy mountain ; where he makes the feast 
 of fat things to his, where the bread and v/ine of the king- 
 dom is ate and drunk abundantly, and the streams of the 
 river of his own pleasures, water his garden and refresh 
 his heritage. 
 
 I have looked over all the Scriptures quoted by thee, 
 and find not one of them proving the thing thou as- 
 sertest ; that is, attributing redemption properly to the 
 manhood, and consequently improperly, in the second 
 place, only as an assistant, to the Spirit and life of the 
 Godhead. But, if thou M'ouldst rightly distinguish, it 
 were more pi'oper to make the Word, (or Life, which was 
 in the beginning,) the agent, which did all ; and that 
 body, which the Father prepared and sanctified — the 
 form of a servant or garment, in and through which the 
 life, being clothed with it, did act. Now, the Jews did 
 disdain Christ, as a man, in that his low appearance : 
 therefore is the glory still given to " the man Christ 
 Jesus ; " but, not to take the honour from the Son, who 
 was God, and who saved by his Godhead, by the life, 
 virtue, and power thereof. " I, even I, am the Lord," 
 saith Jehovah, " and besides me there is no Saviour." 
 The Woi"d eternal, which made all, redeemeth all that are 
 redeemed : that body of flesh was that wherein he appeared. 
 And so, what he did in it was attributed to his manhood, 
 (and the man Christ Jesus did all that is attributed to him 
 in the Scriptures,) but not in the first place. — Thus I 
 speak for thy sake, and sometimes, upon necessity, to help 
 to scatter the darkness which is seated in men's minds in 
 this particular, which is very gross; many men having 
 heaped unto themselves dark mountains, from their own 
 imaginings and conceivings, upon which they stumble : and 
 
LETTERS OF ISAAC PENIXGTON. 
 
 59 
 
 SO, reading the Scriptures out of the pure life, wherein 
 they were written, they gather not the true food, but food 
 of their own imagining and inventing therefrom ; and so, 
 their table becomes their snare. 
 
 And whereas, thou chargest us with making Christ only 
 a pattern, not a Saviour — indeed, it is not so in God's 
 siglit : for, we own Christ to be a Saviour ; but we lay the 
 main stress upon the life, which took upon it the mauhood. 
 And that life, wherever it appears, is of a saving nature, 
 and doth save ; the least measure of it, is of the nature of 
 the rock, and he proves a rock to them that feel him, and 
 whose minds are stayed upon him : yet none, in the meas- 
 ure of this life, can deny the appearance of the fulness of 
 life in that body of flesh, and what he did therein towards 
 the redemption and salvation of mankind. 
 
 Oh ! pure, spotless Lamb of God, how precious was thy 
 sacrifice in the eye of the Father ! how acceptable a ran- 
 som for all mankind ! For, in the free, full, and universal 
 love of the Father, " he tasted death for every man." 
 
 I. P. 
 
 LETTER XVIIL 
 
 On the Religions Care of Children. 
 To A Parent. 
 
 Dear Friend, — I have not much freedom to write at 
 present, being retired in spirit and mourning to my God, 
 for the powerful bringing forth of his pure life, yet more 
 perfectly, both in myself and others ; yet, the spirit of thy 
 letter doth so strongly draw, that I cannot be wholly silent. 
 
 This, therefore, in tiie uprightness, fear, and tendei'ness 
 of my heart, I say to thee. 
 
60 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINQTON. 
 
 There is a pure priiu i})lc of life in the lieart, from whence 
 all good springs. This, thou art to mind in thyself; and 
 this, thou art to wait on the Lord, to be taught and ena- 
 bled by him to reach to, in thy children ; that tliou mayest 
 be an instrument in his hand, to bring them into that fear 
 of him, which is acceptable to him, and will be profitable 
 to them. Mind, therefore, its leadings in thy heart, and 
 wait to be acquainted with its voice there. And, when 
 thy children ask thee any questions of this nature, — What 
 God is ? where he dwells ? or whether he sees them in the 
 dark? — do not reject it; but, wait to feel somewhat of 
 God raised in thee, which is able to judge, whether the 
 question be put forth in sensibility or in vanity ; and which 
 can give thee an advantage of stirring the good, and reach- 
 ing to that, which is to be raised both in young and old, 
 to live to the praise of him who raiseth it. And, take heed 
 of a judgment after the flesh; for so, thou mayest judge 
 us, our principles and practices, and approve or disapprove, 
 &c. But, wait to feel that raised in thee, which judges 
 righteous judgment in every particular ; and wait the time 
 of its judgment, and be still and silent, further than mani- 
 festly thou knowest that it, and not thou, judgeth. 
 
 And, as to thy children, daily feel the need of instruc- 
 tion from the Almighty, to govern and direct them, and 
 wait daily to receive it from him ; and what thou receiv- 
 est, give forth in fear, and wait for his carrying it home 
 and working it upon their hearts. For he is a Father, .and 
 hath tenderness, and gives true wisdom to every condition 
 of his people, tliat wait upon him ; so as he may be known 
 to be all daily, and they able to be nothing without him. 
 
 Breathe unto the Lord, that thy heart may be single, 
 thy judgment set straight by his principle of life in thee, 
 and thy children guided to, and brought up in the sense 
 of the same principle. As for praying, they will not need 
 to be taught that outwardly ; but, if a true sense be kin- 
 
LETTERS OF ISAAC 
 
 PENINGTON. 
 
 61 
 
 died in tlier.i, though ever so young, from that sense will 
 arise breathings to Him that begat it, suitable to their 
 state ; which will cause growth and increase of that sense 
 and life in them. 
 
 Thus, in the plainness of my heart, have I answered 
 thee, according to the drawings and freedom which I found 
 there, which I dare not exceed ; who am thy unfeigned 
 Friend, though outwardly unknown, I. P. 
 
 20th of Third Month, 1665. 
 
 LETTER XIX. 
 
 A Day of Calamity. 
 
 To A Friend in London; supposed to be written on 
 OCCASION op the Plague. 
 
 Ah Friend, — Dreadful is the Lord : it is now known 
 and felt, beyond what can be spoken. Doth thy heart 
 fear before him? art thou willing to be subject to Lira ? 
 dost thou desire strength from him, to trust thyself and 
 thy family with him ? O that thou mayest be helped daily 
 to cry unto him, that he may have mercy upon thee, who 
 is tender-hearted and able to preserve, when his arrows fly 
 round about ! 
 
 Retire, deeply retire, and wait to feel his life ; that thy 
 soul may be gathered out of the reasonings and thoughts 
 of thy mind, into that which stays from them, and fixes 
 beneath them ; where the Lord is known and worshipped, 
 in that which is of himself, of his own begetting, of his 
 own forming, of his own preserving, of his own shutting 
 and opening at his pleasure. And, living in the sense and 
 pure fear of the Lord, (not meddling to judge others or 
 justify thyselfj but waiting for his appearance in thee, who 
 6 
 
62 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 
 
 is the justifier and justification,) thou wilt be enabled by 
 the Lord, in his seasons, to bring thy children and family 
 into the same sense ; that thou and they together may 
 enjoy the same preservation from him, so far as he sees 
 meet, whose will is not to be limited, but to be subjected 
 to. 
 
 And, if thy heart be right before the Lord, and thy soul 
 awakened and preserved in his fear, thou wilt find some- 
 what to travel out of, and somewhat to travel into, and 
 the Lord drawing and leading thee. And this stroke, 
 which is so dreadful to others, nor altogether without 
 dread to thee, will prove of great advantage in thy behalf : 
 in drawing thee more into a sense and acquaintance of 
 the infinite One, and in drawing thee from thy earthly 
 thoughts and knowledge which will not now stand thee 
 instead. Thy Friend, L P. 
 
 8th of Seventh Month, 16G5. 
 
 LETTER XX. 
 
 The Spiritual Life is to he Cherished. 
 To Friends of Truth in and about the two Chalfonts. 
 
 Dear Friends, — I am separated, as to bodily presence, 
 from you ; but, I cannot forget you, because ye ai'e written 
 on my heart, and I cannot but desire your peace and wel- 
 fare, as of my own soul. 
 
 And this is my present cry for you. O that ye might 
 feel the breath of life, that life which at first quickened 
 you, and which still quickeneth ! and that breath of life 
 has power over death ; and, being felt by you, will bow 
 down death in you, and j'e will feel the seed, lifting up its 
 head over that which oppresseth it. Why should the 
 
LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 63 
 
 royal birth be a captive in any of you ? Why should any 
 of you travail and not bring forth ? Why should sin 
 have dominion in any of you, and not rather grace reign 
 in its life and power in you all ? O that ye may receive 
 quickenings ! O that ye may receive help ! O that ye 
 may be led into the true subjection, which brings forth 
 the true dominion ! Indeed, I crj' for my own soul, and 
 I cry for yours also, that in one virtue and power of life, 
 we may be knit together, and serve the Lord our God in 
 perfect unity of spirit. 
 
 My Friends, what shall I say unto you ? Oh ! the Lord 
 keep you living and sensible, and let your walking and 
 converse be with him, both in private and in your assem- 
 blings ; be serious in your spirits, that ye may feel the 
 weight of his seed springing up in you, and resting upon 
 you, to poise your hearts towards him. And let the 
 earthly thoughts, desires, and concerns, which eat like a 
 canker, be kei)t out by the power of that life, which is 
 yours, as ye aliide in covenant with him that hath gath- 
 ered you, by his pure liglit shining in you. O that ye 
 may all dwell there ! and not draw back into the earthly 
 nature, where the enemy lies lurking to entangle and to 
 catch your minds, and bring you to a loss. 
 
 Feel ray love and tender care of )'ou in the quickening 
 life of God ; and the Lord God watch over you for good, 
 to perfect his work in you, and draw your hearts nearer 
 and nearer to himself, until they be quite swallowed up 
 of him ; that ye may at last find your hearts fitted for, 
 and welcomed into, the bosom of your Beloved, and there 
 may sit down in the rest and joy of his fulness for ever- 
 more ; which is the blessed end of the Lord's love to yon, 
 and all the faithful travails which have been for you. 
 
 Your Friend and brother in the Trutli, I. P. 
 
 From my plnce of confinement in Aylesbnry, 
 20th of Fourth Month, 1G66. 
 
64 
 
 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 
 
 Even when ye were sitting together, waiting on the Lord 
 (some of you, I doubt not, ) did tliese things spring up in 
 my heart towards you ; and if ye taste any sweetness or 
 refreshment in them, bow to the Fountain, and be sensible 
 of his praise springing in the midst of you. 
 
 LETTER XXL 
 
 On True Judgment, and on Prejudices; also on tlie variety of 
 Gifts and Stations in tlie Church. 
 
 To Friends of Truth in and about the two Chalfonts.* 
 
 As a father wateheth over his children, so do I wait and 
 desire to feel the Lord watching over my soul continually. 
 And in his love, care, wise and tender counsel, is my 
 safety, life, and peace ; and I never yet repented either 
 waiting for him or hearkening to him. But if I have 
 hearkened at any time to any thing else, and mistook his 
 voice, and entertained the enemy's deceitful appearance, 
 instead of his pure Truth, (which it is very easy to do,) 
 that grievous mistake hath proved matter of loss and 
 sorrow to my soul. 
 
 Now, O ! my Friends, that ye might know and hear the 
 voice of the Preserver ! so shall ye be preserved, and kept 
 from the voice of the stranger, which draweth aside from 
 the pure principle of life, and the true feeling sense. 
 There is that near you which wateheth to betray : O ! the 
 God of my life, joy, peace, and hope, watch over your 
 souls, and deliver you from the advantages which, at any 
 time, it hath against any of you. The seed which God 
 
 * I. P. and his wife appear to have been instrumental in gath- 
 ering tlie Friends of that neighbourhood to the knowledge of the 
 Trntli, as held by the Society. 
 
 . ^ m 
 
LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 65 
 
 hath sown in you, is pure and precious. O tliat it may 
 be found living in you and ye abiding in it! O that no 
 other seed may, at any time, usurp authority over it ! but 
 that ye may know the authority and pure Truth which is 
 of God, and therein stand, in the pure dominion, over ail 
 that is against him. For, in the principle of life, which 
 ye have known and received in measure, is dominion ; and 
 ye, therein preserved, are in the dominion over the impure 
 and deceitful one ; and that judging in you hath power to 
 judge all impurity and deceivableness, as the light there- 
 of pleaseth to make it manifest to you ; but, out of that, 
 ye will easily become a prey, and set up darkness for light, 
 and account light darkness ; and then, a wrong wisdom, 
 confidence, and conceitcdue«s, will get up in you, and lead 
 you far out of the way and spirit of Truth. O my dear 
 Friends ! that that may be kept down in you, which is for- 
 ward to judge, to approve or disapprove ; and may the 
 weighty judgment of the seed be waited for. And, O ! do 
 not judge, do not judge, before the light of the day shine 
 in you, and give forth the judgment; but .stand and walk 
 in fear and humility, and tenderness of spirit, and silence 
 of flesh, that the Lord be not provoked against any of 
 you, to give you up to a wrong sen.se and judgment, to the 
 hurt of your souls. And mind your own states, and the 
 feeling of life in your own vessels ; which will keep you 
 pure, precious, and chaste in the eye of the Lord. And, 
 O ! do not meddle with talking about others, which eats 
 out the inward life, and may exalt your spirits out of your 
 place, and above your proper growth : be as the weaned 
 child, simple, naked, meek, humble, tender ; easily led by, 
 and subjected to the Father : so will ye grow in that which 
 is of God, and be preserved out of that, which hunteth 
 after the pure life to betray and destroy it. I have an 
 interest in you, my cries are to the Lord for you, and I 
 exceedingly thirst after your preservation and growth ia 
 6* E 
 
66 
 
 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 
 
 that which is pure ; and in that breathing, longing spirit 
 towards you, was it in my heart at this time to write unto 
 you. 
 
 The Lord God of my mercies, hope and life, watch over 
 you for good, and keep your hearts in the pure and single 
 watch ; that the enemy, by any subtle device of liis, break 
 not in upon you ; nor ye, by any temptation, be allured or 
 drawn from the Lord ; but, may know the pure, eternal, 
 everlasting habitation, and may dwell and abide therein, 
 to the joy of your own souls, and the rejoicing of the 
 hearts of all that have travailed for you in the Spirit of 
 the Lord. 
 
 From your brother and companion in the faith, patience, 
 and afflictions of the seed. I. P. 
 
 Ayi.esbiiry Prison, 
 25th of Eleventh Month, 1666. 
 
 POSTSCRIPT. 
 
 Thus, feel after that which hath gathered you to the 
 Lord ; and then also, in that, ye will feel the life, fresh- 
 ness, and glory in the Lord, of those, who have been made 
 instrumental to gather you, and are still serviceable in his 
 hand and leadings, to build you up ; and then, that which 
 is ready to hea,rken to and receive prejudices, will be kept 
 down, and the pure life will live over it, which he that 
 feels has joy, and peace, and rest in God. 
 
 And, Friends, you that are weak, bless God for the 
 strong ; you that liave need of a pillar to lean upon, bless 
 God, that hath provided pillars in his house ; and, in fear 
 and the guidance of his Spirit, make use of theSe pillars; 
 who are faithful, and have ability from God, in his power 
 and glorious presence wiJ;h them, to help to sustain his 
 building, even as they had ability from the Lord to gather 
 unto him. He that despiseth him that is sent, despiseth 
 
LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 
 
 67 
 
 Him tliat sent him ; and lie that undervalues any gift, 
 ofBce, or work, that God hath bestowed upon any person, 
 despiseth the wisdom and disposal of the Giver. Are all 
 fathers ? have all overcome the enemy ? are all grown up 
 in the life? are all stars in the firmament of God's power ? 
 hath God made all equal ? are there not different states, 
 different degrees, different growths, different places, &c. ? 
 Then, if God hath made a difference, and given degrees 
 of life, and gifts different, according to his pleasure ; what 
 wisdom and spirit is that, which doth not acknowledge 
 this, but would make all equal? O my Friends! fear 
 before the Lord ; honour the Lord in his appearances, and 
 in the differences which he hath made among the children 
 of men, and among his people. He gave prophets of old, 
 and the rest of the people were not equal with them. He 
 gave evangelists, apostles, pastors, teachers, &c., and the 
 other members of tlie churches were not equal with them. 
 He hath given fathers and elders now, and the babes and 
 young men are not equal with them. Tiius it is, in truth, 
 from the Lord ; and that which is of God in you, will so 
 acknowledge it. 
 
 Therefore, watch, every one, to feel and know his own 
 place and service in the body, and to be sensible of the 
 gifts, places, and services of others ; that the Lord may be 
 honoured in all, and every one owned and honoured in 
 the Lord, and iio otherwise. I. P. 
 
 26th of Eleventh Month, 1CG6. 
 
 LETTER XXIL 
 
 To a Couple about to Marry. 
 
 Dear Friends, — It is a great and weighty thing that 
 ye are about ; and ye have need of the Lord's leading and 
 
68 
 
 LETTERS OF ISAAC PEXINGTON. 
 
 t•oull^^el therein, that it may be done in the unity of hia 
 life; that so Friends in truth may feel it to be of God, 
 and find satisfaction therein. 
 
 Friends, the art'ectionate part will be forward in things 
 of this nature, unless it be yoked down ; and it will per- 
 suade the mind to judge such things to be right and of the 
 Lord, when indeed they are not so. Now, if it be not of 
 tlie Lord, but the affectionate part, Friends cannot have 
 unity with it, nor will it prove a blessing to you ; but you 
 will find it an hurt to your conditions, and a load upon 
 your spirits afterwards, and the fruits and effects of it will 
 not be good, but evil ; and then, perhaps, ye Avill wish that 
 ye had waited more singly and earnestly upon the Lord, 
 in relation to the thing ; and that ye had taken more time, 
 and consulted more with Friends, before there had been 
 any engagement of affections. The Lord, by his provi- 
 dence, hath given you a little time of respite. O retire 
 unto him, and abase yourselves before him, aud pray hira 
 to counsel you, by his good Spirit, for your good ! that, if 
 it be not of the Lord, the power, being waited upon by 
 you, may loosen your affections in this respect. But, if it 
 be of the Lord, aud be orderly brought before Friends, 
 and their counsel aud advice sought iu the fear of the 
 Lord, they will have unity with it, and with gladness ex- 
 press their unity ; which may be a strength unto you, 
 against the tempter afterwards. 
 
 This is in true love to you, and in singleness of heart, 
 the Lord knoweth. From your Friend in the Truth, 
 
 I. P. 
 
 4th of Third Month, 1668. 
 
LETTERS OP ISAAC PENINGTON. 
 
 69 
 
 LETTER XXIIL 
 
 The day of God's Power and Love. 
 
 To John Mannock. 
 
 Friend, — Hath the Lord drawn thy heart to hear the 
 sound of Truth, and given thee some sense and savour thereof; 
 though, perhaps, not as yet full satisfaction in all things 
 that are truly and faithfully testified concerning it? O 
 prize this love of God to thee ! and watch and pray, and 
 come into the pure fear ; that thou mayest walk worthy 
 of it, and mayst discern in spirit what it is that gives thee 
 the savour ; and so, receive the leaven of the kingdom 
 and feel its leavening virtue upon tliy heart day by day. 
 For, after the Lord hath been at work, the enemy will be 
 at work also ; and thou mayest both meet with him with- 
 out, and within too, in reasonings and questionings against 
 the demonstrations of God's Spirit to thy heart and con- 
 science. Now, if thou wilt hearken to these, they will eat 
 out the sense and belief of what God's Spirit begat in 
 thee. Oh ! how many wise men, and how many knowing 
 men, that have tasted of some true exj)eriences, have not 
 the sense and discerning of the Spirit and power of the 
 Lord, as it is now made manifest ; but speak hard words, 
 and think hard thoughts of his truth and its precious 
 appearances. 
 
 Ah ! what are we, any of us, on whom the Lord hath 
 shown his mercy, .and whose hearts he toucheth, and 
 maketh sensible of his drawings ; yea, and not only so, but 
 also gives us to partake of the eternal life and virtue, which 
 he hath hid in his Son from the eyes of all living. We 
 sought it up and down, in the deeps and heights ; but the 
 deep said, It is not in me, and the highest mountain and 
 
70 
 
 LETTERS OF ISAAC PEXINGTOJT. 
 
 liill that ever we met with, could not bring salvation to us. 
 But, at length, we found the fear of the Lord to be the 
 true wisdom, and that which taught us to depart from evil, 
 gave us the true understanding. Is^ow, if any among us 
 are not thus taught, but only own the doctrines of Truth 
 published among us, being thereunto overcome by the de- 
 monstration of God's Spirit ; yet, for all this, they are not 
 felt by us in the life and unity of the Spirit of the Lord 
 with us; and such, the Lord will manifestly prune off, in 
 his own due time, and graft in others in their stead. Yea, 
 such as do indeed give ujj to Truth, and in measure feel 
 the power of it, and are made by the power of the Lord 
 subject to it — yet, if in anything they let in the spirit of 
 the world, and act according thereto, so far, they are not 
 of the Truth, nor owned by it. 
 
 Now, dear Friend, (for, so far as thy heart is touched 
 by God's Spirit, and answereth thereto, thou art dear unto 
 me,) mind thy condition, and wait on the Lord in humil- 
 ity of heart, and in subjection to what he inwardly, by his 
 Spirit, daily makes manifest ; that thou mayest come into 
 the obedience of the Truth daily ; that thou mayest daily 
 feel the change, which is wrought in the heart and con- 
 science, by the holy, eternal, ever-living power ; that so 
 thou mayest witness, according to the Scriptures, "that 
 which is born of the Spirit, is spirit." And then thou wilt 
 feel, that this birth of the Spirit cannot fulfil the lusts of 
 the flesh, but will be warring and fighting the good fight 
 of faith, in the power of life, against them ; and thus, in 
 faithfulness to the Truth, and waiting upon the Lord, thou 
 shalt witness an overcoming in his due time. For, indeed, 
 the true faith overcomes, the true shield beats down the 
 most fiery darts, and, in the power of the Lord, tiie enemy 
 is so resisted, that he fleeth ; and the name of the Lord is, 
 indeed, a strong tower to his children, to which his seed 
 know how to retire and feel safety. 
 
LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 
 
 71 
 
 O the conquering foith, the overcoming life and jiower 
 of the Spirit ! We cannot but speak of those things ; and 
 cry up the perfect gift, and the power of Hina, who is not 
 only able to perfect his work in the heart, but delights so 
 to do ; and even to tread down Satan under the feet of 
 those, that wait in patience for the perfect conquest; 
 for, nothing else will fully satisfy. The rest, the peace, 
 the liberty, the life, the virtue of the gospel, is not fully 
 known and enjoyed, while there remains any sin to sting 
 and trouble. And this I can faithfully witness ; that when 
 the power is revealed, when the blood washeth, the soul is 
 clean and as white as snow ; and the enemy hath not power 
 to break in, but life triumphs over him. And why may 
 there not be a continuance of such a state? Yea, I verily 
 believe, many can witness a continuance of such a state ; 
 which the Spirit of the Lord doth not call less in them 
 than a perfect state, a sound state ; wherein Christ, the 
 heavenly Physician, hath healed them perfectly, and made 
 them witnesses of true soundness of soul and spirit in the 
 sight of God. O that all knew and enjoyed it, who truly 
 desire and long after it ! 
 
 But as for thee, this is in my heart to thee. Thou host 
 found the pearl ; the Lord, in mercy to thee, hath discov- 
 ered to thee the true pearl. Now, this remains ; that thou 
 be a wise merchant, selling all to purchase it. Thou must 
 keep back nothing. Christ, the living Truth, the holy 
 power of righteousness, must be dearer to thee than all. 
 If father, mother, livelihood, liberty, friendship, outward 
 advantages, &c., or anything else, be dearer to thee than 
 him, he will look upon thee as unworthy of liim ; and can- 
 not but turn from thee, and suffer hardness and darkness 
 to come again upon thee. Therefore, prize the day of thy 
 visitation from the holy God, from the God of mercy and 
 salvation ; and be faithful in the little, in the day of small 
 things, if ever thou desire to enjoy and be ruler overmuch. 
 
72 
 
 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENIXGTOX. 
 
 The Lord may exercise thee in, and require of thee, little 
 things ; as he hath done the rest of the flock, whose foot- 
 steps thou art to follow to the Shepherd's tents ; and the 
 enemy will be endeavouring to stop thee, and perplex thee, 
 in every little thing that the Lord requires of thee. But, 
 be thou sinijile, like a child, not taking care what to an- 
 swer wise professors, nor what to answer the reasoning of 
 thy own mind ; but, seeing thou hast felt the demonstra- 
 tion of Truth from God's Holy Spirit, O ! breathe unto 
 the Loi"d, to preserve thee in the innocency and simplicity 
 thereof, that the Lord may still be M'ith thee ; and thereby 
 bring thee through the day of Jacob's trouble, to taste of 
 Jacob's deliverance and salvation out of trouble : for, thou 
 must meet with trials as well as others have done, and 
 the enemy's endeavour will be, to make thee stumble and 
 start back in the day of trial. But, if thine eye be towards 
 the Lord, he will uphold and strengthen thee, and bring 
 thee through all that stands in thy way ; manifesting to 
 thee, daily more and more, the path of holiness, in which 
 the ransomed of the Lord walk, and enabling thee also to 
 walk therein. 
 
 Therefore, watch the thoughts and reasonings which rise 
 in thee, and retire from them, waiting to feel the pure seed, 
 and to hear its voice in stillness ; whose voice is. otherwise, 
 than after the noises of the questionings and reasonings, 
 which the enemy raisetli in the mind, to fill it with doubts 
 and troubles; and to weaken the faith and sense which 
 God wrought in the heart, when he reached forth his 
 Truth, in the power and demonstration of his Spirit, unto 
 it. This was God's love, this was the day of his power; 
 which loosens the mind from its lovers, and the ways of 
 its own choosing, and begets a willingness to be joined to 
 the Lord and his pure Truth. 
 
 O take heed of hearkening to the enemy, to the subtle 
 reasouer, the eutaugler of the soul I take heed of consult- 
 
LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 
 
 73 
 
 • iiig there, where he lays his baits to entangle the mind, 
 and undo the work of God's power in the heart ; and so, to 
 make unwilling again, after the Lord had made willing. 
 The steps which the soul takes in the power, even the 
 inclining of the mind towards tlie Lord and his pure Truth, 
 tend to salvation ; but, if any let in unbelief of those things, 
 concerning which God had wrought faith in them, they 
 draw back to perdition ; tliey hearken to that which tempts 
 from the Lord, and to him whose end is to destroy them. 
 
 This is in true love to thee, and from an upright desire, 
 that thou mayest feel the Lord's preservation of thy soul, 
 in that which is of him, and his separating thee from all 
 that is not of him. 
 
 From a Friend to all that breathe after the Lord, and 
 desire to know and partake of the power and life of Truth 
 as it is in Jesus, the alone Redeemer and Saviour of the 
 soul. L P. 
 
 3d or 4tli of Tenth Month, 16G8. 
 
 LETTER XXIV. 
 
 On Simplicity of Faith and Dedication. 
 
 To John Mannock. 
 
 Friend, — It is a wonderful thing, to witness the power 
 of God reaching to the heart, and demonstrating to the 
 soul the pure way to life, as in his sight and presence. 
 Surely, he that partakes of this, is therein favoured by the 
 Lord, and ought diligently to wait, for the giving up to 
 the leadings of his Holy Spirit in cveiy thing; that so, he 
 may travel througli all that is contrary to tlie Lord, into 
 that nature and spirit which is of Him. It is a wonderful 
 thing, also, to witness God's preservation from backsliding, 
 7 
 
74 
 
 LETTERS OF ISAAC PEXIXGTOX. 
 
 and from being entangled by the subtlety of the enemy ; 
 who hath many ways and taking devices to ensnare the 
 simple mind, and draw it from the sense of Truth, into 
 some notions and belief of things ; wherein the soul may 
 be lulled asleep with hopes and persuasions, but hath not 
 the feeling or enjoyment of the true life and power. 
 
 O Friend ! hast thou a sense of the way to the Father ? 
 then, be careful that thy spirit daily bow before him, and 
 wait for breathings to him from his pure Spirit, that he 
 would continue his mercy to thee ; keeping thee in the true 
 sense, and making thy way more and more clear before 
 thee every day ; — yea, and bearing thee up in all the exer- 
 cises and trials which may befall thee, in every kind ; that, 
 by his secret working in thy spirit, and helping thee with 
 a little help from time to time, thou mayest still bo advanc- 
 ing nearer and nearer towards the kingdom ; until thou 
 find the Lord God administer an entrance unto thee there- 
 into, and give thee an inheritance of life, joy, righteous- 
 ness, and peace therein ; — which is strength unto the soul 
 against sin and death, and against the sorrow and trouble 
 which ariseth in the mind, for want of God's i)reseuce and 
 holy power revealed there. 
 
 And, be not careful after the flesh, but trust the Lord. 
 What though thou art weak, and little; though thou meet 
 with those that are wise and knowing ; and almost every 
 way able to reason thee down ; what though thou hast not 
 wherewith to answer ; yet, thou knowest and hast the feel- 
 ing of God's pure Truth in spirit, with a desire to have 
 the life of it brought forth in thee, and so, to witness the 
 change and renewings which are by his power. O dear 
 heart ! herein thou art accepted of the Lord, and here his 
 tender love and care will be over thee, and his mercy will 
 daily reach to thee ; and thou shalt have true satisfaction 
 in thy heart, and hold the Truth there, where all the 
 reasojiings of men, and all the devices of the enemy of thy 
 
LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 
 
 75 
 
 soul, shall not be able to reach ; — yea, thou shalt so feel 
 the Lord to help his babe against the strength of the 
 mighty, in the seasons of his good pleasure, as shall ex- 
 ceedingly turn to his praise ; and so, thou shalt experience, 
 that whom God preserves, all the gates of hell shall not 
 be able to j^revail against. Therefore, look not out at 
 men, or at the words and wisdom of men ; but, keep where 
 thou hast felt the Lord visit thee, that he may visit thee 
 yet again and again, every day, and be teaching thee 
 further and further the way to his dwelling-place, and be 
 drawing thee thither, where is righteousness, life, rest, and 
 peace, forever ! 
 
 This arose in my heart this morning, in tender love 
 towards thee. Look up to the Lord, who can make it 
 useful to thee, to warm, quicken, and strengthen thy heart 
 and mind towards the Lord, and his pure Truth, where- 
 with he has visited thee. And if thou feel any thing 
 therein, suitable to the state and condition of thy soul, O 
 bow before the Lord ! that in the true humility thou 
 mayest confess, and give the glory to him of what belongs 
 to him. 
 
 From thy Friend in the Truth, which cleanseth the 
 heart from iniquity, as it is embraced and dwelt in. 
 
 I. P. 
 
 23cl of Tenth montli, 16C8. 
 
 LETTER XXV. 
 
 The Blessedness of Suffering for Christ's Sake. 
 
 To Emzabeth Wat.msley. 
 
 Dear Friend, — Who art lovely to me in that precious 
 life, wherewith the Lord luith visited thee, and wherein 
 
76 
 
 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 
 
 he hath brought thee forth for his service, and to his 
 praise. 
 
 Our Father is wise aud powerful, who hath begun a 
 work which he is able to carry on ; and all the briars and 
 thorns of the wilderness, are not able to stop his course, 
 who is " a consuming fire." 
 
 I find the spirits of Friends here much raised, who 
 dwell in the fear and dread of the Lord God Almighty, 
 where the fear and dread of man is removed far away. 
 The Lord preserve us near unto himself, out of that which 
 separates from him and weakens ; and nothing shall be 
 able to interrupt our joy in the Lord, nor our delight and 
 pleasure in his will. Lo ! I come, saith the child, to do 
 thy will, O God ! to drink the cup thou hast prepared ; 
 although there is a nature which cannot but say. If it be 
 possible, let it pass away ; but, that nature is bowed down 
 and subjected under its proper yoke, and, in submission, 
 is kept out of sinning against the Lord ; and is accepted 
 by him who bows it, and makes it willing to follow the 
 Lamb in the day of his power. 
 
 Truly, the Lord hath done great things for us! he hath 
 given us the sight and knowledge of himself in his Son, 
 which is life eternal : he hath given us of the nature and 
 spirit of his Son ; he hath given us of the true faith, where- 
 by the just lives, and obtains victory over sin, death, and 
 the grave ; he hath given us of the hope which purifies 
 the heart, and stays the mind in all storms ; he hath given 
 us of the Lamb's patience aud meekness, &c. And now, 
 if he will brighten these by afflictions, and try them, and 
 cause them to shine to his glory ; yea, and take advantage 
 to increase them, and add further virtue to them, what 
 cause have any of us to complain ? Israel, of old, after 
 the flesh, murmured upon every trial ; but Israel, after 
 the new creation, doth not so, but blesseth the Lord, and 
 repiueth not at the instruments which he permitteth to 
 
LETTERS OF ISAAC PEXINGTON, 
 
 77 
 
 afflict them ; but they love the Lord and love his Truth, 
 and are fiiithful in their testimony thereto, whatever be- 
 falls thom. Yea, they rejoice that they are counted worthy 
 to suffer in any kind for his name's sake, and are like 
 lambs before the shearers, not opening their mouths in a 
 way of murmuring or reviling; but instead thereof, pity- 
 ing them, praying for them, and blessing ; because God 
 hath made them children of love, children of peace, chil- 
 dren of blessing ; which nature they retain, in the midst 
 of all their trials and afflictions, and show forth the virtues 
 of Him that hath called them. 
 
 So that, men shall not put out our life, nor jftit out our 
 light, nor sever us from the love and power of God ; but, 
 the more need we find of our God, and of his help and 
 strength, the nearer shall we be driven to him, and dwell 
 more closely in union with him, and in holy and humble 
 dependence upon him. And, in this temper, shall we 
 draw and receive more from him : and the more we draw 
 from him, the better will it be with us, and the more like 
 him shall we be. 
 
 The Lord keep open that heavenly eye in his children 
 and servants, which looks over this world, with the affairs 
 and concerns thereof, to that which is immortal and invisi- 
 ble ; where our life is hid from others, though made mani- 
 fest in and felt by us, from the living spring which 
 quickens, uourisheth, and refresheth. And as afflictions 
 abound from men, so shall consolations, life, and strength 
 abound from the Lord, unto all, and upon all, who look 
 not out, but abide and await there, where it springs and 
 flows. 
 
 My dear love is to Friends in these parts, (particularly 
 M. O.) ; the Lord preserve them and keep them near to 
 himself, that they may receive counsel and strength from 
 him, according to their need. I am sensible of thy great 
 love to us, expressed in thy care and tenderness of our 
 7* 
 
78 
 
 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 
 
 cliild, as well as in other things: I hope she is no burden 
 to thee. O that she might feel and be guided by that, 
 which keeps in order all that are subject to it! 
 
 I remain thy Friend and brother, in the life and love 
 which never dies nor changes, I. P. 
 
 18th of Second month, 1670. 
 
 LETTER XXVI. 
 
 Exhortation, chiefly, on Revelations, xiv. 7, "Fear God, give Glory 
 to Him," &c. 
 
 To Widow Hemmixgs. 
 
 Dear Friend, — Since I last saw thee, there have been 
 many deep and serious thoughts on my heart concern- 
 ing thee ; and a sense of thy state as before the Lord, and 
 breathings of heart for thee. I am sensible, that the Spirit 
 of the Lord is striving with thee, and in some measure 
 opening thy heart towards him and his Truth ; and I am 
 sensible withal, that there is much striving against him ; 
 and many strong holds of wisdom and reasonings in thee, 
 Avhich must be broken down, before Truth can spring up 
 in thy heart, and exercise its power in thee, and have full 
 command in thee. 
 
 Now, this morning, when I awoke, there were three 
 things sprang up in me, which my heart did singly and 
 earnestly desire for thee. One was, that thou mightst be 
 led by God's Holy Spirit into, the new and living cove- 
 nant, where Ghrist is revealed, and the soul united to him 
 as its Lord and King, in a bond of indissoluble union. 
 Another was, that thou mightst daily be taught of God, 
 and learn of him, in this holy, new, pure, and everlasting 
 covenant. The third was, that thou mightst be true and 
 
LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 
 
 79 
 
 faithful to God, to obey and follow him in whatever he 
 teaclies and requires of thee. 
 
 ^ If thou wert but in this state, thou wouldst find sweet- 
 ness and rest, peace and power, the righteousness of our 
 Ix)rd Jesus Christ, and life eternal, revealed in thy own 
 heart ; and with joy draw water out of the wells of salva- 
 tion. 
 
 Now, if thou come to witness Christ's appearance in 
 spirit, and wilt become a disciple unto him, there are three 
 things thou must apply thy heart to learn of him ; which 
 indeed are the sum of the gospel, or of what is taught iu 
 and by the gospel. The first is, to /ear Ood. This is the 
 beginning of true heavenly wisdom, and this is the per- 
 fection and the end of wisdom also ; for, true wisdom not 
 only brings into the fear, but it builds up in the fear, yea, 
 and perfects in the fear also ; according as the apostle 
 saith, " Perfecting holiness in the fear of the Lord." Now, 
 this is not sucli a fear, as man can attain by all he can do; 
 but is the fear of the new covenant, which God puts into 
 the hearts of his children, as he quickens them and brings 
 them up in the new covenant. This is such a fear, as that 
 those in whom it is placed, cannot de])art from the Lord ; 
 nor, abiding in it, err from the way of life and holiness ; 
 for all sin and transgression, all rebellion against the Lord, 
 and grieving and quenching his Spirit, is out of this fear. 
 O that thou mightst receive this fear from the Lord, and 
 grow up unto him daily in it! 
 
 The second, which depends upon and Hows from the 
 former, is, to give glonj to God, iu discerning his life and 
 power, and tlie virtue of his Spirit and his grace, working 
 all in thee ; and so, still ascribing the glory to him, of all 
 thou art, dost, or canst do : for, in the day of the gospel, 
 no flesh can glory in the presence of our God ; but, the 
 Lord alone is exalted in the spirits of his children, in that 
 day. And indeed, as every one comes into the fear of the 
 
80 
 
 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 
 
 new covenant, the presence of the Lord is there, dwelling 
 in the midst of the heart ; and he is found working all 
 therein, and bringing forth the seed of life, and working^ 
 down sin, and death, and corruption. And they that are 
 here, feel their own poverty and nothingness, as in them- 
 selves ; and that their way to become strong in Christ, is 
 first to become weak in themselves : and so, when they 
 are strong in him, he who is their strength is glorified and 
 admired, and self is of no reputation or value forever and 
 ever ; for, that is cleaved to, which brought down self, and 
 that power and spirit being cleaved to, still keeps it down. 
 
 The third is, that thou learn to worship God in spirit 
 and truth. O this worship is precious indeed ! and this is 
 the only sort of worship which God seeketh and regardeth, 
 among the many various kinds of worshippers which ap- 
 pear at this day. This worship was declared by Christ, 
 and taught his disciples ; but it has been in great measure 
 departed from ; and though many have sought after it, 
 yet none ever could ^ud it, but as they have learned of the 
 Father to return to the anointing ; and so, to be gathered 
 into his Spirit, where Christ's name is known, and where 
 they that meet together, worship in his name : and, of a 
 truth, none know or can worship in. Christ's name besides 
 these. There have been great mistakes about worship 
 and gatherings ; they having not been in the name and 
 power of our Lord Jesus Christ, but only in a profession 
 thereof, and an imitation of things, without the true life 
 and power ; and what is that worship and religion in the 
 sight of the Lord? 
 
 Now, that thou may est come into this state, and learn 
 all these lessons of the Lord in the new covenant, there is 
 one thing indispensably necessary for thee ; which is, to 
 know the hour of God's judgment in thy own heart, and to 
 lie under the judgment of the Lord, bearing it till he 
 finish it, and bring it forth unto victory. For, this is the 
 
LETTERS 
 
 OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 
 
 81 
 
 way whereby he purges and redeems tlic soul ; to wit, by 
 the spirit of judgment and burning. Thou must therefore 
 wait for, and come to feel, the Spirit of the Lord near 
 thee, discovering sin to thee, and revealing judgment 
 against it, and executing his righteous judgment upon the 
 evil nature in thee ; that he may raise up that good and 
 tender plant of righteousness, out of the dry and barren 
 ground, to which his mercy is. 
 
 If thou come to know God's Spirit, and to receive it, 
 and feel it work in thee, and its pure light shine from Ihe 
 fountain and spring of life, thou wilt have a quicker sense 
 and discerning therefrom, thau can arise either from words 
 written, or from thoughts ; that is, the Lord will show thee 
 the way whereof thou doubtest, quicker than a thought 
 can arise in thee ; and the Lord will show thee evil, in a 
 pure sense of the new nature, quicker than thou canst 
 think or consider of any thing. And indeed, this is need- 
 ful ; for, sin lodges in the evil nature inwardly, and works, 
 not so much by a known law set up in the mind, as by a 
 secret nature ; and, if it be not resisted and withstood by 
 another nature, it can never be-overcome. Now, by this 
 judgment set up in the heart, doth God overcome and 
 keep down sin forever ; for, the judgment of God is stronger 
 than sin, and will bring it down, where his judgment is 
 received and abode in ; and that which brought it down, 
 being kept to, will keep it down ; and, it being kept down, 
 life and righteousness, even the righteous life, Spirit, and 
 power of the Lord Jesus inwardly revealed, will be upper- 
 most, and reign over it. 
 
 Perhaps these words, at present, may be hard unto thee : 
 but, if tliou come to wait on God's Holy Spirit, and to the 
 feeling of his appearance in thy heart, and learn of him 
 to know what is good and what is evil in thy words, ways, 
 worship, yea, and in thy very heart and thoughts, and also 
 to choose the good and refuse the evil ; they will grow 
 
 F 
 
82 
 
 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 
 
 easier and easier, and plainer and plainer, daily, as thou 
 comest into the sense and experience of the things they 
 mention. And thou wilt find Christ, inwardly revealed 
 iu spirit, to be very properly called the Word of God, 
 even the ingrafted word which is able to save the soul ; 
 for he is quick and powerful, and sharper than any two- 
 edged sword, able to cut down all that shall appear or rise 
 up iu the heart, to resist or oppose his work. 
 
 The Lord so guide thee, inanifest himself to thee, help 
 thee^ and lead thee by his Holy Spirit and power, as that 
 thou mayest come undeniably to experience, and to be sat- 
 isfied by him about these things. And mind not so much 
 to knoiv, as to be obedient and subjected to the Lord, both 
 in thy heart and in thy conversation also, in the least 
 thing that he makes manifest. If the Lord would show 
 thee but this one thing, — that, to use "thee" and "thou" 
 to a particular person, is proper language, and Scripture 
 language ; and that, to say " you," is improper, and arose 
 from pride, and nourisheth pride, and so is of the world, 
 and not of the Father; and thou should bow thy spirit to 
 him in this one thing, thou little thinkest what a work it 
 would make within thee, and how strongly the spirit of 
 darkness would fight against thy subjection thereto. The 
 Lord lead thee as he seeth good, and give thee faithfully 
 to follow ; for else, if the Lord should lead in anything, 
 and thou not follow in that thing, his Spirit would be 
 grieved and vexed thereby, and thy heart in danger of 
 being hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. 
 
 The Lord give thee the sense and savour of these things; 
 that thou mayest thereby be kindled to wait on the Lord, 
 to be led into the light of the living ; that thou mayest live 
 a)id walk with hira therein, who is, and dwells, and walks 
 with his, in the light. O house of Jacob ! come ye, let us 
 walk in the light of the Lord, and let us come up to Zion, the 
 holy hill of God, and to the gospel Jerusalem, that there he 
 
LETTERS OF ISAAC PEXIXGTOISr, 
 
 83 
 
 may toai'h us of his ways, and we may there learn of him 
 to walk ill his i)aths ; for there, is the place of wisdom and 
 true understanding, which none know but those that are 
 taught of God. 
 
 This is in true friendship and tender love to thy soul, 
 from its Friend in truth and sincerity, I. P. 
 
 26th of Eighth Montli, 1670. 
 
 LETTER XXVII. 
 
 Advice and Sympathy under Trial. 
 To Elizabeth Walmsley. 
 
 My very dear Friend, — Many are the trials, afflic- 
 tions, and temptations, which the Lord seeth good to exer- 
 cise us with, for the purifying and making us white, that 
 he may honour his name in us and through us : but this 
 promise stands sure in the seed, "I will never leave thee, 
 nor forsake thee." And, if our God be with us and for us, 
 what can prevail against the work and design of bis love 
 and power towards us ? 
 
 I am deeply sensible of thy condition, feeling it, even in 
 the tender and melting love of my heart towards thee ; 
 and this word sjjrang in me to thee. Look not out, but 
 trust in the Lord, who can make things easier than they 
 seem likely to be ; and will certainly carry his through 
 the hardest things, which he suffers to befall them. 
 
 O ! the Lord keep all in his pure innoceucy ; out of the 
 earthly contriving wisdom, which saith. Save thyself, avoid 
 this dreadful brunt, this stroke of the cross; which it is 
 easy to hearken to, if the mind be not kept to that eye 
 and that wisdom, which discovers the tempter, aud iustruct- 
 elh the bird to escajje his suare. 
 
84 
 
 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 
 
 My dear love is to thee, and to all faithful Friends. 
 The Lord keep you from hearkeuiug to the enemy, and 
 make you faithful to him, in the pure iuuocency and heav- 
 enly wisdom which is of him ; for, Truth triumphs over 
 deceit, and the life of the Lamb on the cross, reigns and 
 triumphs over death : glory to Him, who hath overcome 
 in his person, and who teacheth us to overcome, through 
 faith in his power, — and from the overflowings of the con- 
 quering life in our hearts, which first brings down that 
 which is contrary to Truth, and then reigns in the Truth. 
 
 Thy Friend in the love which never dies, and iu the 
 Truth which changes not, I. P. 
 
 Catsgrove, 
 14th of Tenth Month, 1670. 
 
 LETTER XXVIIL 
 
 Of Obedience in Confessing Christ ; also on the Light of Christ. 
 
 To Elizabeth Stonah. 
 
 Dear Friend, — I am sensible that the Lord hath 
 visited thee with his power, reaching to thy heart in the 
 demonstration of his own Spirit, and that thy heart hath 
 answered, and said in the inward of thy soul. It is God's 
 Truth indeed. Now, so far as God hath reached to thee, 
 so far it behooves thee to confess him, his Truth, and peo- 
 ple before men, and to give up in obedience and subjec- 
 tion of Spirit to the Lord. And, if thou say, in the sim- 
 plicity of thy heart, to any that have any tenderness, 
 Thus it is with me ; I believe from my heart this or this is 
 of God ; what shall I do ? shall I give up in obedience 
 thereto, or shall I disobey the Lord, grieve his Spirit, and 
 wound my own soul ? This will reach that which is of 
 
LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 
 
 85 
 
 God in any; and this will wound and trouble that which 
 is not of God. 
 
 The Lord guide thee, and pity thee, and help thee in 
 thy straits, and doubts, and fears, and troubles, both in 
 reference to thyself and mother. God is my witness, whom 
 I serve in my spirit, in the gospel of his Son, that I have 
 not sought myself, but your good ; aud that, not of my- 
 self neither, but in the leadings and drawings of his Holy 
 Spirit. And I gave thy husband a warning, in true and 
 tender love ; though I knew well enough, how hard it 
 would be to his spirit, in his present state, and what a bit- 
 ter enemy he might become to me, for telling him the 
 truth. I did it not unadvisedly, but in the weight of my 
 spirit before the Lord ; and I heartily wish, that he were 
 not deceived in heart concerning his own state, but truly 
 knew it, as it is. 
 
 Thy soul's true and sincere-hearted Friend, I. P. 
 
 POSTSCRIPT. 
 
 There is light, which enlightens the soul, or it remains 
 in darkness : " Ye were darkness," said the apostle, " but 
 now are ye light in the Lord." Now, no man can become 
 light in the Lord, unless his nature and spirit be renewed, 
 and changed out of darkness into light. Now, the ques- 
 tion is, what this light is, and where is it to be met with. 
 Are the Scriptures, then, this light? or do they testify of 
 this light? If they testify of this light, then, the light is 
 to be come to, and the soul to be enlightened by it. And, 
 he that comes to this light, and is enlightened by it, and 
 walks in the pure shinings thereof, he becomes a child of 
 light; but, he that is not enlightened and changed by it, 
 is yet a child of darkness, notwithstanding whatsoever he 
 learns, professeth, or practiseth, by imitation from the 
 Scriptures. This is a weighty matter. 
 8 
 
86 
 
 LETTERS OF ISAAC PEXIXGTOif. 
 
 O come ! be not wedded to your own ways, nor preju- 
 diced against what God hath taught others ; but let 
 things be lairly scanned, that all things may be proved, 
 and that which is good held fast ; for, Truth will not lose 
 ground by being tried; but, darkness is afraid of the 
 light, because it has a secret sense, that it cannot stand 
 before it. I- P- 
 
 16th of Twelfth Month, 1670. 
 
 LETTER XXIX. 
 
 On tlie Life, inward Sense, and Power of tlie Spirit ; also Respect- 
 ing the Scriptures, and the Church, &c. 
 
 To Nathaniel Stonar. 
 
 Dear Friend, — There is somewhat on ray heart, to 
 express to thee, in love and great good-will, which is as 
 followeth. 
 
 Would it not be sad, if thou should perish from the 
 Lord forever ? If thou err in heart from the living way, 
 it may be so : indeed, if thy mind be not turned from 
 darkness, inward darkness, to the inward light of God's 
 Spirit, it cannot be otherwise. Now, if thou feel the in- 
 ward light, the power of the pure light, and art changed 
 thereby, thou canst not speak against that light. 
 
 There was no true religion in the apostles' days, without 
 turning to the inward light, and to that the true ministry 
 was sent to turn men ; nor is there any true religion now, 
 without being inwardly turned to, and walking in the 
 same light ; nor canst thou try any truth, or understand 
 any Scripture aright, but in the light of God's Spirit. 
 No man can understand the things of God, but the Spirit 
 of God. The Scriptures are holy words, and treat of the 
 things of God, which no man can understand, but in a 
 
LETTERS OF ISAAC PEXINGTON. 
 
 87 
 
 light of the same nivture from wliidi they came; and, 
 when once a man comes to the true understanding, he soon 
 finds that the understanding whicli he liad of the same 
 before, was but after the flesh, even short of tiie uature of 
 the true understanding. And, Friend, consider, if thy 
 knowledge, which thou hast hitherto had, hath changed, 
 or doth change the nature of thy understanding and will? 
 or, is thy old understanding and will yet remaining, not- 
 withstanding all thy knowledge and practices in religion? 
 
 0 do not dally in things of so great concernment, lest 
 thou repent too late ! for, I do not tell thee what I see 
 concerning thee, in the light of God's eternal Spirit; but, 
 
 1 would fain have thine own eye, or rather the right eye 
 in thee, opened and brought to see. 
 
 And, consider one Scripture seriously concerning the 
 church of Laodicea : had it not the true knowledge out- 
 wardly, and a true church state, and right ordinances? 
 Did it not believe in Christ, and look up to him for 
 justification, &c. Nay, what did it want, as to the out- 
 wardness of its state? But, it wanted sense, life, warmth, 
 inwardly. So that, if ye had all ordinances and truths 
 of the gospel light outwardly; yet, if ye wanted the in- 
 ward power, ye could not but want the tried gold, the 
 ivhUe raiment, and eije-fsalve : and so, though ye might 
 think yourselves rich, &c. yet, the shame of your nakedness 
 would appear; yea, indeed, the nakedness of such as are 
 not clothed with God's Spirit, doth appear to the Lord, 
 and to the eyes and spirits of his children, which he 
 openeth in his own light, and who see with this eye; — I 
 say, the shame of their nakedness doth appear, notwith- 
 standing all the religious covers they can put upon them- 
 selves. O that thou hadst desires, living desires, after the 
 nature of Truth ! and wert acquainted with the new 
 nature, which can be satisfied with nothing but the virtue, 
 life, and power of Truth. 
 
88 
 
 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 
 
 Come, Friend, wait on tlie Lord, to liave the old nature, 
 tlieoldspirit, mind, wisdom, understanding and will, broken, 
 — the old garment torn to pieces; that thou mayest come 
 to ex])ei'ience that which is new, pure, and living ; and 
 find the new vessel filled with that which is new; and 
 know the virgin state of spirit, and the savour of the true 
 ointment. For, life savours life, and death savours death, 
 and living words are but the savour of death, to them that 
 are out of the life ; and, the living Stone, which is the 
 foundation of life to us, and very precious, is but a stone 
 of stumbling, and rock of ofi'ence, to them that are out of 
 the life ; and who judge of things by their apprehensions 
 of the letter, without the spirit of life and power. As the 
 Scribes and Pharisees formerly did, and so condemned 
 Christ in his appearance in the fle;-h ; those who judge 
 after that manner now, cannot but condemn his spiritual 
 appearance in the hearts of liis children. The letter 
 killeth, the Spirit gives life. If thou wilt have life, thou 
 must come to that which gives life. If thou wilt come 
 into the ministration of the new testament, thou must 
 come into the Spirit and power ; and know the letter of 
 the Scriptures, in the spirit and power which wrote them, 
 if ever thou know them aright. Yea, if thou wilt become 
 a son of God, thou must receive power from Christ so to 
 do ; and, if thou wilt believe aright, thou must feel faith 
 wrought in thy heart, by that very power, which raised 
 our Lord Jesus Christ from the dead ; all other faith falls 
 short of the nature of true faith. 
 
 If thou receive from the Lord the true sense of these 
 thiugs, thou wilt bless his name, for engaging my heart to 
 write them to thee ; but, if thou read them, out of that 
 Avhich gives the true understanding, they cannot be of 
 advantage to thee. But, whatever entertainment they 
 have with thee, yet, my judgment is with the Lord, and 
 my work and ];ibour of love with my God, who is my 
 
LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 
 
 89 
 
 strength and joy ; in whom my soul rests in peace, in tl^e 
 bosom of my Beloved. And, O ! that thou also mightest 
 feel quickenings of life and true leadings ; and thus be 
 acquainted with that faithful travel, which leads thither. 
 
 Thy Friend, in the heartiness of true love, so far as the 
 Lord pleaseth to make use of me towards thee, I. P. 
 
 7th of the Fourth Month, 1C71. 
 
 POSTSCRIPT. 
 
 The apostle speaks of the state of the Gentiles, before 
 they were turned from darkness to light, and from the 
 power of Satan to God ; that their understanding was 
 darkened, being alienated from the life of God, through 
 the ignorance that was in them, because of the hardness 
 of their heart ; not that that which might be known of 
 God, was not manifest in them ; but their ignorance was, 
 because of their hardness, in not minding it, not turning 
 to it, and so, they became alienated from the life, and their 
 understanding not opened by it. 
 
 Now, in this state, men are without God, without Christ, 
 strangers to the covenant of promise, and without any 
 true hope of salvation ; and this state, they are as really 
 in, who get a form of godliness without the power, as the 
 very natural heathen. For, nothing makes a true Chris- 
 tian, but the life and power : and he, that doth not hear 
 the voice of Christ's Spirit in his heart, is no better than 
 a heathen and a publican. Yea, any church, built up out 
 of the life and power, (nay, a church, though built by the 
 power, yet, if not preserved in the same,) is not better 
 than a synagogue of Satan. They that say, they are Jews, 
 but are not so ; ministers of Christ, but are not, and do 
 lie; alas! what are they? O how precious is life! how 
 precious is the power of God, in which the churches of old 
 stood, and the true churches at this day stand in ! 
 8* 
 
90 
 
 LETTERS OF ISAAC PEXINGTON". 
 
 It is precious, to know tlie Spirit of the living God, to 
 be begotten by hira in the life, which is true and pure, to 
 be separated from death and the power thereof, and to be 
 married to life and the power thereof, ^ — -to be married to 
 the conquering Lamb, who triumphed over sin and death 
 in his body of flesh, and, by his Spirit and power, delivers 
 his spouse fi"om the strength and dominion of them. And, 
 it is precious, to walk with the Lamb, and to follow the 
 Lamb whithersoever he goes; who alwaj's leads out of sin 
 and unrighteousness, into ways of purity and righteous- 
 ness, into the path which is prepared for the ransomed, 
 where there is no danger of erring, — no, not so much as 
 to the wayfaring ones, though fools, Isai. xxxv. 8. 
 
 Oh ! is it uot precious, experimentally to read that 
 Scripture, and to be able in true understanding to say, 
 The way of life is easy, the yoke easy, the burden easy, 
 the conimandincnt not grievous ; that being brought down, 
 and subdued in me, yea, removed and cast out, to which 
 it was hard. Alas! men building in the flesh, and after 
 their carnal apprehensions of things, — how loathsome is 
 it! but, God's building, raised iu the light and life of liis 
 pure Spirit, how glorious, how beautiful, how lovely is it, 
 even in the eye of God himself! "Thou art all fair, my 
 love, there is no spot iu thee." Sol. Song, iv. 7. — Into thy 
 holy building, O God ! into thy heavenly building, into 
 the spiritual Jerusalem, which thou rearest and buildest 
 up iu the Spirit, no unclean or defiled thing can enter ; nor 
 is there any room there, for that which loves and makes a 
 lie ! — Without, indeed, are swine and dogs, vulturous eyes 
 and crooked serpents, who make a show of what they are 
 not, and lay claim to that which belongs uot to them ; but, 
 within, are the children, within is the heavenly birth, even 
 the new creation of God in Christ Jesus. For, God doth 
 not strip his people naked, and gather them out of the 
 spirit of this world, that they should be empty and deso- 
 
LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 
 
 91 
 
 late forever; but, he gathers thoni into, and fills them with 
 his own Spirit, fills them with light, fills them with life, 
 fills them with holiness, fills them with righteousness, fills 
 them witii peace and jo}'', in believing and obeying the 
 gospel! And, in this Spirit, is the kingdom known, which 
 is not of this world, — the inward kingdom, the spiritual 
 kingdom, the everlasting kingdom ! — w'here the everlast- 
 ing throne is near, and the everlasting power revealed ! 
 and the Lord God Omnipotent reigns in the hearts of his ! 
 and other lords do not reign, but their horns are broken 
 — and the horn of God's Anointed exalted, who sits ruling 
 as King on his holy hill of Zion ! — and they that have 
 suffered with him, and gone through great tribulation, do 
 reign with him ; blessed be his name forever! I. P. 
 10th of Fourth Month. 
 
 LETTER XXX. 
 
 Of Truth in the Inward Parts. 
 To Widow HEjrjiiNGS. 
 
 Dear Friend, — I think it long since I heard from 
 thee. I i-emember the sweet and precious savour that 
 ■was upon thy spirit, the last time I was with thee, with 
 my dear Friend, J. C. It hath been my hoj)e and desire, 
 that the Lord might preserve thee therein. 
 
 The Truth in the inward parts, is of God ; that is the 
 thing which all are to mind ; and in which, accei)tance 
 with God is witnessed. Out of the Truth in the inward 
 parts, there is no acceptance with God, let men profess 
 what they will or can. In the Truth, there is always ac- 
 ceptance ; for God never disowned it, nor any that are in 
 it. Here, the flesh and blood, which give life, are fed on ; 
 
92 
 
 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENIN«TON. 
 
 here, the bread which comes down from heavcu, and tlie 
 water of life, are known ; but, out of this, they are not, 
 nor can they be known. 
 
 0 my Friend! that thou mightest feel more and more 
 the Truth in the inward parts, and be more and more 
 established therein. "What is the feeding outward, or 
 supper outward ? It is but a shadow. The feeding in- 
 ward, or the supper inward, is the substance. And, as 
 the day dawns, and the day-star arises in thy heart, tlie 
 shadows will flee away, and the substance be discovered, 
 owned, and delighted in by thee. The shadows reach but 
 to the outward part, but the ministration of life, the minis- 
 tration of the substance, reaches to the seed : and, thou 
 must be more and more transplanted into the seed, that 
 Christ may be formed in thee, and thou formed in him ; 
 and so grow up into his heavenly nature and image, — out 
 of the earthly, out of the natural. Oh! the Lord God 
 prosper his own seed and holy plantation in thy heart ; 
 and keep thee in the meek, lowly, humble, poor, and tender 
 spirit, unto which is his mercy aud blessing. 
 
 1 expected to Have heard from thee, or at least from thy 
 daughter S., before this time, supposing I had a promise 
 thereof from her. The Lord uphold, preserve, and bless 
 her. Let her not look out, but only look within, what the 
 will of the Lord is ; and mind nothing else ; and it will 
 be well with her. 
 
 My dear love is both to thee and her, who am thy sin- 
 cere Friend, I. P. 
 4th of Ninth Month, 1C73. 
 
LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 
 
 93 
 
 LETTEE XXXL 
 
 Deliverance from Spiritual Enemies by Clirist, &c. ; also of 
 Offences. 
 
 Dear Friend, — For, ia those true desires, which I 
 observe iu thy heart towards the Lord, thou art, and canst 
 not but be dear unto me — I had a desire to have stayed 
 a little while with thee, the last time I passed through 
 Uxbridge, but was prevented. 
 
 The occasion of my writing to thee, was, somewhat 
 which was on my heart towards thee. 
 
 Wouldst thou know the Lord in the gospel covenant, 
 and wouldst thou walk with him therein '? I know thou 
 wouldst. Wouldst thou have sin destroyed in thee, and 
 Christ reign in thy heart ? Wouldst thou so fight against 
 thy enemies, as to overcome, and so run the race, as 
 certainly to obtain the everlasting prize, and eternal 
 weight of glory ? O ! then, mind Truth in the inward 
 parts, even the grace and truth, which are by Jesus. 
 Christ ; to whom God hath given power, and who gives 
 power to his, by the grace of his Holy Spirit, over sin and 
 corruption in the inward parts. Did not God conquer the 
 enemies of the outward Jews iu Egypt, iu the wilderness, 
 and in the good land also ? And shall he not do so in- 
 wardly, for the inward Jews? There are enemies in 
 Egypt ; in the land that is, as I may say, wholly dark, 
 and under the oppression of spiritual Pharaoh. There 
 are enemies in that heart, which is as a wilderness and 
 solitary place ; and there are enemies in that heart, Avhich 
 is in some measure renewed, and made good and honest. 
 Now, ail the spiritual enemies, all the enemies of a man's 
 own house, are to be destroyed by the power of the Lord 
 Jesus Christ, working by his grace in the heart ; which, 
 
94 
 
 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTOK. 
 
 being received, subjected to, dwelt in, and obeyed, briugs 
 deliverance and salvation from thera all. And, when sal- 
 vation is brought home to the heart, and wrought out 
 there by the Lord, it is to be enjoyed and abode in, and 
 the soul is not to return back again into captivity ; but, 
 being delivered out of the hands of its inward and spirit- 
 ual enemies, by the holy, inward, and spiritual covenant, 
 is to serve God in the dominion of his Son's life, in holi- 
 ness and righteousness all its days hei'e upon the earth. 
 
 O my Friend ! mind this precious Truth inwardly, this 
 precious grace iuwai'dly, the precious life inwardly, the 
 precious light inwardly, the precious power inwardly, the 
 inward wprd of life, the inward voice of the Shepherd in 
 the heart, the inward seed, the inward salt, the inward 
 leaven, the inward pearl, &c. whereby Christ effects this. 
 Distinguish between words ivithout concerning the thing, 
 and the thing itself ; and wait and labour, then, to 
 
 know, understand, and be guided by, the motives, lead- 
 ings, drawings, teachings, quickeuings, &c. of the thing it- 
 self within. And, take heed of being oSended, because of 
 any thing, either within or without ; for, offences will 
 come, but blessed was he, that was not offended at Christ 
 outwardly in the days of his flesh ; and blessed is he, that 
 is not offended at his inward Truth, and inward way of 
 appearance in the day of his Spirit. Moses, that precious 
 servant of the Lord, spake unadvisedly with his lips ; how 
 easy is it, then, for those, who come not near Moses' state, 
 so to do ; but, wait on God, that thou mayest distinguish 
 between what Truth speaks in any of us, and what any 
 of us may unadvisedly speak, out of the Truth, — if we 
 stand not upon the watch, and our words be not seasoned 
 with God's light and his grace. For, praying to God, as 
 God's Spirit leads and gives ability, and watching unto 
 prayer, and seeking opportunities both alone and in our 
 families, that God may open our hearts, and breathe upon 
 
LETTERS OF ISAAC P E N I N G T O N . 
 
 95 
 
 UP, and for frequent and diligent reading of the Holy 
 Scriptures, — none can testify from the Truth against these 
 things; though, against men's dead and formal perform- 
 ing of these things, there is a living testimony. Now, take 
 lieed of mistaking the testimony in any ; or of being 
 stumbled, if any go beyond their due bounds in their tes- 
 timony. 
 
 O my Friend ! how precious is the thing,* beyond all 
 words or testimonies! O that thou mayest come to know 
 ihaf in thyself, and to be sensible of God's ministering by 
 it to thee, and increasing it in thee! that thou mayest ex- 
 perimentally feel the seed in thee, and find it grow more 
 and more, till it come to be a tree ; and then, sit under its 
 shadow, and be delighted with its defence, and partake of 
 its sap and fruit. O that, every day, thou mightest have a 
 sense of the life itself, the Truth itself, the power itself, 
 the wisdom itself, tlie righteousness itself! and, that thou 
 mightest find the Lord Josus Christ both unclothing and 
 clothing thee, inwardly, sensibly, and experimentally; — 
 that thou mightest find him taking away thy sin, thy 
 iniquities, thy unrighteousness, both within and without 
 also, and filling thee, and clothing thee with his righteous- 
 ness ; — that so in God's sight, and hy his putting on thee, 
 and forming ift thee, thou mightest find thy heart filled and 
 covered with the nature, image and Spirit of his dear Son ; 
 — that thou mightest, indeed, put off the old man with 
 his nature and deeds, and put on the new man, and know 
 the renewing and new creating in Christ Jesus, in tlie 
 spirit of thy mind; — and so, have a certain understanding 
 of the Truth, as it is in Jesus, and as he manifests it, gives 
 power to it, and causes it to work in thy heart. This is 
 the desire of my soul for thee : the Lord guide thee to it, 
 and remove all lets and hindrances out of thy way. 
 
 My dear and true love is to thy husband. The Lord 
 manifest his pure, and living Truth in both your hearts, 
 
96 
 
 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 
 
 and gather both your minds thei-eunto, and make you one 
 therein. 
 
 Thy Friend in Truth, who heartily wisheth well to thy 
 soul, I. p. 
 
 Grove Place, 
 17th of Ninth Montli, 1673, 
 
 • 
 
 LETTEK XXXII. 
 Encouragement to Faithfulness under Apprehension of Sufferings, 
 To Widow Hemmings, 
 
 My dear Friend, — I have not forgotten thee : but 
 have often inquired after thee, and many times breathed 
 for thee, 
 
 O my Friend look not out at what stands in the way ; 
 what if it look dreadfully as a lion, is not the Lord 
 stronger than the mountains of prey ? but look in, where 
 the law of life is written, and the will of the Lord revealed, 
 that thou mayest know what is the Lord's will concerning 
 thee ; and then show thyself a faithful daughter of 
 Abraham, and be like Sarah, not terrified with any 
 amazement. So soon as I had read thy letter, this arose 
 in ray heart to thee, as God's counsel, proper to thy state. 
 Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of dark- 
 ness, but rather reprove them. Be not straitened in thy 
 spirit, as fearing what thou shalt suffer for Christ's sake ; 
 or, as if God would not stand by thee, or carry thee 
 through. Be thy sufferings as great as possible, yet he is 
 foithful, who hath promised thee an hundred-fold in this 
 life. 
 
 O ! what can hurt thee, if thy God stand by thee ? Be 
 faithful to his testimony iu thy place, and he will stand by 
 
LETTERS OP ISAAC 
 
 PENINGTON. 
 
 97 
 
 tliee. Take lieed of joining with dead worsliips, wliich the 
 seed of God in thee disowns, and cannot relish ; but meek- 
 ly and in fear, testify against, and abstain from, what thou 
 feelest not to be of the Lord. 
 
 This wa's what was in my heart to thee at present in 
 true and tender love, and in melting desires for thee, that 
 the Lord may guide and preserve thee, and give thee of 
 the Lamb's courage and strength, who by meekness and 
 sufferings is now to conquer. What if the wicked nature, 
 which is as a sea casting out mire and dirt, rage against 
 thee ? There is a river, a sweet, still, flowing river, the 
 streams whereof will make glad thy heart. And, learu 
 but in quietness and stillness to retire to the Lord, and 
 wait upon him ; in whom thou shalt feel peace and joy, in 
 the midst of thy trouble from the cruel and vexatious 
 spirit of this world. So, wait to know thy work and 
 service to the Lord every day, in thy place and station ; 
 and the Lord make thee faithful therein, and thou wilt 
 want neither help, support, nor comfort. 
 
 Thy Friend, in the truest, sincerest, and most constant 
 love, I. P. 
 
 London, 
 1st of Ninth Month, 1675. 
 
 LETTER XXXIIL 
 Exhortation Belative to the Christian Life and Travel. 
 
 To DULCIBELLA LAITON. 
 
 Dear Friend, — Concerning whom I feel a travail, — 
 this is the sense of ray heart in relation to thee. 
 
 There is a pure seed of life, which God hath sown in 
 thee; O that it might come through, and come over all 
 9 G 
 
98 
 
 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 
 
 that is above it, and contrary to it ! And for that end wait 
 daily to feel it, and to feel thy mind subdued by it, and 
 joined to it. Take heed of looking out, in the reasonings 
 of thy mind, but dwell in the feeling sense of life ; and 
 then, that will arise in thee more and more, which niaketh 
 truly wise, and gives power, and brings into the holy 
 authority and dominion of life. Many that have been 
 long travelling, are now entering into their possessions and 
 inheritance, which the Lord is daily enlarging in them, 
 and to them. O that thy lot may be among them, inwardly 
 witnessed and possessed by thee ! Prize inward exercises, 
 griefs, and troubles ; and let faith and patience have their 
 perfect work in them. O desire to be good, upright, and 
 perfect in God's sight ! and wait to feel the life, the Sjjirit, 
 and power, which -makes so. Come out of the knowledge 
 and comprehension about things, into the feeling life ; and 
 let that be thy knowledge and wisdom, which thou receiv- 
 est and retaincst in the feeling life ; and that will lead 
 thee into the footsteps of the flock, without reasoning, 
 consulting, or disputing. 
 
 O ! wait to be taught and enabled by God to fetch right 
 steps in thy travels ; and to take up the cross and despise 
 the shame in everything, wherein that wisdom, will, and 
 mind, which is to be crucified, would be judge ; for, it will 
 judge amiss, and lead aside, if it l)e hearkened to by thee. 
 The Lord show thee the snares and dangers to which tliou 
 art liable, and lead thee out of them ; that whatever hin- 
 dereth may be discovered to thee, and thy mind singly 
 joined to that which discovereth, that so it may be re- 
 moved out of the way ; and all crooked things be made 
 straight in thee, and the rough plain, and the high low, 
 and the low high, and the v.-or.k and foolish strong and 
 wise, and the wise and strong weak and foolish. O! wait 
 to feel and understand my words, that thy conversation 
 may be ordered aright by the power and wisdom of God ; 
 
LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 
 
 99 
 
 and that thou mayest inwardly come to witness the glorious 
 coming of Him, who is the salvation of God, and in whom 
 thou shalt not fail to see the salvation of God. 
 
 Thou must be very low, weak, and foolish, that the seed 
 may arise in thee to exalt thee, and become thy strength 
 and wisdom ; and thou must die exceedingly, again and 
 again, more and more, inwardly and deeply ! that thy life 
 may spring up from the holy root and stock ; and thou 
 mayest be more and more gathered into it, spring up into 
 it, and live alone in the life, virtue, and power thereof. 
 The travel is long, the exercises many, the snares, tempta- 
 tions, and dangers many ; and yet the mercy, relief, and 
 help, is great also. 
 
 O! that thou mayest feel thy calling and election, thy 
 sinking down, springing up, and establishment, in the pure 
 seed, in the light and righteousness thereof over all ; that 
 tViou mayest sing songs of degrees to the Redeemer of Israel, 
 and mayest daily more and more partake of and rejoice in 
 him, who is our joy, and the crown thereof. 
 
 Thy Friend, in the most sincere, tender love, I. P. 
 
 11th of Filth Month, 1677. 
 
 LETTER XXXIV. 
 
 On Decay of "First Love," and a Hardened State throiigli the 
 Deceitfiihiess of Sin. 
 
 To George Winkfield. 
 
 Deak Friend, — Two things stick upon my heart, since 
 our last short discourse at the window at King's, through 
 my desire that it may go well with thee, and that thou 
 mayest be right in God's sight. 
 
 One is, that saying of thine about thy love to Truth 
 
100 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTOK. 
 
 and Friends, as if it were as great as ever it was. Now, I 
 entreat thee to weigh this tiling, and to wait on God to 
 know, whether it be really so or no ; which thou mayest 
 understand by this : if thou be as really desirous, and wait- 
 est, as singly, to know and obey the commands of truth as 
 ever, then, thy love to it is as great as formerly in its first 
 heat and zeal ; otherwise, not. " He that hath my com- 
 mandments and keepeth them,"- saith Christ, "he it is that 
 loveth me." John, xiv. 21. And hereby, we know that 
 our knowledge of him is true and living ; because it leads, 
 quickens, and enables us to the keeping of his command- 
 ments. 1 John, ii. 3. 
 
 The other is, that thou saidst, thy heart is not hardened. 
 O ! consider this seriously ; for, if thy heart be hardened, 
 and thou not sensible of it, thy estate is exceeding dan- 
 gerous. Now, if the Lord by his power hath preserved 
 thee out of that which hardens the heart ; then, without 
 doubt, thy heart is not hardened : but, if the enemy hath 
 tempted thee to let in reasonings into thy mind, against 
 anything that is indeed of God ; and thou hast run into 
 any practices contrary to Truth, and justifiest them in thy 
 heart, from any reasonings and thoughts the enemy hath 
 suggested to and strengthened thy mind in ; then, without 
 doubt, thy heart is so far hardened. It is impossible for 
 thee, or any one else, to let in that which hardens, and not 
 be hardened. 
 
 O ! mind that precious advice of the Apostle, Heb. iii. 
 13. Mark, sin deceives, lust deceives, desire after any- 
 thing that pleaseth the flesh, and is desirable to the worldly 
 nature, deceives. And, whoever is deceived by it, and lets 
 it in, (mind, he doth not let it in as an evil thing, but is 
 deceived by it,) his heart is hardened against that, which 
 would show him the evil of it, and draw his mind from 
 it, if he did in truth hearken to it, and were not lulled 
 asleep in the deceit. And, there must be a daily watching 
 
LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 101 
 
 against that which deceives and hardens, as the apostle 
 there adviseth them to exhort one another unto, lest the 
 enemy at any time catch any of them in the snare of sin, 
 and so harden them. 
 
 Now, he that would not provoke the Lord to give him 
 up to full hardness, must take heed of the degrees thereof ; 
 and happy is he who so doth. O, G. W. ! consider, as be- 
 fore the Lord, whether thy walking be answerable to truth, 
 so far as thou knowest truth ; and whether thou art will- 
 ingly ignorant of anything, which the good God is willing 
 and ready to give thee the knowledge of, that thou mayest 
 take more liberty to the flesh in that, which the life of 
 Truth, if felt, would soon condemn and draw from. 
 
 This is in most sincere love to thee, from him who hath 
 always been thy Friend. I. P. 
 
 11th of Twelfth Month, 1677. 
 
 LETTER XXXV. 
 
 Propositions Relating to the Trutli and Substance of Religion. 
 To Sir William Drake (so styled). 
 
 First. 'There is a God, a holy, righteous, living, power- 
 ful God, who made heaven and earth, and all things therein; 
 and, at last, made man in his own image, and set him over 
 the works of his hands, to have dominion, and to rule in 
 his wisdom and power over them ; and to guide, order, and 
 make use of them, to the glory of Him that made them. 
 Now, in this state, God was pleased and took delight in 
 the works of his hands, and in man above all. 
 
 Secondly. Man, sinning against his Maker, lost this im- 
 age, which was his glory, and became brutish in uuder- 
 9* 
 
102 
 
 LETTERS OF 
 
 ISAAC PENIJSTGTON. 
 
 standing, and an enemy to God in his miud, and liable to 
 the wrath of God's holy and righteous nature. 
 
 Thirdly. There is no reconciliation to be had between 
 God and man any more, but by the change of this nature 
 in man : for, God is unchangeable, he is light, he is life, 
 he is holiness unchangeable ; and will never be recon- 
 ciled to, or have fellowship with darkness, with that 
 which is dead and unholy, — which man in his fallen estate 
 is, until he be begotten again to God, changed and renewed 
 from his evil and sinful nature, into a good and holy 
 nature, and till he be turned from evil works, and know 
 what it is to be the workmanshij) of God, created anew unto 
 good works. 
 
 Fourthly. Nothing can produce this change in man, but 
 the spirit and power of Christ, but the grace, and truth 
 which is by Jesus Christ. Therefore, a man had need be 
 sure that he receive this Spirit and power, and that he feel 
 the operative, changing virtue of it, and be really changed 
 thereby, being created anew, begotten anew to God, in the 
 holiness and righteousness of Truth, a son and servant to 
 the living God ; — or he can never know what belongs to 
 true reconciliation with God, and to fellowship with Him 
 in the light and life of his Son. . * 
 
 Fifthly. All the religions and professions upon the face 
 of the earth, which fall short of this Spirit, life, and power, 
 and wherein this new creation in Christ Jesus is not wit- 
 nessed, nor power received to abstain from what is evil, 
 and become sons to God, — are not the pure, powerful, 
 gospel religion, wherein the divine virtue and power of life 
 operates ; but, that which men in the earthly wisdom have 
 formed without life. And, all religions that have but a 
 form of godliness, and not the power, are to be turned 
 away from, and witnessed against, by such as are called 
 forth to be witnesses to the true, gospel religion and way 
 of worship, which stands in Spirit, life, and power. 
 
I.ETTEIIS OF ISAAC PKNINGTON. 103 
 
 Sixthly. This religion and worship, which stands in 
 Si)irit, life, and power, is the religion and worship, which 
 Christ .«et up about sixteen hundred years ago. John iv. 
 2;^, 24. 1 Cor. iv. 20. Eoni. vi. 4. And, this is the religion 
 which God hath revived and set up again, as they that 
 receive the gospel now preach it; and, believing in the 
 IX)wer, which is both outwardl)'^ testified of, and also in- 
 wardly revealed, they have the witness of it in their own 
 hearts. Rev. xiv. 6, 7. 1 John, v. 10, 11, 12. Isai. liii. 1. 
 O how sweet are these Scriptures, when they are rightly 
 read and rightly understood, the Lord giving the right un- 
 derstanding, and leading into the true experience of them ! 
 
 Friend, — Thou expressed to one of my youngest sons, 
 as he related to me, that thou hadst a desire I should 
 visit thee, that thou mightst have some discourse with me 
 about religion. That is the most profitable kind of dis- 
 course that can be, if it be ordered in the fear of the Lord, 
 and in a weighty sense and dread of him. I am very 
 serious in reference to religion, and would not therein mis- 
 take or miscarry, by any means ; and, if I might be help- 
 ful to thee, or to any man, as to the truth and power of 
 religion, it would be matter of gladness to my heart, and 
 of praising and blessing the Lord, in the sense of his 
 stretching forth his hand towards the saving of any. Now, 
 that our meeting and discourse may be the more solemn 
 and advantageous, I have sent thee a few plain proposi- 
 tions to consider of; which I do not only find signified of 
 in the Scriptures, but the Lord hath also written them on 
 my heart ; and, if they be plain to thee, and thou be also 
 in the serious sense of them, it may tend towards the 
 making of our discourse the more easy and profitable. 
 
 These are the main things; and he that is rightly 
 grounded, I mean, in the true and sensible experience of 
 them in his heart, cannot miss of God's guidance to make 
 
104 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 
 
 a safe and happy progress therein ; he daily Avaiting upon 
 the Lord, to be taught and led by Him, further and further, 
 into the life, Spirit, and power of Truth ; so tliat, he shall 
 be taught of God to know his Son Jesus, and the freedom 
 ■which is by the Truth as it is in Jesus, daily more and 
 more ; which it is my soul's sincere and single desire, that 
 thou, thy Avife, and family, maybe experiencers and happy 
 partakers of. 
 
 0 what a glorious state was man once in, befoi'e his 
 transgressing the holy law of God ! but, when he sinned, 
 how did he fall short of the glory of God ! Yet, as he 
 hears His voice and follows Him, that leads out of sin into 
 the image of God, into the holiness and righteousness of 
 Truth ; how is he brought back by the Lord, and how 
 doth he return, in the blessed leadings of God's blessed 
 Spirit, into the glory of God again ! Read 2 Cor. iii. 18 ; 
 and, O that thou mayest liviugly and sensibly know what 
 it means ! 
 
 1 remain an acknowledger of thy kindness, and a de- 
 sirer for thee, that thou mayest obtain from God the 
 knowledge of himself and his Son, which is experienced, 
 by them that receive it, to be, indeed, life eternal. 
 
 LP. 
 
 This was written in true love and good-will, and in the 
 fear of the Lord, and in the spriugings and openings of 
 his life in my heart. 
 
 19th of Fifth Month, 1678. 
 
LETTEES OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 105 
 
 LETTER XXXVL 
 
 Concerning the Seed of tlie Kingdom. 
 To S. W. 
 
 Dear Friend, — I ever had a love to thee, and a deep 
 sense of the serious work of God upon thy heart, and the 
 upright desires of thy soul after Hira. And, that the 
 Lord should yet preserve thee alive, in the midst of so 
 great and languishing weakness, is wonderful in my eye, 
 and, I hope, hath a tendency of some hoilour to his name, 
 and good to thee. I have often inquired of late concern- 
 ing thee, and was glad to understand what I inquired 
 after, by a letter from thy own hand ; upon reading 
 whereof, in the retired sense of my heart, I felt love arise 
 to thee, und breathings to the Lord for thee ; and, O ! 
 that thou mayest fully feel, and be joined to the seed of 
 life, the seed of the kingdom, which our Lord Jesus 
 Christ, in the days of his flesh, did not disdain to be a 
 preacher of 
 
 O my dear Friend ! let not any part of thy life lie in 
 notions above the seed, but let it all lie in the seed itself, 
 in thy waiting upon the Lord for its arisings in thee, and 
 in thy feeling its arisings. O what becomes of flesh, and 
 self, and self-righteousness, when this lives in the heart ! 
 My religion, which I now daily bless my God for, began 
 in this seed ; which, when I first felt, and discerningly 
 knew from the Lord, my cry to him was, O this is it I 
 have longed after and waited for! O unite my soul to 
 thee in this forever! this is thy Son's gift from thee, thy 
 Son's grace, thy Son's Truth, thy Son's life, thy Son's 
 Spirit ! I desire no more, than to be made nothing in 
 myself, that this may be all in me : and, what I meet with 
 
106 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON". 
 
 and witness here, what I feel the Lord Jesus Christ to be 
 made to rae here, none knows, or possibly can know, but 
 they that have felt the pure power of the Spirit of life, and 
 have been led by it into the same holy and blessed ex- 
 perience. 
 
 Ah ! sin hath no share here, in this blessed seed ; but is 
 excluded, by the life and power which is stronger than it. 
 Here, Christ is formed in the soul, of a truth ; here, the 
 black garments of unrighteousness, yea, of man's right- 
 eousness too, are put off, and the white raiment put on ; 
 here, the holy image is brought forth in the heart, even 
 the image of the dear Son, which partakes of the divine 
 nature of the Father ; here, the soul is new created in 
 Christ Jesus ; here, is no deceit in any kind met with, but 
 only truth from God, even the true life, light, virtue, 
 power, of the Lord Jesus Christ, as livingly felt in the 
 heart, and as efiectually operating there, as ever the power 
 of sin did. O ! that thou mightst daily discern this, 
 and teel this to giow up in thee more and more, and die 
 to all notions, even of the heavenly things themselves, out 
 of this ; that thy soul may fully live in the life. Spirit, 
 and power of the Lord Jesus Christ ; and nothing but his 
 life. Spirit, and power, may live in thee ; to the glory of 
 God the Father, and to the great joy and gladdening of 
 thy heart in his presence ! Amen. 
 
 Thy Friend, in the true, sincere love of the heavenly, 
 everlasting seed. I. P, 
 
 13th of Twelfth Month, 1678. 
 
LETTEIiS OF ISAAC P E K J .\ G T O N . 107 
 
 LETTER XXXVII. 
 
 Comfort and t'oiiiisel under Affliction. 
 To THE Lady Cox way. 
 
 Dear Fkie:s^d, — In tender love, and in a sense of thy 
 sore afflictions and exercises, I do most dearly salute thee; 
 desiring for thee, that the work of the Lord iu thy heart 
 may not be interrupted by any devices of the enemy ; 
 but, that it may go on and prosper in thee, in the spring- 
 ing up of the pure seed of life iu thy heart, and iu the 
 powerful overturning, by the mighty arm of the Lord, of 
 all that is contrary thereto in thee. O that thou mayest 
 daily feel that holy birth of life, which is begotten by the 
 Father, and lives by faith in him! — I say, O that thou 
 mayest daily feel it living iu thee, when temptations and 
 trials on every hand increase — feel the birth of life, 
 which will cry to the Father, " Lord, increase my faith ! " 
 
 Though sorrows, heaviness, and faintings of heart ever 
 so much increase ; yet^ if thy faith increase also, it will 
 bear thee up in the midst of them. I would fain have it 
 go well with thee, and that thou mightst not want the 
 Reprover, in any thing that is to be reproved in thej; nor 
 the Comforter, iu any respect wherein thy soul wants 
 comfort ; nor the holy Counsellor and Adviser, in any 
 strait or difficulty which the wise and tender God orders 
 to befall thee. 
 
 Ah ! that thou mightst come to feel the daily wasting 
 of sin and death, and the daily springing of life and holi- 
 ness iu thy heart. The j)earl is worth thousands of 
 worlds, with the greatest earthly glory and pleasure 
 imaginable. O that thou mayest be taught of God to dis- 
 cern it more and more, and to buy it, and to come iuto 
 
108 LETTERS OF ISAAC PEXINGTON. 
 
 the enjoyment and possession of it ! Tiie Lord manifest 
 Zion more and more to thee, and show thee the glory of 
 it, and set thy feet towards it ; and put into tliy heart to 
 seek of him tlie way to it, renewing thee more and more 
 in the s^iirit of thy mind, whereby the way comes clearly 
 to be discerned, and faithfully walked in ; that thou may- 
 est witness, daily, the everlasting covenant of life and 
 peace, even the sure mercies of David. 
 
 The desire of my soul is, that thy afflictions, which how 
 grievous soever, yet are but momentary, may fit thee for, 
 and work out an eternal weight of glory, for thy soul to 
 inherit in another world, forever. 
 
 I remain a sympathizer with thee in thy sufferings ; 
 who desires all the advantage and blessings from the God 
 of my life, may come to thee, which hardships, temptations, 
 and trials, prepare the heart and make way for. I. P. 
 
 14th of Twelfth Month, 1678. 
 
 POSTSCRIPT. 
 
 My dear Friend, — Some time after writing the fore- 
 going, this arose in me to thee. If the Lord, in thy wait- 
 ing upon him, to search and try thy heart and ways, shall 
 please to show thee any thing amiss therein ; mind this 
 counsel on my heart to thee. Be not looking at it too 
 much, on the one hand, or excusing it, on the other hand ; 
 but sink down beneath thyself, retiring thither, where thou 
 mayest receive from the Lord true judgment concerning 
 it, and also strength against it. And know this, in the 
 holy experience ; that thou must be weakened by the 
 Lord, and be contented in or with thy weak and distressed 
 estate, if thou wouldst receive mercy and strength from 
 him. And the more thou art weakened and distressed, 
 the more thou art fitted for, and the more abundantly 
 shalt thou partake of, his mercy and strengtli ; waiting 
 
LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 109 
 
 upon him in the meek, quiet, patient, arid resigned spirit, 
 which he will not fail to work thy mind into ; that, in the 
 issue of all, thou niayest reap the quiet fruits of righteous- 
 ness and heavenly peace from his hand. Amen, so be it 
 from the Lord to thy soul ! 
 
 LETTER XXXVIIL 
 
 On the Benefit of Chastening by AfBictions. 
 To THE Lady Cox^vay. 
 
 Dear Friend, — As I was lately retired in spirit and 
 waiting upon the Lord, having a sense on me of thy long, 
 sore, and deep affliction and distress ; there arose a Scrip- 
 ture in my heart to lay before thee, namely, Heb. xii. 5, 
 6, 7, which, I entreat thee, to call for a Bible, and hear 
 read, before thou proceedest to what follows. 
 
 O my Friend ! after it hath pleased the Lord in tender 
 mercy to visit us, and turn our minds from the world and 
 ourselves towards him, and to beget and nourish that 
 which is pure and living, of himself, in ps ; yet, notwith- 
 standing this, there remains somewhat at first, yea, and 
 perhaps for a long time, which is to bd searched out by 
 the light of the Lord, and brought down and subdued by 
 his afflicting hand. When there is, indeed, somewhat of 
 an holy will formed in the day of God's power ; and the 
 soul, in some measure, begotten and brought forth to live 
 to God, in the heavenly wisdom ; yet, all the earthly will 
 and wisdom is not thereby presently removed : but, there 
 are hidden things, of the old nature and spirit, still 
 remaining ; which, perhaps, appear not, but sink inward 
 into their root, that they may save their life ; which, man 
 cannot possibly find out in his own heart, but as the Lord 
 10 
 
110 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENIXGTON. 
 
 reveals them to him. But, how doth the Lord find them 
 out? O consider! his " fire is in Zion, and his furnace iu 
 Jerusalem." By his casting into the furnace of affliction, 
 the fire searcheth. The deep, sore, distressing affliction, 
 which rends and tears the very inwards, finds out both 
 the seed and the ehafl^, purifying the pure gold and con- 
 suming the dross; and then, at length, the quiet state is 
 witnessed, and the quiet fruit of righteousness brought 
 forth, by the searching and consuming nature and opera- 
 tion of the fire. O that thy soul may be tried unto victory 
 over all that is not of the pure life in thee ! and, that thou 
 mayest wait to feel the pure seed, or measure of life iu 
 thee and die into the seed, feeling death unto all that is not 
 of the .seed iu thee! and, that thou mayest feel life, heal- 
 ing, refreshment, support, and comfort from the God of 
 thy life, in the seed; — and nowhere else, nor at any time, 
 but as the Lord pleaseth to administer it to thee there. 
 Oh ! the Lord guide thee daily, and keep thy mind to 
 him ; at least, looking towards the holy jilace of the 
 springing of his life and power in thy heart. Look unto 
 him. Help, pity, salvation, will arise in his due time; 
 but, it will not arise from any thing thou canst do or 
 think ; and faith will spring and patience be given, and 
 hope in the teiider Father of mercy, and a meek and quiet 
 spirit will be witnessed ; and the Lamb's nature springing 
 up and opening in thee, from his precious seed, which will 
 excel in nature, kind, degree, and virtue, all the faith, 
 patience, hope, meekness, &c., which thou, or any else, 
 otherwi.se can attain unto. O I look not at thy pain or 
 sorrow, how great soever ; but look from them, look off 
 them, look beyond them, to the Deliverer ! whose power 
 is over them, and whose loving, wise, and tender Spirit is 
 able to do thee good by them. And, if the outward afflic- 
 tions work out an exceeding weight of glorj', O what shall 
 the inward do. for those, who are humbly, brokenly, and 
 
LETTERS OP ISAAC PENINGTON. Ill 
 
 faithfully exercised before the Lorfl by them ! O ! wait 
 to feel the seed, and the cry of thy soul in the breathing 
 life of the seed, to its Father, with its sweet, kindly, and 
 natural subjection to him. And wait for the risings of 
 the power in thy heart, in the Father's seasons, and for 
 faith in the power ; that thou mayest feel inward healing, 
 of all the inward wounds which the Lord makes in thy 
 soul, through his love to thee for thy good. 
 
 If thou wilt receive the kingdom that cannot be 
 shaken, thou must wait to have that discovered in thee, 
 which may be shaken ; and the Lord arising terribly to 
 shake the earth, and it removed out of its place as a 
 cottage, and the heavens also rolled up like a scroll. 
 And, while the Lord is doing this, he will be hiding thee 
 in the hollow of his hand, (thy mind still retiring to the 
 seed,) and will, in these troublesome and dismal times, in- 
 wardly be forming the new heavens and the new earth, 
 wherein, when they are brought forth and established, 
 dwells righteousness. The Lord lead thee, day by day, 
 in the right way, and keej) thy mind stayed upon him, in 
 whatever befalls thee ; that the belief of his love and hope 
 in his mercy, when thou art at the lowest ebb, may keep 
 up thy head above the billows ; and that thou mayest go 
 on in the disciple's state, learning righteousness and holi- 
 ness of Him, who teaclieth to deny and put off unholiness 
 and unrighteousness, and to know, endn-ace, and put on 
 newness of life, and the holiness and righteousness there- 
 of. 
 
 The Lord God of my life be with thee, preserving and 
 ordering thy heart for the great day of his love and 
 mercy ; which will come in the appointed season, when 
 the heart is fully exercised an<l fitted by tlie Lord i'or it, 
 and will not tarry. I. P. 
 
112 LETTERS OP ISAAC PENINGTON. 
 
 LETTER XXXIX. 
 
 On being Ingrafted into Christ, being Preserved Alive in Him, and 
 Growing up in Hiui in all Things. 
 
 To S. W. 
 
 Dear S. W., — I have ever had a love to thee, and 
 have many times been filled with earnest desires for thee ; 
 that thou mayest know the Lord in his own pure teach- 
 ings, and travel into, and dwell in, the fulness of the 
 kingdom of his dear Sou ; and that thou mayest be 
 blessed with spiritual blessings in heavenly places in 
 Christ. 
 
 In order to arrive here, thou must wait to know God 
 and Christ, in the mystery of their Spirit, life, and power ; 
 and, by that Spirit, life, and power, find the secrets of the 
 mystery of darkness searched and purged out, and the 
 mj'stery of godliness opened and established in thy heart, 
 in the room thereof ; — Christ formed inwardly ; the soul 
 formed, yea, and created inwardly anew in him ; a real 
 transplanting into his death, and a real feeling of his 
 springing and rising life ; and an experience of the sweet- 
 ness, safety, and virtue of his rising life ; — and daily to 
 be sensible, what it is to lie down in the holy, quickening 
 power, and to rise again in the risings of the life and 
 power ; and so, be only what thou art made and preserved 
 to be, in the light, grace, life, virtue, and power of the 
 Lord Jesus Christ ; and to feel him remove any thing that 
 is unrighteous, and clothing thee with his pure life, Spii'it, 
 and righteousness. 
 
 Oh ! this is indeed the pure, precious, living knowledge 
 of the Lord Jesus Christ ; which all the outward knowl- 
 edge tends to lead to, and is comprehended and ended in. 
 
LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 113 
 
 This is the excellency of the knowledge of Jesus Clirist 
 our Lord, which Paul was so ravished with, and counted 
 all things but dross and dung for. Now, that thou niaj-est 
 obtain this, mind the inward appearance, the root, the foun- 
 tain, the rock within, the living stone within, — its open- 
 ings, its springings, its administering life to thee ; and take 
 heed of running into the outwardness of openings, con- 
 cerning the heavenly things ; but keep, O learn to keep, 
 O mind to keep in the inwardness of life within ! This is 
 ihe everlasting habitation of the birth, which is begotten 
 and brought forth, bred up and kept alive, alone by the 
 presence, power, and operation of the living Spirit;- — -and 
 the Lord Jesus is tliat Spirit, as really as he was man, 
 even the holy, heavenly, immaculate, spotless Lamb of 
 God. And, in this state, life reigns in the heart, and the 
 horn of the Holy One is exalted, the head of the serpent 
 crushed, yea, Satan trod under foot, by the God of peace; 
 who would have his children dwell in the sweetness and 
 fulness of the gospel, — in the peace, life, righteousness, 
 and joy of his blessed Spirit and power. 
 
 Oh ! who would not desire after, and wait for, and walk 
 with the Lord, towards the obtaining and possessing of 
 these things? All the promises, in Christ, are yea and 
 amen. Inward victory is promised ; the inward presence 
 of God is promised ; God's dwelling and walking in the 
 soul is promised ; Christ supping with the soul, and the 
 soul with him, is promised ; putting the law in the heart, 
 and writing it there ; putting the pure, living fear into it; 
 yea, also putting the holy, powerful Spirit into it, which 
 can cause it to walk in God's ways, and to keep his right- 
 eous judgments and do them: and He is able to do this 
 work in tlie heart ; for, what cannot the spirit of judgment 
 and burning consume and burn up within ? Yea, all these 
 things are promised. He can cause the soul to rejoice in 
 the Lord, and work righteousness, and to remember the 
 10* H 
 
114 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 
 
 Lord iu his ways, as some were taught and enabled to do 
 in former times, Isai. Ixiv. 5 ; yea, he can bring into the 
 way of holiness, the King of glory's highway, into which 
 no unclean thing can enter, and [can] keep nndefiled 
 therein ; and, they that are kept undefiled therein, taste 
 the sweetness, blessedness, purity, and holy pleasure 
 thereof. 
 
 I wonhl fain have my own soul and thine, and all the 
 real, serious, faithful people of God experience, and be 
 able to say with David, that wliich, after his many trials-, 
 afflictions, troubles, temptations, and grievous fall, he was 
 able to say, in relation to his walking with the Lord, " For 
 I have kept the ways of the Lord, and have not wickedly 
 departe<l from my God. For all his judgments were be- 
 fore me, and I did not put away his statutes from me. I 
 was also upright before him, and I kept myself from 
 iniquity." Psal. xviii. 21,22,23. Oh! this is precious, 
 when a man comes to know his iniquity, wherein the 
 enemy's strength lies as to him, and whereby the enemy 
 hath most advantage to tempt and gain ground on him, 
 brought <lown and subdued. C'ertainly, when one gains 
 strength from God, to overcome the enemy here, and to 
 keep out of this, he comes very near to the keeping of him- 
 self, in and by virtue of the Holy Spirit and power, so as 
 the wicked one cannot touch him, nor draw him to touch 
 any unclean thing. If that be indeed put oft", wherein the 
 enemy's power lies ; and that indeed put on, wherein the 
 strength of the Lord Jesus is revealed; and the soul be 
 really in the ])ossession of, and abide in this state ; how 
 can it but be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his 
 might ; and witness the good pleasure of the goodness of 
 the Lord fulfilling, and the work of faith going on with 
 power, daily, more and more ; a little measure whereof, 
 kept to, removes the mountains inwardly, and gives 
 strength over the enemy. How, then, doth it increase and 
 
LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 115 
 
 grow up in life imd virtue, and in a sensible understand- 
 ing and exj)erieuce of the name of the Lord Jesus ! Is 
 there not, iu tliis state, a feeling of remission of sins, a 
 feeling of redemption, a feeling of reconciliation, a feeling 
 of oneness with God in Christ, a feeling of God being the 
 salvation, strength, and song, and a trusting in him, and 
 not being afraid ? Isai. xii. 2. Is there not a being care- 
 ful iu nothing, but in every thing making the requests to 
 God, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, iu 
 that Spirit and holy breath of life, which the Father can- 
 not deny ; and so, the peace of God, which passeth all 
 understanding, keeping the heart and mind through Christ 
 Jesus ? 
 
 O my Friend ! there is an ingrafting into Christ, a 
 being formed and new created in Christ, a living and 
 abiding in him, and a growing and -bringing forth fruit 
 through him unto perfection. O mayest thou experience 
 all these things ! and, that thou mayest so do,, wait to know 
 life, the .springings of life, the separations of life inwardly, 
 from all that evil which hangs about it, and would be 
 springing up and mixing with it, under an appearance of 
 good ; that life may come to live fully in thee, and noth- 
 ing else. And so, sink very low, and become very little, 
 and know little ; yea, know no power to believe, act, or 
 suffer any thing for God, but as it is given thee, by the 
 springing grace, virtue, and life of the Lord Jesus. For, 
 grace is a spiritual, inward thing and holy seed, sown bv 
 God, springing up in the heart. People have got a notion 
 of grace, but know not the thing. Do not thou matter 
 the notion, but feel the thing ; and know thy heart more 
 and more ploughed up by the Lord, that his seed's grace 
 may grow up iu thee more and more, and thou mayest 
 daily feel thy heart as a garden, more and more enclosed, 
 watered, dressed, and delighted in by him. 
 
116 LETTERS OF ISAAC PEXIXGTOX. 
 
 This is a salutation of love from thy Friend in tlie 
 Truth, which lives and changes not. I. P. 
 
 27th of Twelfth Month, 1678. 
 
 LETTER XL. 
 
 Counsel to One Tossed as with Tempests. 
 
 Dear Friexd, — Thy condition cannof but be weak 
 and dark, until the light" of life arise in thee, and the 
 power of the Lord overcome and subdue the power of 
 darkness, which strives to keep the seed of life in the grave 
 and bonds of death. 
 
 It is the Lord's mercy, to give thee breathings after life, 
 and cries unto him against that which oppresseth thee ; 
 and happy wilt thou be, when he shall fill thy soul with 
 that, which he hath given thee to breathe after. Only, let 
 thj' heart wait for strength to trust him with the season ; 
 for, his long tarrying is thy salvation, and the destruction 
 of those enemies, which, while any strength remains in 
 them, will never suffer thee and thy God to dwell uninter- 
 ruptedly together. Therefore, they must needs die, and 
 He who hath the power to kill them, knows the way ; 
 which, to the appearing of thy sense, will be as if he 
 meant to kill the life of thy soul, and not of them. But, 
 lie still under his hand, and be content to be unable to 
 judge concerning his ways and workings in thy heart; and 
 thou shalt at times feel an inward leaven of life from his 
 Holy Spirit, whereby he will change and transform thy 
 spirit into his likeness, in some measure, for the present. 
 And, though it be quickly gone again, and the whole land 
 so overspread with enemies, that there is no sight of re- 
 demption or the Redeemer left, but the soul in a worse 
 
LETTERS OF ISAAC 
 
 PENINGTOSr. 
 
 117 
 
 condition tlian before ; yet, be not troubled : for, if troubles 
 abound, and there be tossing, and storms, and tempests, 
 and no peace, nor any thing visible left to support; yet, 
 lie still, and sink beneath, till a secret hope stir, which 
 will stay the heart in the midst of all these: until the 
 Lord administer comfort, who knows how and what relief 
 to give to the weary traveller, that knows not where it is, 
 nor which way to look, nor where to expect a j^ath. 
 
 How shall I speak to thee, how shall I mourn over thee? 
 O that thou mayest be upheld to the day of God's mercy 
 to thy soul ! and be gathered, out of all such knowledge, 
 as thou canst comprehend or contain in what is natural, 
 into the feeling of life ; that thou mayest know the differ- 
 ence, between living upon somewhat received from God, 
 and, having God live with thee, and administer life to thee 
 at his pleasure ; thou being kept in the nothingness, empti- 
 ness, poverty, and perfect resignation of spirit. 
 
 This counsel is to thee, through a poor, weak vessel, 
 
 I. P. 
 
 LETTER XLL 
 
 Encouragement under Trials incident to bearing the Cross of 
 Christ. 
 
 Who is able to undergo the crosses and afflictions, either 
 inward or outward, which befall those, whom God draws 
 out of the spirit of this world and path of destruction, 
 into the way of eternal rest and peace?- Yet, the Lord is 
 able to uphold that which feels its weakness, and daily 
 waits on him for support, under the heaviness of the cross. 
 
 I know, dear heart, thy outward trials cannot but be 
 sharp and bitter ; and I know also, that the Lord is able 
 to sustain thee under them, and cause thee to stand thy 
 ground ; that thou give not advantage to that spirit, which 
 
118 
 
 LETTERS 
 
 OF ISAAC 
 
 PENINGTON. 
 
 hereby would draw from the Lord, and from the way of 
 life and happiness. O that thou couldst dwell in the knowl- 
 edge and sense of this! even, that the Lord beholds thy 
 sufferings with an eye of pity ; and is able, not only to up- 
 hold thee under them, but also to do thee good by them; 
 and to bring forth that life and wisdom in thee by means 
 thereof, to which he will give dominion over that spirit 
 which grieves and afflicts thee, in his due season. There- 
 fore, grieve not at thy lot, be not discontented, look not 
 out at the hardness of thy condition ; but, when the storm 
 and matters of vexation are sharp, look up to Him who 
 can give meekness and patience, can lift up thy head over 
 all, and cause thy life to grow, and be a gainer by all. If 
 the Lord God did not help us by his mighty arm, how 
 often should we fall and perish ! and if the Lord God 
 help thee proportionably to thy condition of affliction and 
 distress, thou wilt have no cause to complain, but to bless 
 his name. He is exceedingly good, and gracious, and ten- 
 der-hearted,' and doth not despise the afflictions of the 
 afflicted, for his name's sake, in any kind. 
 
 This is in tender love towards thee, with breathings to 
 my Father, that his pleasant plant may not be crushed in 
 thee, by the foot of pride and violence; but may overgrow 
 it, and flourish the iuore because of it. 
 
 From thy truly loving Friend in the Truth, and for the 
 Truth's sake, I. P. 
 
 LETTER XLIL 
 
 On being Ofleiuled with those who fall into Temptation. 
 
 It is of the infinite mercy aud compassion of the Lord, 
 that his pure love visiteth any of us ; and, it is by the 
 preservation thereof alone, that we stand. If He leave us 
 
LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 119 
 
 at any time, but one moment, what are wc? and wlio is 
 there that provoketh Him not to depart? Let him throw, 
 the first stone at him that falls. 
 
 In the Truth itself, in the living power and virtue, there 
 is no offence; but, that part which is not j^erfcctly re- 
 deemed, liath still matter for the temptation to Avork upon, 
 and may be taken in the snare. Let him that stands, take 
 heed lest lie fall ; and, in the bowels of pity, mourn over 
 and wait for the restoring of him that is fallen. Tliat 
 which is so apt to be offended, is the same with that which 
 falls. O ! do not reason in the high-mindcdness, against 
 any that turn aside from the pure Guide; but fear, lest 
 the unbelieving and fleshly wise part get up in thee also. 
 O know the weakness of the creature in the withdrawings 
 of the life! and the strength of the enemy in tliat hour! 
 and the free grace and mercy which alone can preserve ! 
 and thou wilt rather wonder that any stand, thau that 
 some fall. 
 
 When the pure springs of life open in the heart, imrae- 
 diatelj' the enemy watcheth his opportunity to get en- 
 trance; and many times finds entrance soon after — the 
 soul little fearing or suspecting him, having lately felt 
 such mighty, unconquerable strength ; and yet, how often 
 then doth he get in, and smite the life down to the ground ! 
 and, what may he not do with the creature, unless the Lord 
 graciously help ! 
 
 Oh ! great is the mystery of godliness, the way of life 
 narrow, the travel to the land of rest long, hard, and 
 sharp ; it is easy miscarrying, it is easy stepping aside, at 
 any time ; it is easy losing the Lord's glorious presence ; 
 unless the defence about it, by his Almighty arm, be kept 
 up. There is a time for the Lord's taking down the fence 
 from his own vineyard, because of transgression, and then, 
 the wild boar may easily break in. Ah ! who tastes not 
 
120 
 
 LETTERS 
 
 OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 
 
 of this, in some measure ? and ^vhat hinders, that he taste 
 not of it in a greater measure? 
 
 Ah ! turn in from the fleshly wisdom and reasonings, 
 unto the pure river of life itself ; and wait there, to have 
 that judged which hath taken offence ; lest, if it grow 
 stronger in thee, it draw thee from the life, which alone is 
 able to preserve thee ; and so, thou also fall ! 
 
 This is in dear love to thee : retire from that part which 
 looketh out, and feel the inward virtue of that which can 
 restore and preserve thee. I. P. 
 
 LETTEE XLIII. 
 
 The Mind may be stayed in Peace amidst the Enemy's 
 Accnsations. 
 
 To Widow Hemmings. 
 
 My dear Friend, — Whom I have always truly and 
 faithfully loved as in the sight of the Lord, and to whom 
 my love in the Lord still continues. 
 
 Since I heard of thy illness and weakness, by M. S., 
 whom I desired to visit thee, I have had an earnest desire 
 to see thee ; and have been considering how to effect it, 
 but cannot with any convenience at present, as my Friend 
 T. E., the bearer hereof, can further inform thee. But, 
 the desires of my heart to the God of my life, are, that he 
 would give thee a visit in his tender pity, and guide and 
 help thee to stay thy mind upon himself, in his most pre- 
 cious Truth ; of which he hath not only given thee a taste, 
 but, many times, a full sense and experience. 
 
 O my dear Friend ! that nothing might come between 
 thy soul and God's Truth ; that thy comfort, peace, and 
 joy, might be full, and that thou mightst lay down thy 
 
LETTERS OP ISAAC PENINGTON. 121 
 
 head quietly in the bosom of Him, who loves tliee, and 
 accepts the sincere desires of thy heart towards him ; as 
 I have always told thee, and as is still true concerning 
 thee. Mind not temptations nor accusations, nor the many 
 noises the enemy will make in thee and against thee, to 
 the Lord ; but, wait to feel Truth and life springing in 
 thy heart from the holy well, and to hear the still voice 
 of the Spirit of the Lord ; and he will testify his love to 
 thee, and speak* peace. 
 
 Oh ! the tender bowels of my heavenly Father relieve 
 thee; and gather thee inwardly in thither, and preserve 
 thee there, where the enemy cannot break in upon thee. 
 Look not upon thy sins, even since thou hast known the 
 Truth, wherein thou mightst have met with strength 
 against, and preservation from sin, and have been in some 
 measure blessed by the Lord ; but, wait to feel somewhat 
 inwardly, wherein God appears and breathes, and gathers, 
 and receives — and eases of the loads, fears, doubts, trou- 
 bles, temptations, and accusations, &c. ; and the Lord 
 God of my life and tender mercies, which he hath made 
 sure to my soul in the everlasting covenant, give thee 
 solid peace and consolation in the Son of his love, through 
 the measure of his gi'ace and Truth springing in thy 
 heart, and staying thy mind upon him. 
 
 O ! feel the seed, and the faith which springs from the 
 seed, which gives victory over the enemy, and all his 
 mysterious workings in the heart. 
 
 Thy Friend, in the truest and most sincere love, I. P. 
 11 
 
122 LETTEKS OP ISAAC PENINGTON. 
 
 LETTER XLIV. 
 
 On Eesisting, and on Eeceiving God's Spirit ; also on Redemption 
 by Clirist Jesus. 
 
 To Nathaniel Stonar. 
 
 It is a dangerous thing to resist God's Spirit ; and yet 
 very easy for a man so to do, who hatli not received a 
 true understanding from the Lord, nor is acquainted with 
 the leadings and outgoings of Him, who is pure. He 
 that is tender and truly sensible, may discern when he 
 resi.steth, when he quencheth, or when he grieveth the 
 Spirit of the Lord ; but, he that is not truly enlightened, 
 nor in the true sense, cannot do so. The Scribes and 
 Pharisees, who were interpreters of the law, and very 
 strict in outward observations and ordinances, &c., who 
 blamed their fathers for killing the prophets, and said, if 
 they had been in the days of the prophets, they would 
 not have dealt so with them us their fathers did ; yet, 
 concerning these, said Stephen, " Ye stiff-necked, and 
 uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do also resist the Holy 
 Ghost ; as your fathers did, so do ye." For, till the stiff 
 will and stiff wisdom be brought down in a man, he can- 
 not but resist God's Spirit, and fight for his notions and 
 practices, according to his apprehensions of the letter, 
 against the testimony of God's Spirit and power. 
 
 Paul, who walked, according to the letter of the law, 
 blameless, yet resisted the Spirit wJiich gave forth the 
 law. He must know the Spirit, receive the Spirit, live in 
 the Spirit, walk in the Spirit, and not fulfil the lusts of 
 the flesh, who would be found not resisting God's Spirit. 
 He who is indeed turned to the redeeming arm, to Christ 
 the power of God, and gathered into the power, and 
 
LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 123 
 
 dwelletli in the Spirit and power of the Lord Jesus, and 
 is tauglit and led by Him from path to path, and from 
 pasture to pasture, as the Lamb, the Shepherd, goes before 
 and guides him ; — he is preserved from grieving the 
 Holy Spirit, which moves and draws, instructs and quick- 
 ens, all that are born of God. But he that is only in the 
 letter, and in the form of godliness, out of the inward 
 life and power, he is of that birth, mind, nature, and 
 spirit, which cannot but resist God's Spirit. He knoweth 
 not, he hecdeth not, His drawings. His movings. His light, 
 His life — the way thereof, — either in his own heart, or 
 in the hearts of others ; and so, walks in a way of rebel- 
 ling against and resisting Him, who is the only Saviour 
 and lledeemer of the soul. See Job, xxix. 3, 4, and xxiv. 
 13. O that thou mightst learn to wait aright to learn 
 these things ! and come into the true sense and discerning 
 of the Spirit and power of the Lord, that thou mightst 
 not any more resist it, neither in thyself, nor in others. 
 
 The Lord open thy heart, and lay thy spirit low before 
 him ; that thou mayest come into a right sense and judg- 
 ment, concerning the state of thine own soul ; and mayest 
 experience the Lord manifesting things to thee, as indeed 
 they are. I. P. 
 
 15th of Fifth Month, 1C71. 
 
 POSTSCRIPT. 
 
 0 Friend! — Wait to receive an understanding from 
 the Lord, that thou mayest come truly to know, whether 
 thou hast resisted God's Spirit, or no ; that thou lose not 
 the advantage of making peace with thy adversary, while 
 thou art in the way with him. 
 
 1 would not have thee deceived about that virtue, 
 life, and power which redeems the soul. For, there is no 
 other Redeemer besides the Lord Jesus Christ, and he 
 redeems by the grace of his Spirit, and by faith in his 
 
124 LETTEES or ISAAC PENINGTON. 
 
 blood, which cleanseth from sin ; which blood is sprinkled 
 on the consciences of those that believe, — and that, not 
 in the darkness, but in the light ; as is said in 1 John, 1. 7 
 " If we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have 
 fellowship one with another, and the blooti of Jesus 
 Christ, his Son, cleanseth us from all sin." Under the 
 law, the blood of bulls and goats was sprinkled outwardly, 
 on the outward things, which sanctified to the purifying 
 of the outward things ; but, under the gospel, the blood 
 of the Lamb is sprinkled inwardly, upon inward and 
 heavenly things. See Heb. ix. 13, 14, and 22, 23, and ch. 
 X. 22, and xii. 24. O that thou didst truly and under- 
 standingly know the difference, between thy own applying 
 Christ's blood to thyself, and the Lamb's sprinkling it upon 
 thee, and washing thy soul therein! E,ev. i. 5, and also, 
 between thy own believing, according to thy own appre- 
 hension of things, and his giving thee to believe in the light 
 of his Spirit! and, between thy own praying in thy own 
 spirit, and his giving thee to pray in his Spirit ! 
 
 Ah ! the truth of our God is precious ! the knowledge 
 of his Christ precious ! It is a precious thing, to have the 
 Son revealed by the Father to the renewed mind. God 
 himself is the teacher, in the new covenant, of all the true 
 disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ, and, O how do the 
 teachings of his Spirit differ, from all the knowledge and 
 learning men can attain unto of themselves ! The Lord give 
 thee the true understanding ; and to know what it is to 
 begin thy religion in his Spirit ; and batter down and 
 bring to nought the understanding in thee, which is not 
 true ; tliat thou mayest not find thy soul deeply deceived 
 at last, as to the true knowledge of Christ and mysteries 
 of God's kingdom, — and so, perish forever ! 
 
 This, in very dear, true, and tender love, from him, who 
 most sincerely and heartily wisheth well to thee, I. P. 
 
 17th of Fiftli Month, 1G71. 
 
LETTEKS OF ISAAC PENINGTOIT. 125 
 
 LETTER XLV. 
 
 Eespecting some Snares of tlie Adversary to Distress the Soul. 
 
 To Bridget Atley. 
 
 Dear Friend, — I am sensible of thy sore travail and 
 deep distress, and how hard it is for thee to meet with that 
 which is comfortable and refreshing, and how easily again 
 it is lost ; and — wlience it ariseth, — even, from the work- 
 ing of the enemy in a mystery of deceit in thy heart ; 
 wherein thou dost not perceive nor suspect him, but 
 swallowest down his baits, and so he smites thee with his 
 hook, and thereby draws thee back into the region of 
 darkness ; and then, entereth that part in thee which is in 
 nature one with him, filling it with his wickedness ; and 
 then, laying loads of accusations upon thee, as if they were 
 true. These are not strange things to the travellers after 
 the Lord, but such as are usually met with in the like 
 cases : but, if thy eye were made single and opened by the 
 Lord, thou wouldst see those baits, and turn from that, 
 which thou now so readily swallowest down ; and so, avoid 
 the stroke, and keep thy station, in the light and mercy 
 of the Lord. Thou must not look so much at the evil 
 that is nigh, but rather at that, which stands ready to pity 
 and help, — and which hath pitied and helped thy dis- 
 tressed soul, and will pity and help it again. Why is 
 there a mercy-seat, but for the sinner to look towards in 
 time of need ? 
 
 Neither must thou hearken to the questionings of the 
 insnaring questioner : but, cleave to that which shuts them 
 out, keeping to the sense of the love and mercy, wlien the 
 Lord is kind and tender to thee. When the enemy 
 entered thy habitation again, and broke thy rest, peace, 
 11* 
 
126 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 
 
 and enjoyment of the Lord: again, an earnest desire after 
 cleansing arose in thee ; not from the life, but in the evil ; 
 this was also a means to rob thee of that, which, in its 
 abiding and powerful operation, cleanseth the heart ; and 
 here, thou wouldst be limiting the Lord in his dealings, 
 who worketh according to the counsel of his own will, and 
 visiteth when and where he pleaseth. And thus the enemy 
 having caught thee with his mysterious workings, he then 
 draws thee into the pit of darkness, where the remem- 
 brance of life, and the sense of mercy and love, vanisheth ; 
 and there is no help for thee, by any thing thou canst do 
 or think. But, be patient, till the Lord's tender mercy 
 and love visit thee again; and then, look up to him against 
 this and such like snares, which would come between thee 
 and the appearance of the Lord's love ; that thou mayest 
 feel more of his abidings with thee, and of the sweet effects 
 thereof. For, these things are not to destroy thee, but, to 
 teach thee wisdom ; which the Lord is able, through many 
 exercises and sore trials, to bestow upon thee ; which my 
 soul will exceedingly rejoice to hear the tidings of; that 
 thy heart may be rid of all that burdeneth, and filled 
 with all it rightly desires after, in the proper season and 
 goodness of the Lord : to whose Avise ordering and tender 
 mercy I commit thee, remaining, Thy faithful Friend, 
 
 LP. 
 
 LETTER XLVL 
 
 Weighty Counsel. 
 
 To Sir William Armorer (so styled). 
 
 Fkiend, — The weighty sense of an eternal condition 
 after this life, hath been upon my heart from my child- 
 
LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 
 
 127 
 
 hood ; and it is often with me, that I must give an ac- 
 count to God, when I pass out of this transitory world, of 
 all things done in the body ; and shall enter into eternal 
 rest and blessedness, or eternal woe or misery. 
 
 This causeth me to call upon the Lord daily, for grace 
 and wisdom from him ; that my conscience, being cleansed 
 through the blood of his Sou, may be kept void of offence, 
 both towards him and men. And truly, (I speak not 
 boastingly, but in the fear of the Lord, and in the sense 
 of his goodness and tender mercy to me,) my heart is pre- 
 served in love and innocency towards those, who most 
 injuriously, and without provocation on my part, have 
 taken away my liberty, for aught I know, for my whole 
 lifetime. What thou further intendest towards me, the 
 Lord knows, to whom I have committed my cause : but 
 this is on my heart to express to thee, because, when I 
 was with thee thou spakest words to this purpose, that we 
 wished thee hanged, or would be glad if thou wert hanged. 
 God, who knows my heart, is witness, that I wish thee no 
 evil, neither to thee nor thy family ; but wish, thou may- 
 est avoid all such things, as may bring his wrath and 
 curse upon thee, either in this world or the world to 
 come. 
 
 And, friend, do not provoke the Lord by afflicting 
 those that fear him ; but, cease to do evil, learn to do 
 well ; and this will please the Lord, and is more accept- 
 able to him, than all the worship that can be offered up to 
 him, without this. 
 
 I have sent thee a little book, as a token of my love, 
 desiring thee to peruse it seriously. O ! do not endeavour 
 to bring me into such a condition, as is there related. I 
 have had greater light, in the way into which the Lord 
 hath led me, than this man had ; and, in that light, I 
 have seen, that I ought not to swear, but to give the 
 " Yea " and " Nay " of trutli, which comes from the Chris- 
 
128 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 
 
 tian nature, and is of far more certainty and assurance 
 than swearing. For, the man that swears may easily 
 break his oath, but he that keeps to the truth cannot alter 
 his yea and nay, but it stands in the truth ; and this our 
 Lord and Master hath set above, and on the top of, and 
 instead of swearing ; which, if we should vary from and 
 deny, we should deny him who hath taught us not to swear. 
 Indeed, if we had not learnt it "of the Lord, and if it was 
 not by him required of us, we should rather swear than 
 otherwise ; for, we would very willingly give men satisfac- 
 tion, in those particulars, which they require us to swear 
 about. 
 
 Friend, God hath given thee an immortal soul, and doth 
 require of thee righteousness towards thy fellow-creatures, 
 and temperance and moderation of spirit, and sensibleness 
 of the judgment to come after this life. Thou art stricken 
 in years, and thou hast but a little moment left remaining 
 of thy time ; and then, it will be determined concerning 
 thy soul, what or how it shall be forever ! Let the words 
 of love, truth, and innocency from me, prevail upon thee 
 to be serious, and to let in the sense and fear of God upon 
 thy heart. Thou hast spent much time in serving man ; 
 O spend a little in serving and fearing God ! There is 
 somewhat, which is pure, of God, appointed by him to 
 exercise the conscience towards him. Thou hast such a 
 thing near thee. O that thou mightst know it, and be 
 joined to it ! for, till then, thou canst never truly serve 
 nor fear the Lord ; but, mayest spend thy time here in 
 a vain show, and at last be judged and condemned by 
 the Lord, and lie down in eternal sorrow ; which, it is the 
 desire of my heart, may not be thy portion from the hand 
 of the Lord. 
 
 This is from a sufferer by thee, Avho never gave thee the 
 least cause or provocation so to deal with me. I. P. 
 
LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 129 
 
 LETTER XLVII. 
 
 On an Unfaithful Profession of the Truth. 
 To Abeaham Grimsden. 
 
 Friend, — Thou hast made some profession of Truth, 
 and at times come amongst us ; but, whether thou hast 
 been changed thereby, and been faithful to the Lord in 
 what has been made manifest to thee, belongs unto thee 
 diligently to inquire. There is no safe dallying with 
 Truth. He that puts his hand to the plough, must not 
 look back at any thing of this world ; but, take up the 
 cross and follow Christ, in the single-hearted obedience, 
 hating father, mother, goods, lands, wife, yea, all for His 
 sake ; or he is not worthy of Him. The good hand of the 
 Lord is with his people, and he blessetli them both in- 
 wardly and outwardly ; and, they that seek the kingdom 
 of heaven, and the righteousness thereof, in the first place, 
 have other things also added : but, they that neglect the 
 kingdom, and are unfaithful to Truth, seeking the world 
 before it, the hand of the Lord goes forth against them, 
 and they, many times, miss of that also of the world, 
 which they seek and labour for. 
 
 Truth is honourable. O ! take heed of bringing a re- 
 proach upon it, by pretending to it, and yet, not being of. 
 it, in the pure sense and obedience, which it begets and 
 brings forth in the hearts and lives of the faithful. But, 
 if any be careless and unfaithful to what they are con- 
 vinced of, and so, for the present, bring a reproach upon 
 God's Truth, which is altogether innocent thereof ; the 
 Lord, in his due time, will wipe off that reproach from his 
 Truth and people; but, the sorrow and burden will light 
 upon themselves, which will be very bitter and heavy to 
 
 I 
 
130 
 
 LETTERS 
 
 OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 
 
 them, in the day that the Lord shall visit them with his 
 righteous judgments, 
 
 0 consider rightly and truly ! It had been better for 
 thee, thou hadst never known Truth, nor been directed 
 to the principle and path of righteousness ; than, aftei 
 direction thereto, to turn from the holy commandments, 
 and deny obedience to the righteous One. The Lord give 
 thee true sense and repentance, if it be his holy pleasure, 
 and raise thee out of this world's spirit, to live to him in 
 his own pure Spirit. It is easy to profess and make a 
 show of Truth, but hard to come into it. It is very hard 
 to the earthly mind, to part with that Avhich must be 
 parted with for it, before the soul can come to possess and 
 enjoy it. Profession of truth, without the life and power, 
 is but a slippery place, which men may easily slide from ; 
 nay, indeed, if men be not in the life and power, they can 
 hardly be kept from that, which will stain their profes- 
 sion. The Lord, who searcheth the heart, knows how it 
 is Avith thee : O consider thy ways, and fear before him, 
 and take heed of taking his name in vain, for he will not 
 hold such guiltless ! 
 
 1 am, in this, faithful and friendly to thy soul, desiring 
 its eternal welfare, and that it may not forever perish from 
 the presence and power of the Lord. I. P. 
 
 LETTER XLVIIL 
 
 Christ the Eesurrection and the Life. On His Appearance in the 
 Flesh, &c. 
 
 Friend, — God breathed into man the breath of life, 
 and man thereby became a living soul to God, to whom 
 by transgression he died. But Christ (who was before 
 
LETTERS OP ISAAC PEXINGTON. 131 
 
 Abraham, aud, in due time, took up that body prepared 
 by the Father,) is the resurrection aud the life, who, from 
 the Father, breathes life into man again, and so he comes 
 to live again. And, man, being quickened by Christ, is 
 to rise up from the dead, and travel with Christ into the 
 land of the living. And, Christ is all to the believers, in 
 whom dwells all fulness ; the circumcision is in him, the 
 baptism in him, and the righteousness, rest, aud peace 
 also ; yea, in him are all the treasures of wisdom and 
 knowledge ; and, he is made of God, unto them that be- 
 lieve in him, wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and re- 
 demption. Now, it is very precious to feel this ; but, of 
 little value to imagine or comprehend apprehensions about 
 this. For, the end of words is to bring men to the thing ; 
 but, the Scribes and Pharisees, by their apjirehensions 
 upon the words given forth by the Spirit, missed of the 
 thing : (though, they thought they missed not, but were 
 blessed in the knowledge of the law, and they that knew 
 not the law were cursed ;) and the same sjnrit is alive in 
 many that profess Truth now, who, by their understanding 
 of Scripture words, are kept from the thing which the 
 Scriptures testify of. What did Christ come in the flesh 
 aud suffer for, but to unite and reconcile to God ? and, 
 what* is the antichristian way of erring from the Truth, 
 but to cry up the appearance of Christ in the flesh, his 
 sufferings, resurrection, ascension, &c., in that spirit, 
 wherein the true union aud reconciliation is not witnessed ? 
 If we receive the light, and walk in the light, as God is ia 
 the light, then have we a share in his Son's death and 
 atonement, and his blood cleauseth from unrighteousness; 
 but not otherwise. 
 
 O that all who truly desire salvation, might know the 
 way hither, and receive that from God, which cleauseth 
 and keepeth clean. Ameu. I. P. 
 
132 
 
 LETTEKS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 
 
 LETTER XLIX. 
 
 To one who sent a Paper of Ricliard Baxter's. 
 
 Dear Friend, — Whom I often remember with love 
 and meltings of heart ; desiring of God, that thou mayest 
 enjoy, in this world, what of his presence and pure life he 
 judgeth fit for thee, and that thy soul may, after this life, 
 sit down in rest and peace with him forever. 
 
 I received from thee a paper of Richard Baxter's, sent, 
 I believe, in love ; and, in love, am I pressed to return 
 unto thee my sense thereof It seems to me very useful 
 and weighty so far as it goes ; but, indeed, there is a great 
 defect in it, in not directing sinners to that principle of 
 life and power, wherein and whereby they may do that, 
 which he exhortetli them to do. For, how can they come 
 to a true sensibility or repentance, or join in covenant with 
 God through Christ, until they know and receive some- 
 what from God, wherein it may be done? O my dear 
 Friend ! that he, and thou, and all who in any measure 
 turn from this world, and do indeed desire life eternal, 
 might know the instruction of life, and feel that from God 
 wherein he is known, loved, and joined with in coveriant; 
 that so, there might be a pure beginning, a pure growth 
 and going on unto perfection, and not notions concerning 
 things set up in the earthly understanding, which easily 
 2)utrefy and defile ; but, pure life, felt and enjoyed in the 
 heart, which is undefiled, and never saw nor shall see cor- 
 ruption. I have not freedom to write many words ; but, 
 my love breathes for thee, and my life desires fellowship 
 with thee, (if it may seem good unto my God,) in that 
 which is pure of him, and will remain so forever. 
 
 And, whatever men may say or think of me, I have no 
 other religion now, than I had from the beginning ; only, 
 
LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 133 
 
 a clearer leading into and guidance by that principle of 
 life, in and tlirougii wliicli, it pleased the Lord then to 
 quicken me. And this is it, which I have daily expe- 
 rience of in ray heart ; that it is no less than the light of 
 the everlasting day, in which the renewed man is to walk, 
 and no less than the life of the Son, (whom God gave a 
 ransom for sinners,) which can quicken man so to do ; 
 and, none but Christ, none but Christ, by his life revealed 
 in the soul, and blood shed there to wash it, can save the 
 poor sinner from sin, wrath, and misery ; and, my hope is 
 not in what I have done, do, or can do ; but, in what he 
 hath done without me, and also doth in me. 
 
 This is the account of my love unto thee, drawn forth 
 at this time by the outward expression of thine in sending 
 that paper, who remain, and, from my first acquaintance, 
 have ever been, a Friend and lover of thee. I. P. 
 
 Peter's Chalfonte, 
 19th of Sixth Month, 1G65. 
 
 LETTER L. 
 
 Of the Gospel state in general, and of the state of Believers in 
 particular. 
 
 Friend, — The Lord God on whom I wait, and whom I 
 worship in spirit and truth, and whom it is my delight to 
 serve and obey, hath divers times engaged my mind to 
 write to thee in true and tender love. There is somewhat, 
 also, on ray heart at this time to thee, concerning the state 
 of the gospel, in general, and, in particular, concerning 
 the state and condition of those, who truly know and serve 
 the Lord Jesus Christ, the King of saints. 
 
 The state of the gospel in general, is a state of redemp- 
 12 
 
134 LETTEES OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 
 
 tion and deliverance from the soul's enemies; of which 
 redemption every soul partakes, accordin-g to its faith in 
 and obedience to the Truth, and according to its growth, 
 in Him who is true. The babes in Christ and little chil- 
 dren, their sins are forgiven them for His name's sake. 
 The young men have fought valiantly, and have overcome 
 the wicked one. The old men, or elders in the Truth, 
 they are experienced in the heavenly wisdom and knowl- 
 edge of Him, who is from the beginning. 
 
 Now, there ai'e some things which belong to all in gen- 
 eral, or which are common to all, and somewhat which is 
 peculiar to each member in particular. These things, 
 which belong to all in general, are very many; but, it is 
 only on my heart to mention to thee at this time those few, 
 which the apostle recites together in Eph. iv. 4, 5, 6, which 
 indeed comprehend much ; and, he that knoweth and par- 
 taketh of them, hath also a share in, and benefit by, all 
 the rest. First, he saith, " There is one body." There is 
 one head ; and this one head hath one body, of which all 
 that are truly living are members. Secondly, " There is 
 one Spirit," which quickens, keeps alive, and gives nour- 
 ishment to, ordereth, comforteth, defendeth this one body. 
 Thirdly, " There is one hope of" their " calling ; " for they 
 are all called from the land of darkness, and out of the 
 shadow and dominion of death, to travel towards an inher- 
 itance of light, and life everlasting. Fourthly, There is 
 " one Lord," who hath power over, and the rule and do- 
 minion of this one body ; to whom they are all to give an 
 account daily of what they do, and at the last day, of what 
 hath been done in their body of flesh. Fifthly, There is 
 " one faith," wherewith they all believe in, and draw vir- 
 tue from the head ; which faith is the gift of God, and 
 springs from the root of life in his Son, and is of another 
 nature than that natural ability of believing, which is 
 found in mankind. Sixthly, There is " one baptism," by 
 
LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 135 
 
 the one Spirit; whereby, all the true members are bap- 
 tized into the one living body, and come to partake of the 
 virtue, benefits, and privileges thereof. Lastly, There is 
 "one God and Father of all," who begat them all, and is 
 to be worshipped by them all, as their Lord and God ; he 
 being witnessed and experienced by them to be " above 
 all, and through all, and in " them " all." This is the state 
 in general, the gospel state, into whidi Christ gives his 
 sheep, his Father's children, entrance ; and, it is a blessed 
 thing to know and experience this state, that is, to have a 
 real interest in, and really to partake of these things. 
 
 The state of every one in particular is thus ; " Unto 
 every one " in particular " is given grace, according to the 
 measure of the gift of Christ." Grace and truth come by 
 Jesus Christ ; for the fulness is his, yea, he is the fulness ; 
 and of his fulness doth he give a measure to each member 
 in particular. Not to all a like proportion, but to every 
 one some ; as he plcaseth to distribute and proportion out 
 the gift of his grace to them. For, it is his own, and he 
 may dispense his gifts and heavenly talents as he plcas- 
 eth ; and, according to the state of each in the body, and 
 according to their work and service, so doth he proportion 
 out his gift of grace to them. Now, this is that which 
 every one is to mind ; even, the grace given to them, their 
 own gift from Christ, to grow in that, and to be what they 
 are in that. He that hath none of this grace, he is none 
 of Christ's ; and he that hath received the grace, the free 
 gift, he is to keep to the measure of it, iu all he is and 
 does. 
 
 Now, shall I say to thee, feel my love in these lines ? or, 
 shall I not rather say, feel the love of my God, who visits 
 thee yet again, and would not have thee perish, iu resist- 
 ing his Holy Spirit, and slighting the grace and truth 
 which is by Jesus Christ, which is now powerfully revealed 
 iu many hearts : — blessed be he, who hath visited his 
 people with the horn of salvation. I. P. 
 
136 
 
 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 
 
 LETTER LI. 
 
 On Shunning the Cross. 
 To Catherine Pobdage. 
 
 Ah ! my poor, distressed, entangled Friend, while thou 
 seekest to avoid the suare, tliou deeply runuest into it : for, 
 thou art feeding on the tree of knowledge, in giving way 
 to these thoughts, reasonings, and suggestions, which keep 
 thee from obedience to that, which hath been made mani- 
 fest to thy understanding. And thou mayest well be feeble 
 in thy mind, while thou art thus separated from Him who 
 is thy strength, and lettest in his enemy. This is not the 
 right feebleness of mind which God jiities, nor the right 
 way of waiting to receive strength. Why shouldst not 
 thou act, so far as God gives theii light ? and why shouldst 
 thou not appear willing to obey him, even in little things, 
 so far as he hath given thee light? What if I should say, 
 that all this is but the subtlety of the serpent's wisdom to 
 avoid the cross, and is not that simplicity and plainness 
 of heart towards God, which thou takest it to be ; and that 
 thou art loath to be so poor, and low, and mean in the eyea 
 of others, as this practice would make thee appear ? 
 
 Thy Friend in the Truth, and in sincere love, I. P. 
 Amersham, 
 25111 of Ninth Month, 1675. 
 
LETTERS OF ISAAC PEKINGTON. 137 
 
 LETTER LII. 
 On Love, Meekness, and Watching over each other. 
 To Friends in Amersham. 
 
 Friends, — Our life is love, and peace, and tenderness ; 
 and bearing one with another, and forgiving one another, 
 and not laying accusations one against another ; but pray- 
 ing one for another, and helping one another up with a 
 tender hand, if there has been any slip or fall ; and wait- 
 ing till the Lord gives sense and repentance, if sense and 
 repentance in any be wanting. O ! wait to feel this spirit, 
 and to be guided to walk in this spirit, that ye may enjoy 
 the Lord in sweetness, and walk sweetly, meekly, ten- 
 derly, peaceably, and lovingly one with another. And 
 then, ye will be a praise to the Lord ; and any thing that 
 is, or hath been, or may be amiss, ye will come over in the 
 true dominion, even in the Lamb's dominion ; and, that 
 which is contrary shall be trampled upon, as life rises 
 and rules in you. So, watch your hearts and ways ; and 
 watch one over another, in that which is gentle and ten- 
 der, and knows it can neither preserve itself, nor help 
 another out of the snare ; but the Lord must be waited 
 upon, to do this in and for us all. So, mind Truth, the 
 service, enjoyment, and possession of it in your hearts ; 
 and so to walk, as ye may bring no disgrace upon it, but 
 may be a good savour in the places where ye live — the 
 meek, innocent, tendei*, righteous life reigning in you, 
 governing over you, and shining thi'ough you, in the eyes 
 of all with whom ye converse. 
 
 Your Friend in the Truth, and a dcsircr of your wel- 
 fare and prosperity therein, I. P. 
 
 Aylesbury, 
 4th of Third Month, 1667. 
 12* 
 
138 LETTBES OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 
 
 LETTER LIII. 
 
 On the Spiritual Appearance of Christ. 
 
 O ! Friend, — That thou hadst the true sense of the 
 drift of my heart in writing and sending things to thee I 
 — which is and hath been this — that thou mightst be 
 acquainted with that of God in the heart, wliicli quickens 
 to him : and, in the light of that, mightst try thy heart 
 and ways, and so, only justify in thyself what God justi- 
 fies, and let all else go. 
 
 Shall the Lord appear mightily on the earth, and Israel 
 not know him ? Shall the professors of this age under- 
 stand no more his appearance in Spirit, than the Jews did 
 his appearance in flesh ? Shall they stumble at the very 
 same stumbling stone? Yes, the same stumbling stone is 
 laid, for that wisdom to stumble at, as in all generations; 
 and, there is no avoiding stumbling, but by coming out 
 of that wisdom into babe-like simplicity, which gives 
 entrance into pure, heavenly wisdom. And this I dare 
 afiirm, as in God's presence and in his pure fear, having 
 received the sense thereof from him — that there is none 
 that opposeth this his present appearance, (by the greatest 
 knowledge and wisdom of their comprehensions from the 
 letter,) but would also have opposed and denied his 
 appearance in that body of flesh, had they lived in that 
 day. For, the wisdom which they gathered from the letter 
 did not reveal Christ in that day, but the Father ; and 
 the same reveals Him in this day. 
 
 O that thou couldst feel the pure revelation from the 
 Father to thy heart ! O wait for a new heart, a new ear, 
 a new eye ! even to feel the pure in thee, and thy mind 
 changed by the pure, that all things may become new to 
 thee ; the Scri2)tures new, (they are so, indeed, when God 
 
LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 139 
 
 opens them,) duties new, ordinances new, graces new, 
 experiences new ; a new church of the Spirit's buikling, 
 wherein He and thy soul may dwell together ; and thou 
 mayest be able to say, in the presence of the Lord, This 
 is a city of God's own building, the foundation whereof is 
 laid with sapphires, whose walls are salvation, and its 
 gates praise! !• P- 
 
 12th of Tliird Month, 1669. 
 
 LETTEK LIV. 
 
 To one under Divine Visitation. 
 
 Oh! dear Friend, — The eternal love of my Father 
 is to thee; and, because he loves thee, and would entirely 
 enjoy thee, therefore doth he so grievously batter and 
 break down that which stands in the way. What he is 
 doing towards thee, thou canst not know now, but thou 
 shalt know hereafter. Only be still, and wait for the 
 springing up of hope, in the seasons the Father sees neces- 
 sary ; that thou mayest not faint under his hand, but be 
 supported by his secret power, until his work be finished. 
 The great thing necessary for thee at present to know, is, 
 the drawings of his Spirit ; that thou mayest not igno- 
 rantly withstand or neglect them, and protract the day of 
 thy redemption. 
 
 Oh ! look not after great things : — small breathings, 
 small desires after the Lord, if true and pure, are sweet 
 beginnings of life. Take heed of despising "the day of 
 small things," by looking after some great visitation, pro- 
 portionable to thy distress, according to thy eye. Nay, 
 thou niu.st become a child, thou must lose thy own will 
 quite by degrees. Thou must wait for life to he measured 
 
140 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON-. 
 
 out by the Father, and be content with what proportion, 
 and at what time, he shall please to measure. 
 
 Oh ! be little, be little; and then, thou wilt be content 
 with little; and if thou feel, now and then, a check or a 
 secret smiting, — in that is the Father's love ; be not over- 
 wise, nor over-eager, in thy own willing, running, and 
 desiring, and thou mayest feel it soj and by degrees come 
 to the knowledge of thy Guide, who will lead thee, step 
 by step, in the path of life, and teach thee to follow, and, 
 in his own season, powerfully judge that which cannot, 
 nor will not follow. Be still, and wait for light and 
 strength ; and desire not to know or comprehend but to 
 be known and comprehended in the love and life, which 
 seeks out, gathers and preserves the lost sheep. 
 
 I remain thy dear Friend, and a well-wisher to thy soul, 
 in the love of my Father. I. P. 
 
 LETTER LV. 
 
 The Kingdom of God within. Of tlie New Covenant. Professors 
 of the Day. Trial of spii-its. ExJiortatiou to wait for, and walk 
 in the Spirit. 
 
 Dear Friend, — I received thy letter kindly, and in 
 the tenderness of lov^e, which desires thy enjoyment of the 
 Lord in this world, and the eternal welfai-e of thy soul 
 with him forever. 
 
 It is a great matter, to have the mind rightly guided to 
 that wherein God appears, that the soul may wait at the 
 posts of wisdom to hear wisdom's voice ; and he that hears 
 and observes wisdom's voice, what saith wisdom concern- 
 ing such an one ? "I will pour out my spirit unto you, 
 I will make known my words unto you." Prov. i. 23. 
 
LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 141 
 
 Thou liast read in the Scriptures, of the kingdom of 
 God, which, Christ told the Pharisees, was within thera. 
 He also, in parables, expressed what it was like ; even, 
 like a grain of mustard seed, like a pearl of great price, 
 like a lost groat, or piece of silver, like a treasure hid in a 
 field, like leaven, &c. Now, O that thou mightst come 
 to the discerning of this. Is there any such thing in thee? 
 Surely, there is. Dost thou know it? art thou in union 
 with it ? is it grown and enlarged in thee ? is there room 
 made for it, and doth it overspread thy heart ? O that it 
 were thus with thee! 
 
 Whereas thou sayest. The covenant, the new covenant, 
 is contained in the Scriptures; that expression of thine is 
 not clear, and to the nature of the thing. There are, 
 indeed, descriptions of the covenant in the Scriptures ; but, 
 the covenant itself is an agreement of life and peace, made 
 with the soul in the Lord Jesus Christ, upon his believing 
 in His power and obeying His voice ; according to that 
 Scripture, " Hear, and your soul shall live, and I will 
 make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure 
 mercies of David." Isaiah, Iv. 3. Now, this is it the soul 
 is to wait for ; even to feel the power of life breaking the 
 bonds of death, and opening the ear to the voice of God's 
 Spirit, that it may receive the impressions thereof, and 
 feel the new creation inwardly, the new heart, the new 
 mind, the new law of life, written within by the finger of 
 God's Spirit, even the law of the Spirit of life in Christ 
 Jesus. And then, this law is the rule inwardly as the out- 
 ward law was the rule to the outward Jews. 
 
 Thou thinkest me somewhat too sharp and severe, in 
 my sentence concerning the ministers [of the day]. I do 
 not remember that passage. I have received great mercy, 
 and I would not be sharp or severe towards any. If, 
 therefore, any such thing was, be assured it was in faith- 
 fulness to the Lord. All sorts of Christians own Christ 
 
142 
 
 LETTERS OF ISAAC 
 
 PENINGTON. 
 
 in words, but all do uot distinguish, discern, [nor are] 
 subject to the a])pearances of his Spirit and power ; but 
 resist, gainsay, and oppose, through error and mistakes at 
 first, till at length they come to hardness. These are the 
 builders who refuse the Corner-stone. The builders re- 
 jected Christ's appearance in flesh, in the days of his flesh ; 
 and the builders again refuse his appearance in spirit, in 
 this day of his Spirit. O that any who are tender among 
 them might be sensible of it, that they might uot draw 
 down God's severity and sharpness upon their heads! 
 which, if they do, it is not our joy, but matter of grief to 
 us. And, Friend, the state of profession is not what it 
 was, when thou and I were acquainted ; but, a withered 
 state in comparison of that. I can truly say, concerning 
 many professors, O that I could find them to be now, what 
 they were twenty years ago ! They have got more head- 
 knowledge; but, that savour of life, v.'hich then was in 
 them, is not now to be found among them. Truly, I speak 
 not otherwise concerning them, but as I feel the Spirit of 
 the Lord testifying in me ; neither would I have men- 
 tioned this at this time, but for thy sake. Whatever is of 
 God in any, my heart cannot but own : but, many take 
 that to be of God, (that fear, that faith, that love, those 
 prayers, those hopes, that peace, that joy, &c.) which is 
 not of him. O how precious is that, which truly and 
 rightly distinguisheth ! " My sheep hear my voice." The 
 voice of the Shepherd distinguisheth every deceit and 
 every deceiver. 
 
 But, whereas thou sayest, The spirits are to be tried by 
 the Scriptures ; I have found it otherwise in my expe- 
 rience. The Scriptures may try words ; but, nothing can 
 try spirits, but the Sj^irit. " I will know," said the apos- 
 tle, " not the words of them that are puffed up, but the 
 power." Deceivers may come with Scripture words ; but 
 they cannot come with the true power. Therefore, the 
 
LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 
 
 143 
 
 apostle Jolin, who bade the believers try the spirits, told 
 them, they had an unction from the Holy One, and pointed 
 them to the anointing. 1 John, ii. 20 & 27. But, who 
 can judge of this, but he that hath the anointing, and is 
 taught of the Lord to try things by it? he knows how it 
 tries, and what a certain judgment it gives concerning the 
 nature of things, and concerning every voice and every 
 appearance. The Spirit of God searcheth all things, dis- 
 cerns all things, discovers all things, — every snare, every 
 device of the enemy, the net spread ever so secretly ; 
 blessed are they, whose eyes are opened and kept open by 
 Him ! 
 
 There was a time of great darkness befell me, wherein 
 all that I had known and formerly experienced, was hid 
 from me ; and I cried out, " 1 know not the Lord ; and 
 yet, I cannot live without him ; — O ! what shall I do ? " 
 &c., but I never denied Christ to be the way of salvation, 
 in my deepest darkness and distress. And now, at length, 
 — blessed be the Lord ! — I have lived to see the day, 
 wherein he is made of God, wisdom, righteousness, sanc- 
 tification, and redemption, to me ; and I feel his blood 
 sprinkled and overflowing, which makes whiter than 
 snow ; and find him to be the mercy-seat, through whom I 
 have access to God ; and live by mercy and the deep com- 
 passions of God towards me, which, because they fail not, 
 but are daily renewed upon me, therefore is my soul pre- 
 served in life before my God. 
 
 O wait to know tiiat wherein the Lord inwardly 
 appears ! and take up the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ 
 to every thing that is contrary to God ; that, it all may 
 be crucified in thee, that thy soul may live in the abuU' 
 dance of life and peace. God is not straitened to any of 
 the children ; O that none of them may be straitened in 
 their own bowels ! And, be not discouraged because of 
 any weakness, or because of thy age. What kuowest 
 
144 LETTERS or ISAAC PENINGTON. 
 
 thou, what the Lord will do for thee? Thy weakness is 
 not thy disadvantage, but advantage ; for the weaker thou 
 art in thyself, the fitter art thou to have Christ's power 
 revealed and manifested in thee. Only wait to know that 
 wherein God appears in thy heart, even the holy seed, the 
 immortal seed of life ; that that may be discerned, distin- 
 guished and have scope in thee ; that it may spring up in 
 thy heart and live in thee, and gather thee into itself, and 
 leaven thee all over with its nature ; that thou mayest be 
 a new lump, and mayest walk before God, not in the old- 
 ness of thy own literal knowledge or apprehensions of 
 things, but in the newness of his Spirit. 
 
 The Lord appear to thee, in the light and demonstration 
 of liis spirit in thy heart and conscience, — touch thee, 
 quicken thee, lead thee, — guide and make thee sensible 
 of every appearance of his ; that no motion or drawing of 
 his Spirit may be quenched in thee, nor any motion of the 
 contrary spirit, under any deceivableness, hearkened to ; 
 that thou mayest travel faithfully, and come to the end 
 of thy travels with joy and full peace, reaping the sheaves 
 in life everlasting, of all that thou hast sown to the Spirit. 
 
 This is the earnest and single desire of my soul for thee, 
 who am thy true and faithful Friend, and au hearty well- 
 wisher to thee and thine. I. P. 
 
 LETTER LVL 
 
 Encouragement to look up to the Lord, amidst his Chastenings and 
 the Smitings of the Enemy. 
 
 Friend, — Thy advantage in thy travels is great over 
 what it hath been ; the Lord having given thee a better 
 sight both of thy enemies, and of that wherein his strength 
 against them is revealed. 
 
LETTERS OP ISAAC PENINGTON. 
 
 145 
 
 Now, what remains? but that tliou liope in him, and 
 breatlie unto him, and luuig upon him; tliat his virtue 
 may flow into thee, and the mountains iuid difficulties may 
 pass away, before the presence of the Seed, who is revealed 
 in thee. Look down no more, look out no more ; but, 
 dwell with thy Beloved, in the tent that he hath pitched 
 for thee. Let* him do what he will, let him appear how 
 he will, wait ou him in the daily exercise ; stand still in 
 the faith, and see him working out thy salvation, and 
 scattering the bones of them that have besieged thee. 
 Think not hardly of him, by no means ; question not his 
 carrying on of his work. He knows what yet he hath to 
 do, and what stratagem the enemy yet hath to surprise 
 and entangle thee. O feel his arm stretched out for thee! 
 and be not so much discouraged, in the sight of what is 
 yet to be done, as comforted in his good-will towards thee. 
 'Tis true, he hath chastened thee with rods and sore afflic- 
 tions ; but, did he ever take away his loving kindness from 
 thee ? or did his faithfulness ever fail iu the sorest, black- 
 est, thickest, darkest night that ever befell thee? And 
 breathe to him, for the carrying ou of his work ; that thou 
 mayest feel his i)resence and life, getting dominion over 
 death daily in thee, more and more. And wait to feel 
 strength of life, that thy growth may be pure, and the 
 holy seed may have dominion and be all iu thee. I. P. 
 
 8th of the Eightli Montli, IGCG. 
 
 POSTSCRIPT. 
 
 The enemy will be laying snares, and forging subtle 
 devices to darken and bow thee down, which, (thou, not 
 being hasty to believe, join with, and let in as true, but 
 ■waiting on the Lord in singleness, fear, and humility,) 
 his light will spring up in thee, and help thee to discern. 
 And oh ! how sweet will it be for thee, who hast so often 
 13 K 
 
1-16 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 
 
 been ensnared, to escape the gins and nets of the fowler, 
 and to dwell in the rest and peace, which thy soul hath 
 tasted of, and whi^li is the proper place of thy habitation. 
 
 Indeed, the Lord's thoughts have not been towards thee, 
 as thou hast apprehended all along. His anger was to- 
 wards the enemy, towards the oppressor, not towards thee. 
 Nor doth He judge and smite the mind, after that manner 
 that the enemy doth accuse ; but, according to his own 
 nature, sweetness, and tender love. And, His judgments 
 and sraitings have other effects, than the serpent's accus- 
 ings and piercings ; for, they do not drive from Him, but, 
 they melt, and tender and prepare the heart for union with 
 Him. O ! keep close to the measure of life, wherein thou 
 mayest discern and distinguish these things ; and, take 
 heed of letting in one bowing-down thought, (how mani- 
 fest or demonstrative soever,) but look np to him who hath 
 freely loved, and hath abounded in mercy towards thee ; 
 that in the faith, patience, stillness, and meekness of his 
 seed, thou mayest be found always waiting upon him, in 
 the several exercises, wherewith he shall daily see good to 
 exercise thee; till he bring lorth his seed in dominion in 
 thee, and thereby give thee thy desired and expected end. 
 
 I. P. 
 
 9tli of the Eightli Month, 1G66. 
 
 LETTER LVIL 
 
 !)f the Gospel Dispensation, and of the States of its Professors. 
 
 To Colonel Kenrick. 
 
 The gospel dispensation conf^ists in s^^irit and power. 
 The kingdom which Christ and his apostles preached, 
 (which the true believers were to receive, and to wait for 
 an entrance to be ministered to them into,) stood not in 
 
LETTERS OF ISAAC PENIJ^GTON. 
 
 147 
 
 word, but in power. Now, there are four sorts of profes- 
 sors of the Christian religion in this our day, one sort 
 whereof only, arc acquainted with the gospel dispensation, 
 • First, There is one sort, which have been nurtured in a 
 profession of Christianity by education, and have improved 
 ii, by study, but have never known the power, virtue, and 
 inward life thereof; but, as men, with the man's part, wis- 
 dom, understanding, and seriousness of mind, have con- 
 sidered of the truth and weight of things contained in the 
 Scriptures, and so have received somewhat of the holy 
 doctrine into their natural understanding, and given them- 
 selves up to the observation and practice thereof, accord- 
 ing as they have apprehended and understood things. 
 These have become more serious and excellent men than 
 others, but fall very far short of the nature and state of 
 Christianity ; yea, the strictest among these, many times, 
 become the greatest opposers and persecutors of true Chris- 
 tianity. 
 
 Secondly, There are some who have had a taste of the 
 true power, and have had living desires and breathings 
 after it, and a sense of the preciousness and excellency of 
 it; who have also felt the quickening Spirit, and began 
 therein ; and yet, have afterwards lost that sense, and cen- 
 tered in a literal knowledge and wisdom about those very 
 things, which they had once some living experience of. 
 These are like salt, which hath lost its savour ; and it is 
 hard for them ever to be seasoned again ; and from among 
 these, do rise the greatest persecutors and bitterest perse- 
 cution against the life, Trutii, and power. 
 
 Thirdly, There are some, who, though they never came 
 to the distinct knowledge of the ^jower, yet have had a 
 great sense of their want of it, and have abqde in that 
 sense ; and, in all the ways and forms of religion they have 
 been or are in, still seek after it ; and reckon no form any- 
 thing, but as the power in some measure appears in it ; and 
 
148 
 
 LETTERS OF ISAAC 
 
 PENINGTON. 
 
 the cry of their souls is daily after it, and their waiting is 
 fur it. These, wherever they are, are of the true seed ; 
 these are the birth of the heaveuly Spirit and wisdom ; 
 these are sheej) of the true Shepherd's fold, though not yet 
 gathered home to the fold to wliieh they properly belong. 
 These are the broken, the bruised, the sick, the wounded, the 
 captives, the distressed, the poor, the naked, &c., to whom 
 the gospel of peace, the gathering, the salvation, and redemp- 
 tion belongs. And, the bleating of these is known ; yea, 
 their longing and cry after the redeeming and gathering 
 power of the Shepherd, is felt ; however they may be, at 
 present, prejudiced against that very dispensation of Truth, 
 life, and power, whereby the Shepherd gathers. 
 
 Fourthly, There are some, whom God hath brought to 
 the distinct sense and knowledge of the power. There are 
 some, whose minds God hath turned to the inward light 
 and power. There are some, whom the Shepherd hath 
 gathered home to the Father's house, where is bread 
 enough, and to the true fold, where is rest and peace 
 enough — some, who have seen an end of all perfection, in 
 the legal comprehendings and creaturely strivings after life, 
 righteousness, and holiness, and are come to the command- 
 ment which is exceeding broad, and, wherein is life ever- 
 lasting. Now, these experience somewhat of the gospel 
 dispensation, and know the difference between being under 
 the law and under grace ; and can tell, what the kingdom 
 is, which Christ preached and bade men seek ; and what 
 the gospel is, which the poor in spirit receive; and what 
 the healing is, which drops from under the wing of the 
 Saviour and Redeemer. And, they can tell what justifi- 
 cation is, and what sanctification, regeneration, and re- 
 demption is ; and can distinguish between truth as testified 
 in the letter, and as it is in Jesus ; between the law of 
 the letter, and the law of the Spirit, Avhich is written in 
 the new heart and mind, by the finger of God's pure and 
 
LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 149 
 
 living power. Now, the kuowledge of these, the faith of 
 these, the peace, the joy, the jiistifioatiou, and sanctifica- 
 tion, and redemption of these, differs greatly from all the 
 former ; from the two first sorts in nature and kind, from 
 the latter in degree, clearness, and purity. For, though 
 all the sheep of the ti'ue Shepherd have somewhat of the 
 true kuowledge, somewhat of the true faith, somewhat of 
 the true justification, somewhat of the true sanctification, 
 and may at times have some taste of true peace and joy, 
 and have true breathings and supplications in their spirits 
 towards their Father that begat them ; yet, they are not 
 clear, they are not pure, they are not unmixed ; there is a 
 great deal, which is not true, which passeth for true with 
 them ; because, they are not come to the anointing, to 
 the eye-salve which opens the eye, nor to the Spirit of 
 judgment and burning, which separates inwardly in the 
 heart, understanding, mind, and judgment, between the 
 precious and the vile. So that, when they speak of the 
 heavenly things, they do but stutter and stammer ; and 
 though truth can sometimes own their sense, yet, many 
 times, not their words ; there is such a mixture of the dark, 
 earthly comprehension in them, which they are not deliv- 
 ered and redeemed from. But, it is otherwise with those, 
 ■who are turned to the light and power of our Lord Jesus 
 Christ, and have knowu it, and been exercised, fanned, 
 and purged by it : for, in them, the blind eye is opened, 
 the deaf ear unstopped ; and, to them, the pure under- 
 standing and language is given, whereby they know and 
 understand, not only words concerning Him, but Him 
 hhmelf who is true, and are in him that is true, even iu 
 Him, who is ihe very God and life dcrnal. 
 
 Yet, there are different states among those, who are 
 thus efi'ectually called and gathered home, according to 
 their growth in the Truth, and faithfulness to it. For, if 
 there be not a great cai-e and watchfulness, there may be 
 13* 
 
150 LETTERS OP ISAAC PENINGTON. 
 
 a neglecting to hear the voice of the Sliepherd, and to walk 
 with him : and then, such miss of the pastures of life, and 
 of the inne rest, joy, and peace, which he administers to 
 others ; and of the garment or covering of the Spirit, which 
 they, who live and walk in the Spirit, (in everything giv- 
 ing up to the Spirit, and denying all the lusts and fruits 
 of the flesh,) daily find themselves covered with. Nor 
 doth God so " dwell in them and walk in them," as he 
 doth in those, that remain separate from all evil, (from 
 which the Spirit of judgment and burning purifies and sepa- 
 rates,) and touch no unclean thing. Yea, they who grieve 
 Christ's Spirit, and do not heed his call and knock.s, he 
 doth not so sup with them, nor they with him ; nor do 
 such partake so of the river of life and wine of the king- 
 dom, as those whose ear is open to him, and who are always 
 ready to obey and follow him " whithersoever he goeth." 
 
 I. P. 
 
 19th of Fourth Month, 1G73. 
 
 LETTER LVIII. 
 
 On the Lord's Supper with Believers. 
 
 To Widow Hemmings. 
 
 My dear Friend, — Whom I truly love, and whose 
 prosperity in the Truth I earnestly desire. Because I 
 find thy mind much engaged about one thing, to wit, re- 
 ceiving bread and wine in remembrance of Christ's death, 
 which I am tender to thee in ; yet withal, it is on my heart 
 at this time to say somewhat to thee; perhaps the Lord 
 may open thy mind, and let thee into some sense of the 
 thing. 
 
 There is a supper, or supping with Christ, beyond out- 
 
liETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 151 
 
 ward bread and wine, which he promised to those that 
 heard his voice, opened the door, and let him in. Rev. iii. 
 20. Now, it is that supper, it is the desire of my heart, 
 thou mayest be acquainted with and partake of. And as 
 thou comest to be acquainted with it and partake of it, 
 thou wilt call it the feast of fat things, and of wines on 
 the lees well refined. Christ said. Henceforth I will drink 
 no more of th is fr u it of the vine ; till I drink it new tvith you 
 in my Father's kingdom. What wine, what fruit of the 
 vine is it which Christ drinks new with his disciples in his 
 Father's kingdom ? Is it not that wine, which he and 
 they drink now together, when he sups with them ? O ! 
 the Lord give thee an understanding, that" thou mayest 
 come to the substance, feel substance, and inhecit substance 
 forever. 
 
 " Flee from idolatry, my dearly beloved," said the 
 apostle, 1 Cor. x. 14. What idolatry did he mean ? "I 
 speak as to wise men;" said he, "judge ye what I say. 
 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the com- 
 munion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we 
 break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?" 
 About the outward cup and bread, might they not easily 
 run into idolatry ? but they that knew, discerned, and 
 minded the body and blood indeed, they did not run into 
 idolatry. " For we, being many, arc one bread and one 
 body ; for we are all partakers of that one bread." O 
 deep, deep, indeed ! The bread which comes down from 
 heaven, that is the bread which gives life to the soul : and, 
 unless we eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his 
 blood, we have no life in us. And, if we eat his flesh and 
 drink his blood, we become one flesh with him, and bone 
 of his bone ; yea, we become of the same bread with him, 
 and so, of the one body of the living bread. 
 
 My dear Friend, the Lord give thee an understanding, 
 and open thy heart, and cause thee to grow into union 
 
152 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 
 
 and into seiiso of hi.s Truth ; that by growing up in the 
 Truth, thou n^.ayest come more and more to understand it, 
 and be uc(|ua!nted with it. 
 
 Thy unfeigned Friend iu the Truth, which is pure. 
 
 I. P. 
 
 Eeading Gaol, 
 3d of Sixth Moiitli, 1670. 
 
 LETTER LIX. 
 
 Respecting tlie Payment of Titlies. 
 To James Eeles. 
 
 Friend, — God is my witness, to whom I must give an 
 account of all my actions, that it is my desire to be found 
 iu all true love, courtesy, and righteousness, in my deal- 
 ings towards all men ; and that I would by no meaus 
 deny any man his just due, which he can by any just law 
 or right claim from me. 
 
 Now, as touching tithes, the payment or refusing of 
 them is to me a matter of conscience, weighty on my heart 
 before the Lord ; and I would do therein as he might 
 justify, and not condemn me. I know, tithes were ordained 
 by God, to be paid to the Levitical priesthood, under the 
 law : but, the same power that ordained them under the 
 law, disannulled them under the gospel. Heb. vii. 12 & 
 18. Here is God's power and authority for disannulling 
 them. Now, that any man or men have true right, power, 
 and authority to set up or require to be paid, under the 
 gospel, what God's power hath disannulled, — indeed, I do 
 not see ; nor can I be subject to any human authority or 
 law in this thing, without sinning against God, and incur- 
 ring his wrath upon my soul ; which I have formerly found 
 
LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 153 
 
 very dreadful, aud would not, for fear of sufferings in this 
 world, expose myself to the bearing of. Besides, Christ 
 saith, "He that denies me before men, him will I deny 
 before my Father." He is the substance of all the figures 
 under the law ; he hath put an end to them ; he is King, 
 Priest, and Prophet in the church of God ; all power in 
 heaven and earth is given to him, and he sent forth his 
 ministers without tithes. Now, tithes were set up in the 
 dark time of popery, and not by the gospel light ; aud, 
 they who know the gospel light, dare not be subject to 
 that, which was set up in matters of religion by the dark 
 power of Rome, in the time of darkness. 
 
 I was willing to give thee this plain and naked account, 
 that thou mayest see how weighty the thing is with me, 
 aud how dangerous it would be to me, to do what thou 
 requirest of me ; for, in so doing, I should lose my peace 
 with God, I should be unfaithful to the testimony he hath 
 given me to bear, I should dishonour his name and Truth, 
 and bring his sore wrath and displeasure upon my soul 
 and conscience. Judge, thyself, in this matter ; whether 
 I had not better expose myself to any outward sufferings, 
 though evef so great, (either from thee, or any thou shalt 
 make use of,) than expose my soul to so great inward 
 misery aud sufferings, for disobedience to the Lord in this 
 particular. Consider Ralph Trumper,* a just, tender, 
 houcst-hearted man, — how much he hath suffered in this 
 respect, to keep his conscience clear in this thing ; who, I 
 believe, would rather suffer all his former losses ten times 
 over again, than suffer what he did, (to my knowledge,) 
 for paying tithes, after he was convinced of the evil and 
 unlawfulness of it. I do not contend with thee by the 
 law of the land ; but, 1 must be subject to the law of God, 
 who shows me from what root tithes came ; and that they 
 are not the maintenance of the ministry of Christ, or 
 
 *See Besse's Sufferings of Friends, Vol. 1st, pages 78, 79. 
 
154 
 
 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 
 
 allowed by Christ ; but, the maintenance of the ministry 
 Rome's power set up, both which ministry, and its main- 
 tenance, is to be denied and witnessed against, by those, 
 whom he calls forth to testify to his Truth in these things. 
 
 So, at present, I say no more ; but remain thy Friend, 
 ready to do thee any good, though I should sufi'er ever so 
 deeply from thee. I. P. 
 
 25th of Fourth Month, 1677. 
 
 LETTER LX. 
 
 On Election, and on Falling away. Of our own Righteousness 
 and of Christ's in us. 
 
 To Ruth Palmer. 
 
 My dear Friend, — Whose love I am sensible of, and 
 whom I entirely wish well unto, and desire for thee, that 
 thou mayest purchase and possess the pearl of grice ; and 
 so know and enjoy Christ Jesus, the Lord, as that thou 
 mayest witness him to be eternal life to thy soul. 
 
 I received a letter from thee, which occasions this my 
 Avriting to thee. It is precious, indeed, to have the Spirit 
 of God witness to us, that our sins are pardoned. And 
 they who are truly pardoned, to whom the Spirit so wit- 
 nesseth, receive the Spirit; indeed, all that are Christians 
 receive the Spirit ; for, he that hath not the Spirit of 
 Christ, is none of His. And where the Spirit is, there is 
 He who hath power over sin, who delights to exercise his 
 power in mortifying and subduing sin, and in reigning 
 and triumphing over it. Now, they that have received 
 the Spirit, are to live in the Spirit, and walk in the Spirit ; 
 and, doing so, they cannot fulfil the lusts of the flesh, nor 
 
LETTERS OI-'' ISAAC PENINOTON. 
 
 155 
 
 love the world, nor the things of the world, nor iksliion 
 themselves according to it, but are redeemed out of it, in 
 heart, spirit, life, and conversation, up to God. O my 
 Friend ! let no religion satisfy thee, but that which brings 
 thee hither, and which brings forth this fruit in thee. We 
 must needs own Christ to be the spring, and that we can 
 do nothing without him, but only by, and in, and tlirough 
 him ; because we daily experience it to be so. 
 
 As touching election, we do believe it, according as the 
 Lord hath taught us, and as the Scriptures express it : 
 but, such an election, as shuts out any from the salvation 
 God bath prepai'ed for the sons of men, we cannot own ; 
 because the Scriptures expressly testify that God " would 
 have all to be saved, and come to the knowledge of the 
 Truth." Yea, also, we know it to be his nature. It is 
 the nature of the destroyer to destroy, — he would have 
 none saved ; but, it is the nature of God, the Saviour, to 
 save, — he would have none perish, But, as there is a 
 making the calling and the election sure, so, there is first 
 a coming into the calling and into the election. Now, the 
 election cannot perish, nay, the elect Seed cannot be de- 
 ceived. And, as we are chosen in him, and come into 
 him, (out of darkness* in his marvellous light, out of 
 death into his life,) so, we must abide in him : and the 
 promise is to him, that continues unto the end. And 
 Christ said to the church of Ephesus, " Remember from 
 whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works : 
 or else," &c. : and mind, what a state they fell from, and 
 how far they were fallen, when so severely threatened. 
 It was not wholly ; it was but from the first love and first 
 works ; and yet, if they repented not, how great was their 
 danger. 
 
 As for that place of Rom. xi., it is manifest, that there 
 is an election, and that this election is not of works, but 
 of grace. Yet there must be a hearing of the voice; 
 
156 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 
 
 " To-tlivy," said tlie apof^tle, "if ye will hear liis voice;" 
 and so, there must be a coming to Christ, uud an abiding 
 in hira, and a walking in the strait v, ay ; for, it is the way 
 God chooseth. God hath chosen Christ, and the soul in 
 him ; and the message is, to invite to come to him, and 
 abide in him to the end. And the coudemuation is, upon 
 rejecting him, and the salvation, to them that receive him, 
 which is not of man's self neither, but, men are made 
 willing so to do, in the day of God's power; and the 
 power is not far from, or wanting to any, in the way that 
 the Lord hath appointed ; though there are also the 
 ahoundings of love, mercy, and power according to his 
 pleasure. The falling away is, not because persons were 
 not elected, but because they let in that, which is contrary 
 to the election, and cleave to it. So, there is, a " heart of 
 unbelief," in which men depart from the living God, and 
 make shipwreck of faith and of a good conscience ; and 
 the ground of their falling is, their hearkening, not to the 
 Lord, but to the voice and temptations of the enemy. 
 There are called, and faithful, and chosen. These are 
 states, to be come into and abode in. Many may be 
 called, who never come to be faithful, nor chosen. To 
 witness the peculiar choice of God, ijiis is precious : — and 
 then, not to be content with a touch of the calling, or a 
 touch of the election, but to " make " them " sure." There 
 is no choosing, but in the seed. Make sure of that seed, 
 and thou makest both thy " calling and election sure." 
 For indeed, " many are called, but few chosen." And 
 yet, when a man comes thus far, so as to know himself 
 chosen, is he quite out of danger? Did not Paul know 
 his election sure? yet, was he not afterwards careful to 
 keep that under and in subjection, which was to be kept 
 under and in subjection ? "lest," saith he, "when I have 
 preached to others, I myself should be a castaway." 
 Thou sayest. Whom God once loves, he loves to the 
 
LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 157 
 
 end. Did he not once love all men, even the whole 
 world ? Did he not manifest it, in sending his Son for 
 them? And they that come into his Son, they come into 
 his love; and they that come into his love, must continue 
 in his love and in his goodness. For, it is not persons, 
 ("God is no respecter of persons,") but the seed, God 
 loves. " In thy seed shall all the families of the earth bo 
 blessed;" and, in that seed, they are loved, and continu- 
 ing there, they contiiuie in the love. It is true, God's 
 grace appears, and thereby many are gathered. And 
 when any fall, the grace of God appears again, and 
 thereby many arc restored. But, if any be hardened by 
 " the deceitfuluess of sin," that they hearken not to the 
 voice of grace, when it comes to restore, are they restored 
 by it? And, God's compassions failed not to Israel of 
 old, nor to Israel now ; yet, were none consumed then, 
 who, though they came out of Egypt, yet rebelled, and 
 lusted, and tempted Christ, &c., and so, were destroyed 
 of the destroyer ! And so, do none make shipwreck of 
 faith now, whereby the standing is? as the apostle ex 
 presseth, Rom. xi. 19, 20, 21, 22. Read, and consider. 
 And the apostle, in the sense of things, cries, " O the 
 depth ! " &c. Love in severity, mercy in severity ! If it 
 be stopped one way, it will break forth more abundantly 
 in another way. And, " who hath known the mind of the 
 Lord," or given him counsel, which way he should man- 
 age his love and mercy? as in ver. 33, 34, of that 11th 
 chapter. Indeed, all the salvation is to be ascribed to 
 God, and is ascribed to God by all that receive salvation 
 from him ; but still, God saves in the way he has appoint- 
 ed, (in coming into the way, in abiding in the way, in 
 walking in the way,) — there alone is safety ; but, out of 
 it, death and destruction forever. 
 
 All oar best I'ighteousness is as filthy rags, it is true; 
 but, the gift of God is not as filthy rags, the righteousness 
 14 
 
158 
 
 LETTERS OF ISAAC 
 
 PENINGTON. 
 
 of his Son revealed in the heart, is not as filthy rags. 
 The pure offerings and incense, which are offered up to 
 God in the times of the gospel, are not as filthy rags. See 
 Mai. i. 11 ; aud consider whether he that offers up to God 
 the male, offers up a corrupt thing, a filthy rag, or no, ver. 
 14. O what a state of blindness are many in, that they 
 cannot distinguish between what is of themselves, aud 
 what is of God in them ; and so, avoid offering up the 
 corrupt thing, and offer up that which is holy and pure, 
 even the holy sacrifice, with the holy fire, upon the altar 
 of God ! Consider 3d ch. 3d verse of Malachi ; and tell 
 nie, if thou knowest, what an ofieriug in righteousness is, 
 whether it be as filthy rags, or no. Consider that place', 
 John, iii. 21. "He that doeth truth cometh to the light, 
 that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are 
 wrought in God." And what are those deeds that are 
 wrought in God? Is not God holy aud pui'e? And is 
 any thing wrought in him, but what is holy aud pure? 
 Aud mind that place, where the prophet speaks, " All our 
 righteousnesses are as filthy rags," etc. Mind ver. 5, and 
 ver. 6, of Isaiah Ixiv., and see if they be not two different 
 states? None of those, whose righteousness was as filthy 
 rags, called upon the name of the Lord, ver. 7. Did uot 
 the prophet call on the name of the Lord? The prophet 
 there represents the state of backsliding Israel, that did 
 uot remember God in his waj's, nor, through faith, work 
 righteousness, as some others did, ver. 5 ; all their offer- 
 ings, all their sacrifices out of the faith, was as filthy rags, 
 as the cutting off of a dog's neck, &c. ; but the offering of 
 Abel, and the sacrifice of the righteous were not so, in 
 any age or generation. Therefore, we should wait rightly 
 to distinguish things, and not jumble the precious and the 
 vile together, as if they were all one. 
 
 As for method of speaking, I have none of my own, 
 but wait for the method and words, which God's wisdom 
 
LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 
 
 159 
 
 teaclietli. Indeed, when I speak of the light, and the 
 life, and the power, I do mean Chriiit Jesus, who is the 
 light, life, and power ; but, it is a great matter, to come 
 to know him so revealed in the heart ; for, where he is so 
 revealed, darkness and death, and the power of Satan, is 
 scattered and put to flight by him. Yea, Satan falls like 
 lightning before the power of his kingdom, where it is 
 revealed. 
 
 This is a blessed experience ; and these know Christ 
 indeed. The Lord grant that thou niayest so do ! which 
 is the hearty desire of thy soul's true and faithful Friend, 
 
 I. P. 
 
 LETTER LXL 
 
 To his brother Arthur, who became a Koman Catholic. 
 
 Dear Brother, — I have been a traveller after the 
 Lord from my childhood, and great misery have I under- 
 gone for want of him. That which I wanted, was his 
 Spirit, life, virtue, and redeeming pqwer to be revealed in 
 my own heart. O blessed be the Lord I beyond my ex- 
 pectation, he hath directed me, where to wait for this 
 within, and hath revealed it in me; and now I can say in 
 truth of heart, and iu the sense of that birth, which God 
 hath begotten in me, " Lo ! this is my God, whom I so 
 wanted and waited for;" and, I find him stronger in my 
 heart than the strong man, which possessed it before He 
 cast him out from thence, and made a spoil of his goods. 
 And now, dear Brother, how can I hold my peace, and 
 not testify of the love, mercy, and good-will of the Lord 
 towards me, and invite others to the redeeming power, 
 of which the Lord iu his goodness hath made me a par- 
 
160 LETTERS OF ISAAC PEXIXGTOX. 
 
 taker? And now, Brother, a few words respecting thy 
 return to what I sent thee ; not for contention's sake, (the 
 Lord knows, my dwelling is in that life and peace which 
 shuts them out,) but, in the tender love and care of my 
 heart concerning the eternal welfai-e of thy soul, which 
 I would not, by any meaus or device of the enemy, have 
 eternally deceived. 
 
 All sides may agree in notions about the regenerating 
 power ; but all do not receive the regenerating power, nor 
 are truly regenerating in the sight of God ; nor come to 
 witness the head of the serpent inwardly crushed, and his 
 works destroyed, and kingdom laid waste inwardly by 
 this power ; which must needs be, before a man be trans- 
 lated out of the kingdom of darkness, into the kingdom 
 of the dear Son. There is a kingdom of darkness in- 
 wardly, which the unbelieving and disobedient to God's 
 Spirit and power, dwell iu ; an 1 there is a kingdom of 
 light inwardly, wherein, the children of light dwell with 
 God, and walk in the light as he is in the liglit. 
 
 But, that the work of regeneration is only Ijegnn in this 
 life, and not finished till the other life, that is a great 
 mistake. For, the Scriptures testify, that salvation is to 
 be wrought out here, and not hereafter. Christ had all 
 power in heaven and earth, and he sent forth his Spirit 
 and power to work out the work here ; and his sanctifying 
 Spirit and power is able to sanctify throughout, in soul, 
 body, and spirit ; and the gifts of the ministry are for per- 
 fecting the saints, till they all come in the unity of the 
 faith, unto a perfect man, that they may be presented to 
 God perfect in Christ Jesus. The holy leaven is put into 
 the lump here, and it is able to leaven the lump here ; and 
 holiness is not only to be begun, hut perfected in the fear 
 of God, as the apostle exhorts, who did not exhort to a 
 needless, or impossible thing ; and the whole armour of 
 God, is able to defend the whole man from all the assaults 
 
LETTEKS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 161 
 
 of the wicked one ; for, greater is He, in the saints, that 
 preserves from sin, than he that tempts to sin. O ! how 
 precious it is to war with the enemy in this conquering 
 faith, and to resist him therein ; tliat he may still flee 
 away, for fear of God's power and sword, which will pierce 
 him, and can easily overcome him. 
 
 There is a state where the spirit is willing, hut the flesh 
 weak : yet, it is not so, where the spirit is become strong 
 in the Lord, and in the power of his might. There is a 
 holy hill of God, a spiritual Zion, a mountain whereupon 
 his house is built, which the wing of the Almighty over- 
 shadows ; and his sheep that are gathered by the great 
 Shepherd and Bishop of the soul, feed there, and none can 
 make afraid. The flesh will be rebelling against the" 
 Spirit, until it l>e destroyed by the cross of our Lord 
 Jesus Christ. But, when a man is really crucified with 
 Christ, and dead to sin, sin hath no more power over him ; 
 for, Christ lives in him, and reigns in his heart over sin 
 and the temptations thereof. When the God of peace 
 treads Satan under the feet of the soul, that was once 
 captived by him, there it is known, whose the kingdom, 
 and the power and the victory, and the dominion is. 
 
 And, this is true blessedness begun, carried on, and up- 
 held, by the pure, sanctifying power of the word of life in 
 the heart ; 'and the birth which is born of God, knows it 
 to be no delusion, but the truth as it is in Jesus. And 
 such are obedient to the holy church of God, and to the 
 holy ministry, which he hath brought out of the wilder- 
 ness ; and know, of what nature the churches and ministry 
 have been, which have appeared and been set up in the 
 world, since the true church fled into, and was hid in the 
 wilderness, and was fed there by the Lord God of life. 
 The devil hath long transformed himself into the likeness 
 of an angel of light, and cheated and beguiled souls ; while 
 the false church hath reigned, antichrist sitting in the 
 14* L 
 
162 LETTERS OF IS A AT! PEXINGTOX. 
 
 temple, — the mau-child liaviug been caught up to God, 
 and the true church in the wilderness; and men have 
 generally put darkness for light, and light for darkness. 
 But, blessed be the Lord I the true light which shone in 
 the apostles' days, now shines again ; and discovers the 
 mystery of iniquity, and the golden cup of abominations, 
 wherewith the earth hath been made drunk ; and Satan 
 falls down like lightning before the power of Him, on 
 whom the true churcii leaned, when she came out of the 
 wilderness, — and still leans, and will lean upon forever; 
 and the gates of hell sliall not be able to prevail against 
 her. 
 
 And blessed be the Lord ! who hath brought many 
 wanderers and di.stressed ones to the sight of the true 
 church, and to delightful obedience to her ; whose voice 
 is not different to Christ's, but one with it ; and such are 
 in fellowship with the Father and Sou, and with the saints 
 who dwell in the light. These are clothed with the 
 Lamb's iunocency and righteousness, and do not dwell in 
 darkness, nor in sin ; having crucified the old man with 
 his affections and lusts, and put off the body of the sins of 
 the flesh by the circumcision of Christ, and put on the 
 new man which is created, in Christ Jesus, in the right- 
 eousness and holiness of Truth. They that are here, 
 dwell not in fancies, nor feed on fancies, but on eternal 
 life, in the pure pastures of life, where the Shepherd of 
 the inward and spiritual Israel, feeds his holy flock day 
 ' by day. 
 
 As for the Romish church, or any other church, built 
 up in the apostacy from the spirit and life of the apostles ; 
 the Lord hath given me to see through them, to that which 
 was before them, and will be after them. And, O dear 
 Brother I if thou couldst but rightly wait for and meet 
 with the holy, regenerating, purifying power, which in 
 tender love I testified to thee of; it would lead thee to 
 
LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 163 
 
 that which is tlic true chureli indeed, which hath heen 
 persecuted by the dragon aud false church, and the blood 
 of her seed made drunk by the bloody dragouish church, 
 for many ages. 
 
 The Lord hath made me thy Brother in the line of 
 nature ; O that thou wert my Brother in that Truth, wliich 
 lives and abides forever ! O that thou knew the church, 
 of the first-born, which are written in heaven, the Jerusa- 
 lem which is above, which is free, which is the mother of 
 all who are born of the regenerating virtue and power ! 
 
 I. P. 
 
 20th of Seventh Month, 1676. 
 
 LETTER LXIL 
 
 Respecting his Biotlier, a Roman Catholic. 
 To Joseph Wright. 
 
 I ENTREAT thy Son to acquaint my Brotlier Arthur, 
 that I took very kindly, and was very glad of his affection- 
 ate expressions towards me ; having been somewhat jeal- 
 ous, that though m)j religion had enlarged ray love towards 
 him, yet, hU religion might have diminished his to me. I 
 bless the Lord on his behalf that ho enjoys his health so 
 well : and for myself, though I have been exceedingly 
 weakly formerly, yet, the inward life and comfort, which 
 the Lord daily pleascth to administer to me, increasoth 
 the health and strength of my natural man, beyond my 
 expectation ; blessed be my tender and merciful Fallier, 
 who liath visited one so distressed, miserable, and helpless 
 as I was, for so many years ! 
 
 And, whereas he saith, he is like me in speech, but most 
 unlike me in opinion ; I pray, tell him from me, that my 
 
164 LETTERS OF ISAAC PEXINGTON. 
 
 religion dotli not lio in opinion, but in that which puts 
 an end to opinion. I was weary and sick at heart of 
 opinions; and, had not the Lord brought that to my liand 
 which my soul wanted, I had never meddled w^th religion 
 more. But, as I felt that in my heart, which was evil and 
 not of God, so the Lord God of my life, pointed me to 
 that of him in my heart, which was of another nature, 
 teaching me to wait for and know his appearance there ; 
 in subjection whereto, I experience him stronger than the 
 strong man, that was there before ; and by his power, he 
 hath separated me from that within, which separated me 
 from him before ; and, thus being separated, truly, I feel 
 union with him, and his blessed presence ev^ery day, — 
 which, what it is unto me, my tongue cannot utter. 
 
 I could be glad, if the Loi'd saw good, that I might see 
 my Brother before I die ; and, if I did see him, I should 
 not be quarrelling with him about his religion, but embrace 
 him in brotherly love, and in the fear of the Lord. As 
 for his being a Papist, or an arch-Papist, that doth not 
 damp my tender affection to him. If he be a Papist, I 
 had rather have hira a serious than a loose Papist. If he 
 hath met with any thing of that, which brings forth an 
 holy conversation in him, he hath so far met with tiome- 
 what of my religion, which teacheth to order the conver- 
 sation aright, in the light, and by the Spirit and power of 
 the Lord Jesus. My religion is not a new thing, though 
 newly revealed more fully than in many foregoing ages ; 
 but consists in that, which was long before Popery was, 
 and will be when Popery shall be no more. And, he that 
 would rightly know the true church, must know the living 
 stones whereof the true church is built, against which the 
 gates of hell cannot possibly prevail. O the daily joy of 
 my heart, in feeling my living membership in this church ! 
 where the true "gold," the "white raiment," the pure 
 " eye-salve " (with which the eye, being anointed, sees 
 
LETTERS 
 
 OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 
 
 165 
 
 ariglit) is received and enjoyed inwardly, by such as the 
 Avorld knows not, but despiseth : blessed be tbe name of 
 the Lord ! 
 
 I desire my sincere, entire affection, as in God's sight, 
 may be remembered to my dear Brother. I. P. 
 
 LETTER LXIIL 
 
 On Baptism by Water. 
 To William Eolls. 
 
 Friend, — David saw through sacrifices and burnt 
 offerings in his time ; and the spiritual eye sees through 
 all shadows to the substance, which have no place in the 
 brightness of the day of God : and outward washing is no 
 more than outward circumcision, (no raore of a gospel 
 nature,) nor can avail any more, but is of the nature of 
 the things, that were to be shaken and pass away ; that 
 the spiritual kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the 
 things which cannot be shaken, might remain. 
 
 I could say very much to every passage of thy letter; 
 but to what purpose would it be ? The Lord give thee a 
 sense, where the true understanding is given, and teach 
 thee aright to wait for it ; that thou mayest receive it from 
 him, and thereby discern the nature of that wisdom, from 
 which God hath hid the mystery in all ages and genera- 
 tions, and from which he hides it still ; that so thou mayest 
 experimentally know, what it is to become a fool in thy- 
 self for Christ's sake, that thou mayest be wise in him ; 
 concerning v>luch, it is easy to have many notions in the 
 mind, but, hard to come to the true experience of 
 
 These are the breathings of my heart for thee, in the 
 
166 LETTERS OF ISAAC PEXINGTON. 
 
 flowiiigs of my love ; who desire, that thou mayest not 
 seek at'tcr the knowledge of the Scriptures in that, which 
 cannot understand them ; but, mayest meet with the right 
 key and the right understanding, wherein thy soul will be 
 safe and happy : which is my heart's desire for thee, who 
 am a real Friend, and well-wisher to thy soul in the Lord. 
 
 I. P. 
 
 LETTER LXIV. 
 
 On Unreserved Obedience. 
 To Bridget Atley. 
 
 Dear Friend, — I know thy soul desires to live; and 
 my soul desireth, that thou miglitst live. O ! why art 
 thou so backward to hearken to the voice which is nigh 
 thee, -wherein is life ? why dost thou reason ? why dost 
 thou consult? why dost thou expect? why dost thou 
 hope? why dost thou believe against thy own soul? 
 
 The snares of the subtle one will entangle forever, un- 
 less thou wait for, hearken to, and obey the voice of the 
 living God, who leads the single-hearted and obedient out 
 of them. Is there any way of life but one? Is not the 
 Lord leading his children in that way ? Must not all that 
 come after, follow in the footsteps of those that go before ? 
 Is there any Saviour, but the seed of life and the Father 
 of it? Is it not the same in thee as in others? Hath it 
 not the same voice ? O that thou hadst the same ear and 
 the same heart, that thou mightst hear, receive, and live! 
 They wait aright; dost thou wait so? they hope aright; 
 dost thou hope so ? If not, what will thy waiting and 
 expecting come to? In that, which hath sometimes in- 
 clined thy heart, tliere is Truth, there were the beginnings 
 
LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 167 
 
 of salvation ; but in that, wliifh diaws tliee out, to expect 
 some great matters, and dries up thy j)resent sense, and 
 liinders tliy present subjection, therein is deceit and the 
 destruction of thy soul. Therefore, if tliou desire and 
 love the salvation thereof, O hasten, hasten out of it! wait 
 for the reproofs of wisdom ; and what it manifests to be 
 of the earthly and worldly nature in thee, (the words, 
 Avays, thoughts, customs thereof,) hasten out of. O turn 
 thy back upon the world with speed, and turn thy face 
 towards the heavenly wisdom and light eternal i which 
 will be springing up in thee, if thou turn thy back upon 
 the world, and wait for it. 
 
 And, do not look for such great matters to begin with ; 
 but, be content to be a child, and let the Father propor- 
 tion out daily to thee what light, what power, what exer- 
 cises, what straits, what fears, what troubles, he sees fit for 
 thee ; and do thou bow before him continually, in humility 
 of heart, who hath the disposal of thee, whether to life or 
 death forever. Ah ! that wisdom, which would be choos- 
 ing, must be confounded, and the low humble thing raised, 
 which submits, and cries to the Father in every condition. 
 And, in waiting to feel this, and, in joining to this, thou 
 niayest meet with life; but death, destruction, and separa- 
 tion from God, is the portion of the other forever ! O ! 
 that thou nuiyest be separated from it, and joined to the 
 seed and birth of God ; that, in it, thy soul may spring up 
 to know, serve, and worship the Lord, and to wait daily 
 to be formed by him, until thou become perfectly like 
 him. But, thou must join in with the beginnings of life, 
 and be exercised with the day of small things, before thou 
 meet with the great things, wherein is the clearness and 
 satisfaction of the soul. The rest is at noon-day ; but, the 
 travels begin at the breakings of day, wherein are but 
 glimmerings, or little light, wherein the discovery of good 
 and evil are not so manifest and certain ; yet there must 
 
168 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENIXGTON". 
 
 the traveller begin and travel ; and hi his faithful travels, 
 (ill much fear and trembling, lest he should err,) the light 
 will break in upon him more and more. 
 
 This have I written in tenderness to thee, that thou 
 mightst not miss of the path of the living, which is 
 apjjointed of the Father to lead, and alone can lead the 
 soul to life. O ! that thou mightst be enlightened and 
 quickened by the Lord to walk therein, and mightst be 
 thankful for, and content with, what he gives thee, and 
 walk therein, from the evil to the good, from the earthly 
 to the heavenly nature daily, and mightst not despise the 
 cross or the shame of the seed. For, I know there is a 
 wisdom in thee, which will despise and turn from it, until 
 the Lord batter and crucify it ; and, I can hardly put up 
 a more proper request for thee, than, that the Lord would 
 draw out his sword against it, and deeply perplex and 
 confound it in thee. I. P. 
 
 1G65. 
 
 LETTER LXV. 
 
 To THE POOR AMONG FrIEXDS, WHO ARE RELIEVED BY THE ' 
 CHARITY AND BOWELS OF LOVE, WHICH GOD OPENS IN 
 
 OTHER Friends towards them. 
 
 O Feiends, — Ye ought deeply and often to consider 
 of God's visiting you Avith his precious Truth, whereto 
 being faithful, ye are sure to be happy forever; how hard 
 soever it should go with you, and how strait soever your 
 condition should be, in reference to the things of this 
 world. 
 
 But, ye have not only this assurance and benefit by the 
 Truth, but ye are also come to partake of a better provi- 
 
LETTKRS OF ISAAC PENIXGTON. 
 
 169 
 
 sion, as to your necessities outwardly, than other poor meet 
 with. For, God himself takes care of you, in drawing the 
 hearts of his children to consider of your wants, and make 
 supply unto you ; so that, many of you are so provided 
 for, as ye had never like to have been while in this world, 
 had it not been for the interest, God gives you in the 
 hearts of others, through and because of his Truth. 
 Surely, this should not be forgotten by you, but daily 
 acknowledged to the Lord, in the use and enjoyment of 
 those things, which ye ought to receive as from his hand, 
 through those who minister to you in his name, and for 
 his sake. 
 
 'And, take heed of murmuring, if the supply answer not 
 any of your expectations; for, if we wait upon the Lord, 
 to be ordered and guided by him in this matter, and 
 anSwerably witness his presence with us, and holy wisdom 
 ordering us in these affairs ; your murmurings are not 
 against us, but against the Lord. And, if ye watch 
 narrowly over yourselves, ye will find, it is the unsubdued 
 part, which is apt to be repining and murmuring; but, 
 that which is of the Lord and eyes him, is that which is 
 sensible of his goodness, and thankful to him for it. But, 
 if there be judged to be any neglect towards any, or any 
 just cause of complaint; let it, in tenderness, meekness, 
 and the fear of the Lord, be laid before us ; and we will 
 wait upon hiiu to give it a due and full consideration, and 
 do therein as the Lord shall open and guide our hearts. 
 For, great exercises of spirit do we meet with in these 
 affairs, and great are our cries of spirit to the Lord, to 
 guide and order us according to his will and holy counsel 
 therein. 
 
 And, dear Friends, wait to feel that which stays your 
 minds on the Lord, and keeps your ej'e towards him ; and 
 take heed of judging us in things, wherein we truly desire 
 to act singly towards the Lord, and of which we, must 
 15 
 
170 LETTERS OF ISAAC P E X 1 N G T O N , 
 
 give an account to him ; and, if ye in anything judge us, 
 wherein our God justifies us, certainly the Lord will there- 
 in condemn you. Therefore, be wary and watchful in 
 this matter. I. P. 
 
 LETTER LXVL 
 
 Afflictions may work out a Weight of Glory. 
 To MY DEAR SUFFERING FeIENDS IN SCOTLAND. 
 
 Dear Friends and Brethren, — Who have partaken 
 of the tender mercies and blessed visitation of the Lord. 
 
 01 blessed be the Lord, who pitied and helped us»in 
 our low estate, and whose tender love and mercy hath 
 followed us, from his first visiting us to this present day ! 
 And indeed, the Lord is with us, (what can we desire 
 more ?) preparing us for himself, preserving us in the life 
 of his blessed Truth, building i:s up more and more, and 
 causing his Spirit of glory and living power to rest upon 
 us, and the virtue thereof to spring up in us day by day. 
 
 O ! the beauty and glory of the day of our God increas- 
 etli upon his heritage, bles.s^a be the name of the Lord ! 
 And, to what tend all the workings of the contrary spirit 
 and power, but, to eat out its own interest and kingdom, 
 through the Lord's blessed ordering of things ; so that, 
 all things work together for good, and for the advancing 
 of Truth, and the growth of it in the hearts of God's 
 heritage. 
 
 So, my dear Friends, none look out, either at outward 
 or inward sufferings ; but to the Loi'd only, whose life. 
 Spirit, and power is above them, and bears up all over 
 them, who are in spirit joined to him, faithfully waiting 
 
LETTERS OF ISAAC TENINGTON. 171 
 
 upon him ; which God daily teaches and enables his to 
 do. Thus, my dear Friends, feel the Lord's presence and 
 power among you, who is always near his, but especially 
 in the time of their straits, trials, and sufferings; and wait 
 to feel the life springing, and doing its proper work in 
 each of you day by day ; w'orking out what is to be 
 wrought out in any, and working more and more into the 
 glory of the heavenly image ; that, through the sufferings, 
 ye may come into the glory, and be crowned w'ith the 
 glor}^ virtue, holiness, righteousness, and dominion of 
 life over all ; and tlius the Son may sit upon his throne 
 in you, and wield his holy and righteous sceptre, and give 
 you dominion in and with him over all that would veil 
 life, or keep it under, in any of you. So, my dear Friends, 
 be strong in the Lord, with the strength of the Lord, with 
 which he is clothing those, whom he hath emptied and 
 made weak ; for the trials, temptations, and afflictions, 
 prepare for, and (as I may say) lead into the possession 
 of th.e desired inheritance ; where, all that the soul hath 
 breathed and waited for, is bestowed upon it, by the 
 bountiful hand of the Father of mercies, who keeps cove- 
 nant and mercy forever, and renews covenant and mercy 
 day by day. 
 
 So, the tender God of my life, and Father of the bless- 
 ings and mercies of my once greatly distressed and miser- 
 able soul, instruct you, preserve you, watch over you ; 
 exercise your spirits most advantageously, daily open you 
 to himself ; keep you empty and naked before him of all 
 your own clothing and righteousness, and fill you with 
 that, which flows from the pure living fountain ; to the 
 unspeakable joy of your hearts, and the glory of his own 
 name over all forever ! 
 
 Be of good faith, my dear Friends, look not out at any 
 thing; fear none of tliose things ye may be exposed to 
 suffer, either outwardly or inwardly ; but trust the Lord 
 
172 LETTERS OF ISAAC PEXINGTOM". 
 
 over all, and your life will spring, and grow, and refresh 
 you, and the love aud power will purge out, and keep out, 
 what would hinder its growth ; and ye will learn obedi- 
 ence and faithfulness daily more and more, even by your 
 exercises and sufferings ; yea, the Lord will teach you the 
 very mystery of faith and obedience ; (oh blessed lesson !) 
 and ye shall not be disappointed of your hope or crown, 
 by any thing the enemy can plot or bring about against 
 you, but have the weight of glory increased and enlarged 
 by his temptations, and your many sufferings ; the wisdom, 
 power, love, and goodness of the Lord, ordering every thing 
 for you, and ordering your hearts in every thing, — you 
 having given up to him, and keeping them continually 
 given up to him, in the holy seed of Truth, in which he 
 hath in some measure already joined, and is daily more 
 and more joining you to himself. 
 
 This is the salutation and tender visit of the love of 
 your brother in the Truth ; whose breathings are to God 
 for you, and his praises unto Him, through the sense of his 
 being with you, and daily showing mercy to you, uphold- 
 ing and preserving you in the midst of your sore trials and 
 afflictions. I. P. 
 
 London, 
 5th of Fifth Month, 1676. 
 
 LETTER LXVIL 
 
 Against Earthly EeasonLngs and Expectations. 
 
 To Sarah Bond. 
 
 Dear Sarah, — I have had many thoughts of thee in 
 this my imprisonment ; wherein, I have seen in spirit thy 
 error and miscarriage, and a hope and expectation in thy 
 heart, which will deceive thee. 
 
LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 173 
 
 O how much precious time hast thou lost ! wherein 
 thou mightst have been travelling far on thy journey, 
 while thou art disputing in thy mind, and wandering in 
 the deceitful reasonings of thy heart. And indeed, it must 
 not be, it must not be as thou imaginest; but, thou must 
 begin low, and be glad of a little light to travel with out 
 of the earthly nature, and be faithful thereunto ; and in 
 faithfulness expect additions of light, and so much power 
 as may help thee to rub on. And, though thou may be 
 long low, and weak, and little, and ready to perish ; yet, 
 in the humble and self-denying state, the Father will help 
 thee, and cause his life to shoot up in thee, in the shooting 
 up whereof, will be thy redemption. 
 
 But, O hasten! O hasten out of the earthly nature, 
 whilst thou hast time, or any visitations from the Spirit of 
 the Lord ! and do not in thy wisdom limit him, but accept 
 what at present comes from him ; for the flood is break- 
 ing out, and will swallow up and drown all, that are not 
 found in the ark. Oh ! therefore, enter, enter apace ; 
 mind that which checks in thy heart ; mind also that 
 which reasons against those checks, to hold thee still 
 in captivity, and to keep thee from travelling out of the 
 earthly nature, spirit, wisdom, and 2)ractices ; and come 
 out of the spirit and way of this world, that thou mayest 
 live, and not die. For, none shall live, but those that 
 walk in the way of life, and leave the paths and course of 
 the dead, in which thou art yet entangled. O ! that thou 
 mightst be loosed, and travel out thence, with a little 
 light and a little help ; and not limit the Holy One of * 
 Israel in thy desires or expectations, but thankfully receive 
 the smallest visitation that comes from him to thy soul ; 
 for, there is life and peace in it, and death and perplexity 
 in turning from it. And, this will not be thy comfort or 
 satisfaction hereafter, to have had a day of visitation and 
 mercy from on high ; but to have received the visitation, 
 15* 
 
174 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 
 
 and to have been turned in it, from the darkness of the 
 earthly mind and nature, into the light of the living and 
 redeemed souls — this will be comfortable, indeed! 
 
 And this is my tender counsel to thee: wait for, and 
 gaspingly receive the checks of the Most High, and take 
 heed of reasoning against them ; but, as that (though in 
 a low, and mean, and despicable way to thy wisdom) 
 draws and leads thee out of any earthly thought, word, cus- 
 tom, or practice, follow diligently ; not reasoning against 
 it, but, waiting to have thy reasonings subdued to the 
 smallest motions, and lowest guidance of life in thee. For, 
 I know that life is near thee, even the life that would effec- 
 tually redeem thee ; but, it is bowed down and held cap- 
 tive under the dominion of the earthly wisdom ; and so, 
 thy redemption (which is to be wrought out by it) sticks, 
 and will stick, until thy heart be persuaded to join to it 
 and become subject, without reasoning, without consulting, 
 without disputing. For, I certainly know, the light mani- 
 fests in thee ; but, the darkness puts off the present mani- 
 festation of the light, and expects another ; and, this is in 
 the will of the flesh, which the Father will not answer ; and, 
 in this will and expectation, thou wilt perish ; but, thy help, 
 life, and salvation, is, in being subject to the present man- 
 ifestation of light, parting with, and departing from, what 
 thou already knowest to be of the earth, and not of God. 
 
 And, in thus doing, more will be made manifest in the 
 Lord's season, and power given to become a child, after 
 some belief in the Father, and some entrance into the 
 child-like nature ; but, the will and expectation of the 
 flesh in thee, shall never be answered : — it hath been long 
 written in my heart concerning thee, but I dare never 
 utter it to thee — O that it may be now uttered, to the 
 melting and advantage of thy heart ! for, indeed, I love 
 thee, and have travailed for thee, and desire the salvation 
 of thy soul, as of ray own. O that thou mayest be led 
 
LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 175 
 
 out of that wisdom which destroys, into that which saves ! 
 and mayest there, in humility of heart, receive instruction 
 daily, according to thy ueed. But, indeed, of a truth, 
 thou must come into and come under that, which crucifies 
 thy nature and wisdom ; and there, (in the seasons of God's 
 wisdom, who answers the desires of his own Spirit in the 
 heart, but regards not the flesh,) mayest thou meet with 
 life and power, but no where else. 
 
 I am thy Friend, and a dear lover of that in thee, 
 which desires the Lord ; aud, O that that might come up 
 in thee, and be severed from the earth, that thy soul may 
 live! LP. 
 
 LETTER LXVIIL 
 
 An Invitation to Heavenly Substance. 
 
 Friend, — The vessel, or created nature, poisoned by 
 sin and death, nothing can redeem, but the life and power 
 of God revealed in the vessel. This life, this peace, this 
 power, this righteousness, this salvation, is the Lord Jesus 
 Christ. And he that feels any tiling of this, feels some- 
 what of Christ ; and being joined to, and partaking of it, 
 partakes somewhat of his redemption ; for, it is not by an 
 outward knowledge, but, by an inward virtue and spirit- 
 ual life, received from Christ, and held in Christ, that 
 those who are saved, are saved. This is the tiling of value 
 with me, for which I have been made willing to part 
 with all, and into this purchased possession am I daily 
 travelling; and in my travels, the Father of life and 
 tender mercy pleaseth to help me. 
 
 Now, to have thee gathered into this light, this life, this 
 power, which is of Christ, and iu which he is, and appears, 
 
176 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 
 
 is tlic desire of my soul, in uprightness of lieart before 
 tlie Lord, for thee : and, if he please, I am williug to be 
 instrumental in his hand, towards the bringing forth of 
 this in thee. It is not ray desire, to bring forth new 
 notions in thee ; but rather, that thou mightst wait on 
 the Lord, for him to bring up his living, powerful Truth 
 in thee, wherein the knowledge of the new and living 
 way, is alone revealed. 
 
 I am a worm, I am poor, I am nothing ; less than noth- 
 ing, as in myself ; weaker than I can express, or thou 
 imagine ; ^yet, in the midst of all this, the life, power, 
 righteousness, and presence of Christ, is my refreshment, 
 peace, joy, and crown : and that, to which I invite thee, is 
 substance, everlasting substance, which thou shalt know 
 and acknowledge in spirit to be so, as that is created and 
 raised in thee, which can see and acknowledge it in Truth. 
 O ! wait on the Lord, fear before him, pray for his fear 
 in the upright breathings, (which are not of thy spirit's 
 forming, but of his pure begetting;) that thou mayest be 
 led by him, out of that wisdom which entangles, into that 
 inuoceucy, simplicity, and precious childishness, in which 
 the Father appears to the soul, to break the bonds and 
 snares of iniquity ; for, hereby, the evil spirit not only 
 involveth in iniquity, but also begets a belief, as if there 
 could be no perfect redemption therefrom, till the time 
 of redemption be over. 
 
 Thy truly loving Friend, desiring the right guidance 
 and happiness of thy soul, by the Lord Jesus Christ, the 
 alone skilful Shepherd and Guide, even as of my own 
 soul. I. P. 
 
 Aylesbury Prison, 
 20th of Tenth Mouth, 1666. 
 
LETTERS OP ISAAC PENINGTON. 
 
 177 
 
 LETTER LXIX. 
 
 Exhortation to Walk in the Truth. 
 For my dear Friends in the Truth at Lewes. 
 
 The God of truth plants his Truth in the hearts of 
 people, that it might grow there, and bring forth fruit to 
 him. O my dear Friends ! feel it grow in every one of 
 your hearts, and bringing forth the proper fruits of its 
 growth to the Lord. 
 
 Mind what ariseth from the Truth, what Truth brings 
 forth, and wait for and receive your nourishment from tlie 
 Lord, that it may be brought forth in you. And, that 
 which the Lord hath made barren (in you, who have 
 experienced his righteous judgments,) let it be kept so, 
 by tlie same power which made it barren, that no more 
 fruit may be brought forth to sin and unrighteousness, by 
 any of you. Then shall ye live the life of Truth, and no 
 life but the life of Truth, and dwell and walk in the 
 Truth, than which, there is no greater joy, delight, or 
 peace to be desired or enjoyed. 
 
 0 my dear Friends ! know, and every day experience 
 Enoch's life, — a being translated out of the kingdom of 
 darkness, into the kingdom of the dear Son, and of walk- 
 ing with the Son in his kingdom ; then, ye will walk with 
 the Father also, and know the heavenly paths of life, joy, 
 righteousness, and peace in the pure light of life, which 
 is no less than a paradise to the renewed soul. 
 
 1 would fain have seen you together, had the Lord 
 "made way; but, let me feel you in the hidden life, and 
 
 meet you at my Father's throne, where, let us beg of our 
 God, what our souls and His whole flock stand in need of, 
 
 M 
 
178 LETTERS OP ISAAC PENINGTOX. 
 
 praying for the peace and prosperity of Jerusalem, unto 
 the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hears 
 our jirayers ; that we may daily see and feel the goiug 
 on of the work of our God, iu our hearts and in the 
 kingdoms of the world, (which must become the Lord's 
 and his Christ's,) and may bless and magnify his name, 
 who hath power over all, and orders all for good to his 
 chosen heritage. 
 
 This is the salutation of my love to you, which lay so 
 upon me, that I could not pass it by, who am your Friend, 
 in the everlasting unchangeable Truth of our blessed God 
 and Saviour. I. P. 
 
 LETTER LXX. 
 
 Consolation for a Mother on the death of her Child. 
 
 To Sarah Elgak. 
 
 The child, which the Lord hath taken from thee, was 
 his own. He hath done thee no wrong, in calling it from 
 thee. Take heed of murmuring, take heed of discontent, 
 take heed of any grief, but what Truth allows thee. 
 Thou hast yet one child left. The Lord may call for that 
 too, if he please ; or he may continue and bless it to thee. 
 O mind a right frame of spirit towards the Lord, in this 
 thy great affliction ! If thou mind God's Truth in thy 
 heart, and wait to feel the seasoning thereof, that will 
 bring thee into, and preserve thee in a riglit frame of 
 spirit. The Lord will not condemn thy love and tender- 
 ness to thy child, or thy tender remembrance of him ; but 
 still, in it, be subject to the Lord, and let his will and dis- 
 posal be bowed unto by thee, and not the will of fhy 
 nature set above it. Retire out of the natural, into the 
 
LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 179 
 
 spiritual, where thou mayest feel the Lord thy portion ; so 
 that now, in the needful time, thou mayest day by day re- 
 ceive and enjoy satisfaction therein. O wait to feel the 
 Lord, making thy heart what he would have it to be, in 
 this thy deep and sore affliction ! I. P. 
 
 NrrNNINGTON, 
 
 Sixth Month, 1(579. 
 
 Now let the world see, how thou prizest Truth, and 
 what Truth can do for thee. Feed on it ; do not feed oq 
 thy affliction ; and the life of Truth will arise in thee, and 
 raise thee up over it, to the honour of the name of the 
 Lord, and to the comfort of thy own soul. 
 
 LETTEK LXXL 
 
 Advice respecting Church Discipline. 
 
 To THE Women's Meetjxg of Friends ix the Truth, 
 AT John Mannock's. 
 
 Dear Friends, — Dearly beloved and honoured in 
 the Lord, because of his honourable presence and power, 
 which is so preciously manifested and found to be among 
 you in your meetings. 
 
 Blessed be the Loi-d, who hath thi^s gathered you ! and 
 given you hearts to meet together, to fieel his precious pres- 
 ence and power, and wait to do his will therein, as he shall 
 please to call, and make your way clear thereto. And, 
 blessed be the Lord ! who doth encourage and reward you 
 daily, and make your meetings pleasant and advantageous 
 to your own souls, and towards the seasoning and holy 
 watching over the several respective places, where your 
 lot is fallen. 
 
ISO LETTERS OF ISAAC PEXIXGTOX. 
 
 Oh ! what could the Lord do more for his people, than 
 to turn them to that pure seed of life, which will make 
 them all alive, and keep them all iu life and purity ; and 
 then, to make use of every living member in the living 
 body, as his Spirit shall please to breathe upon it, and his 
 power actuate it ! And indeed, there is need of all the 
 life and power to the body, which the Xiord sees good to 
 bestow on any member of it; every member of the body 
 having life given it, not onh' for itself, but likewise for 
 the use and service of the body. Only, dear Friends, here 
 is to be the great care, that every member keep within the 
 limits of life, wherein its capacity and ability for service 
 lies, and, out of which, it can do no real service for God, 
 or to the body. O I therefore, eye life, eye the jDower, eye 
 the presence of the Lord with your spirits ! that he may 
 go along with you, and guide you in ever\' thought ye 
 think, in every word ye speak, in reference to his work 
 and service. 
 
 And mind, Friends, what is now upon me to you : it is 
 one thing, to sit waiting to feel the power, and to keep 
 within the limits of the power, thus far; and another, yea, 
 and harder, to feel and keep within the sense and limits 
 of the power, when ye come to act. Then, your reason- 
 ings, your wisdom, your apprehensions, have more advan- 
 tage to get up in you, and to put themselves forth. O ! 
 therefore, watch narrowly, and diligently against the for- 
 ward part ; and keep back to the life, which, though it 
 rise more slowly, yet acts more surely and safely for God. 
 
 O wait and watch, to feel your Keeper keeping you 
 within the holy bounds and limits, within the pure fear, 
 within the living sense, while ye are acting for your God ! 
 that ye may only be his instruments, and feel him acting 
 in you. Therefore, every one* wait to feel the Judge risen 
 and up, and the judgment set, in your own hearts ; that, 
 what ariseth iu you, may be judged and nothing may pass 
 
LETTKRS OF ISAAC PENIXGTON. 181 
 
 from you publicly, but what hath first passed the pure 
 judgment iu your own breasts. And, let the holy rule of 
 the blessed apostle James, be always upon your spirits, 
 " Let every one be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to 
 wrath." O let not a talkativeness have place in any of 
 you ! but, abide in such gravity, modesty, and weightiuess 
 of spirit, as becomes the judgment-seat of the Spirit and 
 power of the Lord. Ye can never wait too much for the 
 power, nor can ye ever act too much in the power ; but, ye 
 may easily act too much without it. 
 
 And as for this troublesome, contentious business, (if 
 the Lord should yet order it to be brought before you,) 
 the Lord teach you to consider of, and manage it iu a wise, 
 tender, and healing spirit. Ye must distinguish in judg- 
 ment, if ye judge aright, between enemies and erring 
 friends. And, take heed of the quickness and strength of 
 reason, or of the natural part, which avails little: but, 
 wait for the evidence and demonstration of God's Spirit, 
 which reaches to the witness and doth the work. Are 
 they in a snare? are they overtaken in a fault? yea, are 
 they in measure blrnded and hardened, so that they can 
 neither see nor feel, as to this particular? Retire, sit still 
 awhile, and travail for them. Feel how life will arise in 
 any of you, and how mercy will reach towards them ; and 
 how living words, from the tender sense, may be reached 
 forth to their hearts, deeply, by the baud of the Lord, for 
 their good.* And, if ye find them, at length, bowing to 
 the Lord, O let tender comjiassion help them forwards ! 
 that what hath been so troublesome and groundedly dis- 
 satisfactory in the progress, may, at length, have a sweet 
 issue for their good, and our joy and rejoicing in the 
 Lord. 
 
 So, my dear Friends, the Lord be with you, and guide 
 you in this, and in all that he shall further call you to ; 
 and multiply his presence, power, and blessings upon you, 
 16 
 
182 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 
 
 and make your meetings as serviceable to the honour of 
 his name, as he himself would have them, and as you your- 
 selves can desire them to be. 
 
 Your Friend and brother in the tender Truth, and in 
 the pure love and precious life. 1. P. 
 
 19tli of Fiilh Month, 1G78. 
 
 LETTER LXXII. 
 
 On Prayer in Faniilles, &c. Also on the state of Professors of 
 the (hiy. 
 
 Because my not praying iu my family, according to 
 the custom of professors, seemed to be such a great stum- 
 bling-block to thee, it sprang up in my heart to render 
 thee this account thereof. 
 
 I did formerly apply myself to pray to the Lord, morn- 
 ing and evening, (besides other times,) believing iu my 
 heart, that it was the will of the Lord I should so do. And 
 this was my condition then : — sometimes I felt the living 
 spring open, and the true child breathe towards the Father; 
 at other times, I felt a deadness, a dryness, a barrenness, 
 and only a speaking and striving of the natural part, 
 which I, even then, felt was not acceptable to the Lord, 
 nor did profit my soul; but, apprehending it to be a duty, 
 I durst not but apply myself thereto. 
 
 Since that time, — since the Lord hath again been pleased 
 to raise up what he had formerly begotten in me, and began 
 to feed it, by the pure giving forth of that breath of life 
 which begat it, (which is the bread that comes down from 
 heaven daily to it, as the Lord pleaseth freely to dispense 
 it,) — the Lord hath shown me, that prayer is his gift to 
 the child which he begets ; and that it stands not in the 
 will, or time, or understanding, or affectionate part of the 
 
LETTERS OF ISAAC PENIKGTON. 183 
 
 creature, but in his own begetting, wliicli he first breatlies 
 upon, and then it breathes again towards him ; — and that 
 he worketh this at his own pleasure, and no time can be 
 set hira when he shall breathe, or when he shall not 
 breathe ; and that when he breathes, then is the time of 
 prayer, then is the time of moving towards him, and fol- 
 lowing him who draws. So that, all my times, and all my 
 duties, and all my graces, and all my hopes, and all my 
 refreshments, and all my ordinances, are in his hand, who 
 is the spring of my life, and conveys, preserves, and in- 
 creases life of his own good pleasure. 
 
 I freely confess, all my religion stands in waiting on 
 the Lord, for the riches of his Spirit, and in returning 
 back to the Lord, (by his own Spirit, and in the virtue of 
 his own life,) that which he pleaseth to bestow on me. 
 And, I have no faith, no love, no hope, no peace, no joy, 
 no ability to anything, no refreshment in anything, but as 
 I find his living breath beginning, his living breath con- 
 tinuing, his living breath answering, and performing what 
 it calls for. So that, I am become exceeding poor and 
 miserable, save in what the Lord pleaseth to be to me by 
 his own free grace, and for his own name's sake, and in 
 rich mercy. And, if I have tasted anything of the Lord's 
 goodness sweeter than ordinary, my heart is willing, so far 
 as the Lord pleaseth, faithfully to point any others to the 
 same spring ; and not discourage or witness against the 
 least simjjlicity, and true desire after God, in them. But, 
 where they have lost the true living child, and another 
 thing is got up in its stead, (which, though it may bear its 
 image to the eye of flesh, yet is not the same thing in the 
 sight of God ;) and, where this nourisheth itself by pray- 
 ing, reading, meditating, or any other such like thing, 
 feeding the carnal part with such a kind of knowledge 
 from Sci'iptures, as the natural understanding may gather 
 and grow rich by ; this, in love and faithfulness to the 
 
184 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 
 
 Lord aud to souls, I cannot but testify against, wherever 
 I find it, as the Lord draweth forth my spirit to bear its 
 testimony. 
 
 And this I know, from the Lord, to be the general state 
 of professors at this day. The Spirit of the Lord is de- 
 parted from them, and they joined to another spirit, as 
 deeply and as generally as ever the Jews were ; and that 
 their prayers aud reading of the Scriptures, and preach- 
 ing, and duties, and ordinances, are, as loathsome to the 
 soul of- the Lord, as ever the Jews' incense and sacrifices 
 were. And this is the Avord of the Lord concerning them. 
 Ye must come out of your knowledge, into the feeling of 
 an inward principle of life, if ever ye be restored to the 
 true unity with God, and to the true enjoyment of him 
 again. Ye must come out of the knowledge and wisdom 
 ye have gathered from the Scriptures, into a feeling of the 
 thing there written of, as it pleaseth the Lord to open aud 
 reveal them in the hidden man of the heart. 
 
 This is it, ye are to wait for from the Lord ; and not to 
 boast of your present state, as if ye were not backslidden 
 from him, and had not entered into league with another 
 spirit ; which keeps up the image of what the Spirit of the 
 Lord once formed in you, but without the true, pure, 
 fresh life. 
 
 From a faithful Friend and lover of souls. I. P. 
 
LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTOK. 185 
 
 LETTER LXXIIL 
 
 Of Preservation and a Growth in the Heavenly Life ; its Power 
 over tlie Earthly Nature. 
 
 To THE SINGLE, UPRIGHT-HEARTED AND FAITHFUL FRIENDS 
 OF TrHTH, in and about THE TWO ChALFONTS. 
 
 Dear Friends, — - Have ye in any measure drunk- in 
 the sense of what the Lord hath done for you ? and have 
 ye felt meltings of spirit, and bowings before him, with 
 praises to his name therefor? Indeed, my request is to 
 the Lord for you, that he would please to keep you truly 
 sensible of what he already is to you, and of what he hath 
 already done for you ; that he w'ould also, of his tender 
 mercy and great goodness, visit you yet further, increase 
 life in you, cause faith to abound, give you to dwell in his 
 power, and always abide in his seed, and feel that to be 
 your hope, peace, joy, life, and strength, continually ; that 
 ye may more and more give thanks unto him, as ye feel 
 his pure life arising in you, and death and the grave 
 swallowed up thereby. 
 
 Ah ! my Friends, can we ever forget the lost and miser- 
 able estate, wherein the mercy of the Lord and his power 
 from on high visited us ? O the blackness of that day, 
 the misery, the deep distress of that day, which some of 
 your souls felt ! Did ye not know, what it was to want 
 God, and to lie open to the furious assaults of the enemy ; 
 when ye felt no strength, nor knew whither to retire, to 
 keep out any hurt, any temptation, any vain thought and 
 imagination, or to give you any grounded hope in the 
 goodness aud mercy of the Lord ? How did ye mourn, 
 how did ye cry out, aud pine away iu your iniquities day 
 and night ! and knew not which way to look, nor what to 
 wait for! Are there not among you, who have known 
 16* 
 
186 
 
 LETTERS OF 
 
 ISAAC 
 
 PENINGTON. 
 
 this state, and felt somewhat of that which I now relate? 
 Sure I am, there are upon the earth, who can witness it 
 to the full, whose mouths and hearts are now filled with a 
 sense of the Lord's goodness, and of his great salvation, 
 and with deep and high praises to his name. 
 
 But, my dear Friends, is there any of you, (I know to 
 whom I speak, even, to the sensible, to the diligent, to the 
 faithful among you,) wlio cannot in truth witness, as in 
 God's presence, concerning the arm and power of his sal- 
 vation, which ye have often felt? insomuch, that ye can 
 sing that song, " He hath raised up an horn of salvation 
 for us in the house of his servant David ; as he spake by 
 the mouth of his holy prophets." Do ye not know the 
 house of his servant David, with the horn of salvation in 
 it, and that horn raised up to you for your defence and 
 couifort? Yea, do ye not daily feel the Lord, ministering 
 out salvation to you from it? Are not your enemies daily 
 overcome by the faith, which he hath given you in his 
 power. May I not say to you, where is the strength of 
 the tempter? Have ye not felt the seed of the woman to 
 bruise the head of the serpent? so that, in the fear of the 
 Lord, and in the strength, virtue, and dominion of his 
 life manifested in you, ye can say, though as yet some- 
 what tremblingly. Where are those temptations, those 
 lusts, vain thoughts, and imaginations, which once I was 
 overcome by and overrun with ? Surely, I may speak 
 thus ; for, I know assuredly, that the power of the Lord 
 God, as it is lifted up in any of you, scatters these, and 
 gives you dominion over them. For, the life and its 
 power is given as a bulwark and weapon of war against 
 iniquity and its power ; and, where it is received, it 
 opposeth, warreth, striveth, until it overcome. 
 
 And, this is that which gives the victory and over- 
 coming ; to wit, faith in the seed. The seed felt, the soul 
 joined to it, faith in it and from it given to the soul. 
 
LETTERS OP ISAAC PENINGTON. 187 
 
 Then, it becomes the Leader, the mighty uudertakcr for 
 the soul, and overcomes its suares and enemies for it ; 
 and, when it hath overcome them, they are overcome 
 indeed. And then the soul lies down in peace, dwells in 
 peace, feeds on the living nourishment, in the green 
 pastures of life, in peace. Then Jerusalem, the building 
 of life in the heart, becomes a quiet habitation, where 
 God and the soul dwell sweetly together; and there is 
 nothing that hath power in it to disturb, annoy, or make 
 afraid. Why so? Because the Lord God of power is 
 present thei-e, stretcheth out his wings there, is a pillar of 
 cloud by day, and a pillar of fire by night there ! He 
 hath raised up his glorious life in that heart, whereof he 
 is very choice ; and lie hath also spread a defence over his 
 glory, with which the soul is so encompassed and defended, 
 that it feels the walls of this city to be salvation, and its 
 gates praise. 
 
 O my soul, travel on ! — O dear Friends ! do ye also 
 travel on, into the fulness of the glory of this state. There 
 is no other thing to be desired and waited for. This is 
 your portion, both here in this world, and forever. Thei'c- 
 fore, wait in the seed of this life ; wait to feel yet a furtlier 
 gathering into it, and a growing up in it; and give your- 
 selves up to it, that it may overspread and cover you. 
 And, the Lord God of life daily open it, and manifest it 
 more and more in you and to you : that ye may l)e more 
 found in him, and yet more acceptable and pleasing in the 
 eyes of your God ; and may sing praises unto him, not 
 only at the foot of the hill, in some true proportion and 
 measure of his life, but in the very heights of Zion, even 
 in the fulness of the measure of your stature in Christ; 
 which ye are all diligently to press ai'tor, till ye arrive at. 
 And then, there is no more to be done, but to spread 
 abroad into, and drink in of, and live in, the full pleasure 
 and safety of life, forever ! Then may yc eat Ireely of 
 
188 LETTERS OF ISAAC PEXIXGTON. 
 
 the tree of life, whicli is in tlic midst of the paradise of 
 God, and draw water witli joy out of the wells of salva- 
 tion ! 
 
 Therefore feel, O ! feel in sjiirit, the mark of the high 
 calling of God in Christ Jesus ; and be daily looking up 
 to that, which quickens to God, and keeps fresh and lively 
 in him ; that none of you grow slothful, drowsy, or negli- 
 gent, and so, unfaithful, in relation to the great talent, 
 which God hath put into your hands ; and so, the Lord 
 be provoked against you, and suffer the enemy to tempt 
 and prevail upon you ; that a veil come over your hearts 
 again, and the air thicken, and the earthly nature cover 
 the seed ; and he that hath power in that earth and over 
 that air, captivate, oppress, entangle, and lead you back 
 from God again. O ! cry to the Lord, to keep the eye 
 open, and the heart single, and the soul in the true sense 
 and feeling ; that the heavenly voice, which drew you out 
 of the earth, may be daily heard further instructing you, 
 and gathering you more and more up into Him, who is 
 your life. — So, ye that fear the Lord, and love his name, 
 and have tasted of his goodness and powerful salvation, 
 O hate evil ! All that his light hath made manifest, and 
 drawn you from, O take heed of ever dallying with again ! 
 O never hearken to the tempter ! but pray to the Father, 
 that ye may discern his baits, and at no time consult or 
 reason with him ; but still wait, in everything, to feel the 
 motion, guidance, quickening, and sweet, pure, heavenly 
 leading of the Spirit of your Father! 
 
 Hath the Lord spoken peace to you, peace which pass- 
 eth man's understanding, and only flows from him ? hath 
 he given you any proportion of this precious peace? O! 
 may he watch over you, and preserve you iu that wisdom, 
 in those heavenly instructions, iu that heavenly life, divine 
 power, and holy conversation, wherein ye met with that 
 peace, and wherein alone ye can enjoy and possess it! and 
 
LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 189 
 
 keep you out of all manner of sin, lust, and foolishness of 
 the fleshly mind and spirit; — for, the peace is not there. 
 That is the fruit of the enemy to your peace, and it hath 
 of his nature in it ; it always breaks your peace, and sows 
 distance, difference and division, between the Giver and 
 Maker of your peace and you. Do ye not always (ye that 
 are in the true sense, and have received the holy under- 
 standing,) feel it thus, and know it to be thus ? it is an 
 eternal truth, and the eternal eye, wherever it is opened, 
 witnesseth and sealeth to it. Therefore, this little thing, 
 this light of God in you, to which ye were first directed 
 and turned, which discovers all the darkness of the enemy, 
 and all his deceits and devices, and keeps the minds of 
 those that are stayed by it, — in this wait, to this let your 
 minds be still turned, and in it still abide ; and the power 
 and glory of eternal lil'e, will daily more and more appear 
 in you, yea, flow and break in upon you ; to the filling of 
 your vessels with its virtue, and the causing of your hearts 
 to abound with joy before the Lord, and with thanksgiv- 
 ings to him. 
 
 May the God of tender mercies and everlasting compas- 
 sions, cause the bowels of his love to be daily yearning 
 towards you ; that you may be nursed up with, the living 
 food, and that which would overturn and destroy his work, 
 may be opposed ; that ye may feel it daily go on, yea, 
 mightily preserved and carried on by him, even till it be 
 finished, and the top stone laid ; and your souls, in the 
 true and full sense of life, cry, Grace, grace, to Him that 
 laid the foundation, raised up, defended, and carried on 
 the building, and now at length had perfected it. And 
 thus, whatsoever ye have hitherto witnessed in measure, 
 ye shall then witness in fulness ; and see, that all the prom- 
 ises of God are of a precious nature, and are, " yea and 
 amen " from God to the seed. 
 
 May the life, presence, and power of the Lord be with 
 
190 
 
 L, E T T E I? S OF ISAAC 
 
 PEXINGTON. 
 
 you in this seed ; in yonr breathings after it, in yowr join- 
 ings to it, in your abidings and waitings upon him in it; 
 and, the Lord God give you to breathe after it, give you 
 to join to it, give you to abide always, and wait upon him 
 in it, and never to hearken to and go out after a contrary 
 spirit and wisdom ; but keejJ you in the simplicity, lowli- 
 ness, humility, and tender spirit which is in Christ Jesus, 
 to the praise of his own name, and preservation and joy 
 of your hearts before him forever, amen ! 
 
 AVritten, in the tender bowels and motion of the pure 
 life, from the phice of my coufiuemeut in Aylesbury. 
 
 I. P. 
 
 1st of Tliird Month, 1G67. 
 
 LETTER LXXIV. 
 
 The Holy Scriptures not the Primary Rule. 
 To Nathaniel Stonar. 
 
 Dear Friend, — There was somewhat on my heart 
 towards thee this morning, which I am willing in truth 
 and uprightness to express to thee, as the Lord knoweth. 
 
 There is a great dispute between us and professors, con- 
 cerning the rule; which they hold forth the Scriptures to 
 be. Now, truly I could wish, from the depth of love in 
 my heart to them, and from my desire of their good, that 
 the Scriptures, rightly understood by them, were their rule; 
 and not their own reasonings, conceivings, and appre- 
 hen dings upon the Scriptures. But yet, if it were so, 
 they must needs assent to me, that the Spirit of life, — that 
 the Truth, which lives in the heart, — that the law, written 
 by the finger of God in the inward parts, — is nearer and 
 more powerful, than the w'ords, or outward relations con- 
 
LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 191 
 
 ceniitig those things in the Scriptures. There is a meas-' 
 ure of Jit'e to be received, — there is the Spirit of life to 
 be received, there is a well of life, from which pure life 
 springs up, to be received and enjoyed by them that truly 
 and rightly believe. 
 
 The Lord, in the gospel state, hath promised to be 
 present with his people ; not as a wayfaring man, for a 
 night, but to dwell in them and walk in them. Yea, if they 
 be tempted and iu danger of erring, they shall hear a 
 voice behind them, saying, "This is the way, walk in it." 
 Will they not grant this to be a rule, as well as the Scrip- 
 tures? Nay, is not this a more full direction to the heart, 
 .in that state, than it can pick to itself out of the Scrip- 
 tures? Truly, this ensuing testimony is true, which now 
 springs up in my heart unto thee, wliich is this: — the 
 Lord hath poured out his spirit upon his sons and daugh- 
 ters, in and by this precious dispensation of Truth, and 
 of the pure seed, which is so despised. And the Spirit, 
 which gave forth the words, is greater than the words ; 
 therefore, we cannot but prize Him himself, and set Him 
 higher in our heart aud thoughts, than the words which 
 testify of Him, though they also are very sweet and pre- 
 cious to our taste. 
 
 There was a measure and rule, whereunto the true min- 
 ister of Christ and the believing Gentiles had attained, 
 by which they were to walk ; as is mentioned in 2 Cor. x. 
 13, 15, "According to the measure of the rule, which God 
 hath distributed to us " — " according to our rule," &c. ; 
 and in Philippians, iii. 16, " Whereto we have already 
 attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the 
 same thing;" as also in Galatians, vi. 15, 16, "For, in 
 Christ Jesus, neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor 
 uncircumcision, but a new creature. And as many as 
 walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy," 
 &c. Now, consider what that rule was. 0 1 that thou 
 
192 LETTERS OF ISAAC TENINGTON. 
 
 mayest know it, aiul walk thereby, as they that had re- 
 ceived God's Spirit did. For, I am assured in my heart, 
 that, if thou receive God's Spirit, and live and walk 
 therein, thou canst not fulfil the desires of the flesh ; but, 
 thou wilt find thy heart opened thereby into a true sense, 
 understanding, and right use of the Scriptures. For, the 
 Scriptures of the New Testament were written to the 
 saints, and cannot be truly or rightly understood or 
 made use of, but as men come into their spirit and state.* 
 
 * It will scarcfcly be supposed I. P. meant, without qudification, 
 that we must be saints, or be brought into isucli a degree of religious 
 experience as that to which the holy penman had arrived, before 
 we can be benefitted by perusing tlie sacred writing.s. His mean- , 
 ing appears to be this, — that, in order to receive instruction liereby, 
 we must let into the mind somewhat whicii can discover to us good 
 and evil, which inclines us to the one, and reproves for the other. 
 These are the earliest operations of the Spirit of God and of 
 Christ, the same Spirit which so erair,ently ruled in the prophets, 
 apostles, and saints, and now worketh in the children of obedience. 
 Undouljtedly, when any have been reached or impressed in reading 
 tlie Holy Scriptures, it has been, because divine iiglit beamed (how- 
 ever feebly) upon their souls, w^hereby they^ discerned the things 
 that belonged to their peace. For we read, that " the natural man," 
 while in that state, " receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God ; " 
 and again, " Tiie tilings of God knoweth no man," of or by himself, 
 "but the Spirit of God." 1 Cor. ii. 14 and 11. 
 
 It seems, therefore, very wholesome and necessary counsel, to 
 direct the minds of people, above all other means, to the light 
 of Christ, to Christ in his inward appearance, as a seed of life, or 
 quickening Spirit ; that, receiving him in the way of his coming 
 and operation, all the means of his appointment may be blessed 
 to them ; and thus, they may know the things that are freely given 
 them of God. For, it is only in proportion as men become willing 
 by virtue of some degree of faith, to learn Christ, and to be taught 
 by iiiM, as the Truth is in Jesus, that they can, through patience and 
 comfort of the Scriptures, have hope; those precious testimonies 
 having been given fortli by Him, who is indeed the promise of the 
 Father, and was to be sent in the Son's name, to teach us all things, 
 and to guide into all Truth. 
 
LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 
 
 193 
 
 These things are of great weight and concernment : the 
 Lord open and guide thy heart into true satisfaction in 
 tliis and other things also, from the demonstration of his 
 own Spirit ; that thou mayest be able truly to say, as in 
 his sight, Now I believe and understand things ; not be- 
 cause tliis or that man hath so said, but because the Lord, 
 who is the Teacher indeed, hath taught and assured my 
 heart concerning the Truth itself, as it is in Jesus ; which 
 I feel to be so, by its living virtue and powerful operation 
 in and upon my heart. 
 
 This is my desire for thee, who am thy soul's true and 
 sincere Friend, who would by no means have thee de- 
 ceived about anything that concerns it. I. P. 
 
 Reading Gaol, 
 24th of Seventh Month, 1G70. 
 
 LETTER LXXV. 
 
 On True, Living, Heavenly Knowledge. 
 To THE Lady Conway. 
 
 Dear Friend, — I. have heard both of thy love to 
 Truth, and of thy great afflictions outwardly ; both which, 
 occasion a sense concerning thee, and breathings to the 
 tender Father of my life for thee: that thy heart may 
 know and be joined to the Truth, and thou mayest live 
 and walk in it, reaping the sweet comfort, support, and 
 satisfaction, wliich God daily ministers in and through it, 
 to his gathered and preserved ones. I am satisfied thou 
 hast need of comforts and support ; O ! that thou mayest 
 be led thither, and be daily found by the Lord there, 
 where the Comforter doth daily delight to supply the 
 17 N 
 
194 
 
 LETTERS 
 
 OF 
 
 ISAAC PENINGTON. 
 
 afflicted and siifforing ones, whether inwardly or out- 
 wardly, with comfort. 
 
 And, iny dear Friend, take heed of that wisdom and 
 knowledge which is not of the seed, and which can be 
 held in the n)ind, without the springing life of the seed. 
 The first day I was convinced, I was not only convinced 
 in my understanding concerning the seed, but I felt the 
 seed in my heart, and my heart was enraptured with the 
 sense and feeling of it ; and, my great cry to tlie Lord 
 was, that I might faithfully travel, through all the suffer- 
 ings and death of the other part, into union with and 
 enjoyment of it; and that that wisdom, which was not of 
 the pure living root and nature, might die in me. Now, 
 how I have been exercised and taught since, is hard for 
 me to utter. What poverty, what weakness, what foolish- 
 ness I have been led into ! how I have learned, in a sense, 
 out of the reach of the comprehending, knowing mind ; 
 how tender I have been of every secret shining of light in 
 my heart ; how the Lord hath taught and enabled me, to 
 pluck out my right eye, and cut off my right hand, and 
 cast them from me, that I might not see with that eye, nor 
 work with that hand, but be greatly maimed in the sight 
 of men, and in my own sight too. 
 
 O Friend ! wait daily to feel the seed, to feel the seed 
 live in thee, and the most pleasing part of thy nature die, 
 as it can live out of the seed. O that thou couldst change 
 all old knowledge, for that which is new and living ! The 
 seed is the well : receive the seed, then thou receivest the 
 well : let it spring, wait for its springing, wait to know its 
 springing : bear all the trials and judgments, which the 
 Father of life sees necessary, to prei)are the heart for its 
 springing. O feel that which litnits and subdues thoughts, 
 and brings them into captivity and subjection! Be not 
 exercised in things too high for thee; — ; David, the man 
 after God's own heart, who was wiser than his teachers, 
 was not ; — but, come out of knowledge into feeling, and 
 
LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 
 
 195 
 
 tliere thou wilt find the true knowledge given, — arising, 
 springing, and covering thy heart, as the waters cover the 
 sea. And, still wait to be taught of God, to distinguish 
 between the outwardness of knowledge, — the notional 
 part of the thing know n, as it can be comprehended in the 
 mind, — and the life of it, as it is felt and abides in the heart. 
 
 The Lord God of my life be thy Teacher ; point thy 
 mind to the pure seed of the kingdom, and open it in 
 thee ; — make thee so little, that thou mayest enter into 
 it, and keep thee so low and poor, that thou mayest abide 
 in it ; managing these troublesome times in the outward, 
 for thy advantage in the inward ; that the city and temple 
 of the living God may be built in it, and thou mayest 
 know him daily dwelling and walking therein. Thus, 
 mayest thou be married to the Lord, and become one spirit 
 with him ; finding that daily removing from thee, [which 
 is to be removed, eveu] bj>the mighty arm and pure ope- 
 ration of his Spirit, till all that is contrary be done away ; 
 then, may thy soul dwell with its Beloved, in fulness of 
 joy, life, and peace for evermore. 
 
 This is from the tender love, and fresh breathings of 
 life, in thy soul's true Friend, and most hearty well- 
 wisher. I. P. 
 
 17th of Third Month, 1677. 
 
 Note. — Respecting the interesting character addressed in this 
 and two otiier letters, (see pages 107 and 109,) tlie editor regrets 
 he lias not been able to procure information, beyond wliat follows. 
 George Fox, in liis Journal, about the year 1677, writes, "I had 
 meetings at Pershore and Evesliam ; then struck to liagley in 
 'Warwickshire, to visit the Lady Conway, who I understood was 
 very desirous to see me, and whom I found tender and loving, and 
 willing to have detained me longer tlian I had freedom to stay." 
 It is also .stated, in an authentic manuscrij)! respecting Kobert Bar- 
 clay, the ApologiU; that the meeting-liouse, belonging to Friends at 
 Aberdeen, wjs " mostly bought witii liis own money, and some by 
 his means obtained from the Countess of Conway, one of the same 
 permasion in luigland," &c. 
 
196 LETTEES OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 
 
 LETTER LXXVI. 
 
 On Disputation ; and on Hearing Wisdom's Voice. Also Respect- 
 ing the Puritan State. 
 
 To E. Terry. 
 
 Friend, — If the Lord hath extended favour to thee 
 and shown thee mercy, I therein rejoice on thy .behalf. 
 
 Thy desire, that what thou wrotest may be looked upon 
 as nothing, and that no contest may be raised from it, I 
 am content fully to answer thee in ; nor do I desire to 
 have any advantage against thee, nor art thou at all dis- 
 paraged in my thoughts by what thou hast written, but it 
 is in my heart as nothing, and my love flows to thee ; for, 
 I take notice of thy seriousness and what I have unity 
 with in this letter, and overlook the other. 
 
 As touching disputes, indeed, I have no love to them : 
 Truth did not enter my heart that way, nor do I expect to 
 propagate it in others that way ; yet, sometimes a neces- 
 sity is laid upon me, for the sake of others. And truly, 
 when I do feel a necessity, I do it in great fear ; not trust- 
 ing in my spear or bow, I mean, in strong arguments or 
 wise considerations, which I (of myself) can gather or 
 comprehend ; but, I look up to the Lord for the guidance, 
 help, and demonstration of his Spirit^ that way may be 
 made thereby in men's hearts for the pure seed to be 
 reached to, wherein the true conviction, and thorough con- 
 version of the soul to God, is witnessed. I had far rather 
 be feeling Christ's life. Spirit, and power in my own heart, 
 than disputing with others about them. 
 
 Christians that truly fear the Lord, have a proportion 
 of the primitive Spirit ; and, if they could learn to watch 
 and wait there, where God works the fear, th'ey would 
 
LETTEUS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 
 
 197 
 
 daily receive more and more of it, and, in it, understand 
 more and more the true intent and preciousness of the 
 words of the Holy Scriptures. He that will truly live to 
 God, must hear wisdom's voice within, at home, in his own 
 heart ; and he that will have her words made known, and 
 her spirit poured out to him, must turn at her reproof. 
 Prov. i. 23. Indeed, I never knew, and am satisfied that 
 none else can know, the jireciousness of this lesson, till 
 they are taught it of the Lord. 
 
 There is one thing more on my heart to express, occa- 
 sioned by thy last letter, which is this : — I have more 
 unity in my heart and spirit before the Lord, with the 
 Puritan state, than with the churches and gatherings, 
 which men have built up and run into since. Indeed, 
 men have enlarged their knowledge and comprehension 
 of things ; but, that truth of heart, that love, that tender- 
 ness, that unity upon Truth's account, which was then 
 amongst them, many have made shipwreck of, and do not 
 now know the state of their own souls, nor Truth in the 
 life and power of it. This principle of life and truth was 
 near me, as well as others ; yea, with me in that day; but, 
 I wandered from it into outward knowledge, and, with 
 great seriousness, into a way of congregational worship, 
 and thereby came to a great loss ; and at length, for want 
 of the Lord's presence, 2>ower, and manifestation of his 
 love, was sick at heart. But now, the Lord, in great love 
 and tender mercy, having brought me back to the same 
 principle, and fixed my spirit therein ; I discern the truth 
 and beauty of that former estate, with the several runnings 
 out from it ; and find what was true or false therein, dis- 
 covered to me by the holy anointing, which appears and 
 teaches in that princijile. And, Friend, it is not a notion 
 of light, which my heart is engaged to testify to ; but, that 
 which enlivens, that which opens, that which gives to see, 
 that wherein the joower of life is felt. For truly, in the 
 17* 
 
198 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 
 
 opening of my heart by the pure power, was I taught to 
 see and own the principle and seed of life, and to know its 
 way of appearance ; and so, can faithfully and certainly 
 testify, that that which is divine, spiritual, and heavenly, 
 is nearer man than he is aware, as well as that which is 
 earthly and selfish. 
 
 O Friend ! if thou canst not yet see and own the princi- 
 ple and seed of Christ's life and Spirit, nor discern his 
 appearance therein ; yet take heed of fighting against it; 
 for indeed, if thou dost, thou fightest against no less than 
 the Lord Jesus Christ himself I. P. 
 
 LETTEK LXXVII. 
 
 Advice as to Self-deceit. On the Unity of the Spirit. The Younger 
 are to submit to tlie Elder 
 
 To Miles Stanclif. 
 
 Dear M. S., — Thou art often in my heart ; and indeed, 
 I do many times bow unto the Father of spirits, for the 
 preservation of whatever is good in thee, for the clear dis- 
 covery to thee of what is not of his pure life, and for the 
 separation of thy mind from it; that the life of Christ 
 may conquer in thee, and thou thereby be fully redeemed 
 to the Lord. I often inquire after thee ; and, when I hear 
 of any tenderness or diligence in thee towards the Truth, 
 my heart rejoiceth therein. 
 
 Dear Friend, deceit is very deep, and hath much pre- 
 vailed ; but, the Lord is gathering out of it, and prepar- 
 ing such, by the power of his life, against future snares. 
 O dear Friend ! take heed of thy own wisdom, thy own 
 sense, thy own judgment, which thou mayest easily, 
 through mistake, call the Lord's : but, to have all that is 
 
LETTERS OF ISAAC PEXINGTON. 199 
 
 of self searched out and brought under, and the raiud 
 made truly sensible of, and fully subject to the life in 
 ever}' thing, — this is a sore travel ; and it is very hard to 
 come hither, through all deceits and entanglements. The 
 Lord entirely join thy mind to that, and preserve thee in 
 that, which gives thee at any time a sense of Truth, and 
 of those who are in the Truth : these are to be known and 
 honoured in the Lord, according to their growth. And, 
 take heed of that which prejudices and disjoins ; but feel 
 and cleave to that which uniteth in love, life, and pure 
 power. Know that unity and fellowship, which is in the 
 Spirit ; and keep it, keep it in the bond of pure peace : 
 and take heed, O forever take heed of whatever would 
 break the bond ! but, that which makes of one mind and 
 one judgment, one heart and one soul, that is the living 
 principle, that is the living power, which all the members 
 of the body are to inhabit and be one in. And, watch 
 against the reasonings of the mind, and the thoughts of 
 thy heart ; watch to the sense, which riseth up in the fear, 
 in the love, in the humility, that thou mayest feel the 
 leadings of God's Spirit, and come through all that stands 
 in thy way ; having the help of all whom the Lord hath 
 ordained, and made able to be helpers to thee. For, life 
 is not to be limited, but we are to be limited by that which 
 is of the life ; and, in cases of doubt, it is the ordinance of 
 the Lord, for the weak to receive counsel and help from 
 the strong, and for the lesser to be watched over and blessed 
 by the greater, — by such as are more grown in the life, 
 and into the power. 
 
 So, the Lord God Almighty lead thee fully into, and 
 preserve thee perfectly in, the way everlasting ! 
 
 Thy Friend in the true love, I. P. 
 
 16th of Third Mouth, 1668. 
 
200 LETTERS OF ISAAC PEKIXGTON. 
 
 LETTER LXXVIII. 
 
 The Loving-Kindness of the Lord. 
 To Elizabeth Walmsley, of Giles Chalfoxt. 
 
 Dear Friexd, — The thoughts of thee are pleasant to 
 me ; indeed, I am melted with the sense of the Lord's love 
 to thee, as to my own soul. 
 
 What were we, that the Lord should stretch forth his 
 arm to us, and gather us ? And what are we, that the 
 Lord should daily remember us, in the issuiugs forth of 
 his loving-kindness and mercies ? O his pity, his compas- 
 sion ! — (must I forever say,) — that my soul yet lives, 
 and hath hope before him ! And, canst not thou also say 
 the same ? O my Friend ! we feel mercy and salvation 
 from the Lord. O that he might have pure praise and 
 service from his own in us ! and yet, that will be little 
 thanks to us, but rather a new mercy received from him. 
 But, all is his own, and of his own do we give him, — and 
 that, only when he quickens, helps, and enables us to give. 
 Dear Friend, ray desire for thee is, that the power and 
 blessings of life maj- descend upon thee, and that thou 
 mayest feel thy God near, and thy heart still ready to let 
 him in, and shut against all that is of a contrary nature to 
 his ; that thou mayest know that death passing upon thee, 
 and perfected in thee, which prepares for, and lets into, 
 the i'ulness of his jiure, unspotted life. 
 
 Thou mayest commend my dear love to thy sister, and 
 to all Friends, as thou hast opportunity, who breathe after 
 the Lord, and desire in uprightness of heart to walk with 
 him. 
 
 I am thy Friend, in the affection which is of the Truth, 
 
 I. P. 
 
 Aylesbuhy, 
 20th of Fourth Month, 1666, 
 
LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 201 
 
 LETTER LXXIX. 
 
 On Confessing Clirist before Men, &c. 
 To Elizabeth Stonae. 
 
 Dear Feienb, — Whose life in the Lord, and prosperity 
 ill the Truth, my heart greatly desireth ; even, that thou 
 mayest come to the perfect service, and free and full en- 
 joyment of thy soul's Beloved ; in which, if I could be iii 
 any way helpful to thee, my heart would greatly rejoice 
 and bless the Lord. This morning, when I awoke, my 
 heart was exercised before the Lord concerning thee ; and 
 several things did spring up in my mind relating to thee, 
 which I may now signify to thee, as the Lord shall please 
 to bring them again to my mind, and open them in iny 
 lieart in reference to thee. I would fain have thee rightly 
 understand, and be found doing, what the Lord requires 
 of thee ; that it may go well with thee, and that thy heart 
 may be sittisfied, and thy soul blessed, in believing and 
 obeying the Trutii as it is in Jesus. 
 
 The first thing that rose up in my heart concerning 
 thee, this morning, was, about confessing Christ before 
 men. It is a great duty, and I would not have thee mis- 
 take about it, or fail in it ; but diligently wait on God to 
 know what it is, and faithfully to practise it in thy state 
 and place ; which, if thou do, thou wilt find life and bless- 
 edness flowing with it upon thy soul. 
 
 After this, several Scriptures, sweet and precious to ray 
 taste, sprang up in my heart to lay before thy view ; that 
 thou also raightst suck sweetness, and reap benefit through 
 the living sense of them, and the bowing of thy spirit to 
 what the Lord shall please to make manifest to thee 
 thereby. 
 
 The first Scripture that sprang up in me to thee, was 
 
202 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTOJT. 
 
 that of Rom. xii. 2, not to be conformed to this world, but 
 to be transformed by the renewing of thy mind, that thou 
 raayest prove that good, tliat acceptable, and perfect will 
 of God. Thou must stand at a distance from the spirit of 
 this world, thou must not touch the unclean thing, but be 
 a chaste virgin in heart, in word, in conversation ; if thou 
 expect to be married to the Lamb, to become one spirit 
 with him, to know his mind, and to enjoy the love and be 
 the delight of his Father. 
 
 The next Scripture in my heart, was Rev. ii. 10, " Fear 
 none of those things which thou shalt suffer." Upon which 
 Scripture, this question rose in my heart to thee. Dost not 
 thou fear the sufferings which may attend thee, in thy state 
 and place, for Truth's sake? Dost not thou look out at 
 them ? If thou do, it will weaken thy faith, and be a snare 
 to thee ; and such a beam in thy eye, that thou wilt never 
 be able to see that particular way and path of Truth, which 
 is most proper for thy soul, till this beam be plucked out 
 and separated from thee. 
 
 Unto this, was soon added that of Isaiah, li. 12, 13. " I, 
 even I, am he that comforteth you : who art thou, that 
 thou shouldst be afraid of a man that shall die, and of the 
 son of man which shall be made as grass ; and forgettest 
 the Lord thy Maker, that hath stretched forth the hea- 
 vens, and laid the foundations of the earth ; and hast 
 feared continually every day, because of the fury of the 
 oppressor, as if he were ready to destroy ? and where is 
 the fury of the oppressor?" O take heed of distrusting 
 the Comforter, thy Comforter ! who is able and ready to 
 help and comfort the souls of his, in the sorest distresses 
 and oppressions that can befall them, either within or 
 without. And, consider this also, that forgetting the 
 Lord, is the necessary consequence of fearing man. It 
 cannot be, but that, he that feareth man should in some 
 measure or degree forget the Lord, — his love, his wisdom, 
 
LETTERS OF IS.VAC PEXINGTON. 203 
 
 his power, his goodness, his faithfulness to, and tender care 
 over his children iu their following him, — especially, in 
 the midst of the cruel hardships and sufferings, which 
 often befall them therein. 
 
 The next was Samson's riddle, Judges, xiv. 14, " Out of 
 the eater came forth meat, and out of the strong came 
 forth sweetness." It is everlastingly true, both inwardly 
 and outwardly, to the children of the Most High, who live 
 iu his Spirit, and walk in his Sjjirit, and are guided by 
 the power and virtue of his life. Every thing that would 
 devour and destroy them, the Lord destroyeth, by the 
 power and virtue of his life. and Spirit springing up in 
 them; and, out of that which is strong against them, which 
 roars against them iu the strength and power of darkness, 
 the Lord brings forth sweetness in and to their spirits. 
 
 Then, that of Luke, ix. 23, 24, came before me, (which 
 is said to all that hear Christ's voice and blessed counsel,) 
 " If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and 
 take up his cross daily, and follow me. For, whosoever 
 will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever will lose his 
 life for my sake, the same shall save it." ^>ow, I beseech 
 thee, consider ; dost thou take up the daily cross, and bear 
 it faithfully for Christ's sake? Dost thou stand a foithful 
 witness against the spirit of darkness, and works of dark- 
 ness, where thou livest ? Dost thou not comply with any 
 worsliip there, which thy heart knoweth to be out of the 
 Truth and Sjiirit of life, wherein all true, holy, living 
 spiritual worship, can alone be performed ? Oh ! take 
 heed of shunning the cross in any respect ; for then, thou 
 givest way to unbelief, and to that wisdom, thouglits, 
 reasonings, and judgment, which are not of the Truth, but 
 of the flesh : shunning that, which God hath appointed to 
 crucify sin in the heart, and under which the seed is to 
 spring up and live, which is the power of God unto salva- 
 tion, to all that abide under it, and daily bear it. 
 
204 
 
 LETTERS 
 
 OP ISAAC 
 
 PENINGTON. 
 
 The lust Scripture, wliicli at this time sprang up iu me 
 to thee, was that very sweet one in Solomon's Song of 
 Songs, chap. i. ver. 7, 8, " Tell me, O thou whom ray soul 
 loveth, where thou feedest, where thou makest thy flock to 
 rest at noon : for, why should I be as one that turneth 
 aside by the flocks of thy companions ? If thou know not, 
 O thou fairest among women, go thy way forth by the 
 footsteps of the flock, and feed thy kids beside the shep- 
 herd's tent." If thou wouldst come to the feeding-place of 
 the flock, and to rest in the pure life, power, and righteous- 
 ness of the Lord with them ; thou rnust mind their foot- 
 steps, thou must go forth out of that, which God hath 
 gathered and led them forth out of, thou must forsake 
 whatever is not of the Father, but of this world, (and, in 
 forsaking it, stand a witness against the world,) as God 
 hath taught them to forsake it. Thou must wait for the 
 same Spirit, for the same cloud and smoke by day, and 
 the shining of the same flaming fire by night, to lead thee 
 and preserve thee, which hath led and preserved them ; 
 see Isai. iv. 5. And this will lead thee out of the same 
 Egypt and Sedom, and all the remainders of Babylon, 
 wherein as yet thou mayest be held captive ; and this 
 alone must break the oppressing spirit and power which 
 stands iu thy way, through thy faithful sufferings under it. 
 And, through the same wilderness and righteous judg- 
 ments of the Lord, must thou pass, that they have passed. 
 For, Zion and her converts must be redeemed with judg- 
 ment and righteousness, and with the spirit of burning, 
 and the pain of the cross ; nor dost thou know, how thou 
 standest in the way of thy own soul's good, while thou in 
 any measure avoidest or escapest it. And, if thou be one 
 of the called, chosen, and faithful, following fully after the 
 Lord, in the same Spirit, and power, and banner of the 
 cross, under which his called, chosen, and faithful ones 
 have followed him ; he will lead thee into the same land 
 
LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 205 
 
 of lifo, rest, peace, and holy dominion over sin and Satan, 
 into wliieli he hath led those, who have faithliilly followed 
 the Lamb, whithersoever he hath pleased to go before, and 
 lead thera. So, thou must wait to have thy heart daily 
 more and more opened, and guided purely, and liviugly, 
 and sensibly by the Lord, into what he hath led his chil- 
 dren, servants, family, and redeemed heritage. For, of a 
 truth, the Lord hath raised the seed of life iu his people ; 
 and what his seed denies, what the life of the Sou denies, 
 what Truth iu the heart denies, all that are of the Truth 
 and in the Truth, will be taught by it, and learu of it, to 
 deny also. 
 
 Thus, ray dear Frieud, in the most dear, tender, aud true 
 love, have I opened my heart to thee, as things sprang iu 
 me for thy sake : and the desire of my soul to the Lord is, 
 that they may be serviceable to thee, and that thou rpay- 
 est be led by the holy leading Spirit more and more into 
 Truth, and live in Truth, and feel the life of Truth liviug 
 and reigning in thee; being delivered from the enemy's 
 temptatious, and the subtle twinings of the serpent, which 
 thy condition will often meet with : the Lord discover 
 them to thee, and preserve thee from being ensnared with 
 them. 
 
 Thy coustant Frieud, in the dear love and service of the 
 Truth, I. P. 
 
 Amersham, Bury End, 
 20th of Fii-st Month, 1675. 
 18 
 
206 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 
 
 LETTER LXXX. 
 
 Observations on tlie Ministry. 
 
 To A Near Relative. 
 
 Dear , — The gospel is the power of God uuto sal- 
 vation ; it is tlie glad tidings of freedom from sin, of put- 
 ting off the body of sin by the ciicumcision and baptism 
 of tlie Spirit, of being delivered out of the hands of our 
 spiritual enemies, that we may serve God, (without fear of 
 tliem any more,) in holiness and righteousness all the days 
 of our life. 
 
 The niinisters of the gospel are those, who, in the Spirit 
 of Christ, by the gift and inspiration thereof, preach these 
 tidings to the poor and needy, to the captives, to those that 
 groan under the pressure of the body of corruption. 
 
 This gospel, through the great mercy of God, I have at 
 length heard preached ; and 1 have not heard man, but 
 the voice of my Beloved ; whose voice is welcome to me, 
 though in the meanest boy, or most contemptible female. 
 For, in Christ, there is neither male nor female ; nor should 
 Lis Spirit, which is not limited to males, be quenched in 
 any. And though thou, through pi'ejudice, call this speak- 
 ing of the Spirit through servants aud handmaids, prating, 
 yet the Lord can forgive thee ; for surely, if thou knew 
 wliat thou didst herein, thou wouldst not thus offend the 
 Lord; — extolling preaching by man's wisdom, from a min- 
 ister made by man, for gospel-preaching, and condemning 
 the preaching of persons sent by God, in the immediate 
 inspiration of his Spirit. I am confident, if, without preju- 
 dice, and in the fear of God, thou didst once hear such, 
 thou wouldst not be able to forbear saying in thy heart, 
 It is the voice of God, of a truth ; — but, that which hath 
 
LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTOK. 207 
 
 not tlie sliccp's ear, can never own the voice of tlie true 
 Shepherd. 
 
 As for those, wliom thou callcst ministers, if I should 
 speak concerning them, the very truth from tlie mouth of 
 the Lord, thou couldst not, in that state whereiu thou stand- 
 est, receive it ; yet, am I far from accounting them the off- 
 scouring of the earth; for, I look upon them as wise and 
 knowing, and as of great beauty in the earthly learning 
 and wisdom ; but surely, not as having " the tongue of the 
 learned," " to speak a word in season to him that is Aveary ; " 
 nay, they are men unlearned in this kind of learning, and 
 such as toss, and tear, and wi'est the Scripture, in their un- 
 certain reasonings and guessings about the sense of it, and 
 in the various doubtful interpretations they give. 
 
 And, whereas I am blamed, for not putting a difference 
 between the profane and scandalous ministers, and the 
 reverend and godly sort.; my answer is, They are united 
 in one ministry : and the question is not concerning the 
 persons, but the ministry ; in which they are one, — their 
 call one, their maintenance one, their way of worship and 
 preaching one, their standing and power of government 
 one ; which is not by the power and presence of the Spirit, 
 but by the strength of the magistrate. But, the true gos- 
 pel and ministry is spiritual, and cannot stand, nor be 
 upheld by that which is carnal, neither in its call, main- 
 tenance, government, or what else belongs to it. When 
 Christ came in the flesh, the words he pronounced, were 
 not so much against the profane and scandalous among 
 the Scribes and Pharisees ; but against those that ap- 
 peared most strict, and were accounted among the Jews 
 the most reverend and godly. And, were it not for the 
 appearance of godliness in these men, the persecution of 
 the present times had not been so hot, the good old cause 
 so lost, and the work of reformation, (inasmuch as relates 
 to men,) so overturned as at this day. O ! there was 
 
208 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENJNGTON. 
 
 once a good thing in divers of them, which ray soul would 
 rejoice to see revived ; but, as the seat of government eat 
 out the good that was in the bishops, so gaping after the 
 seat of government hath sunk the good thing in others 
 also ; and made their eye so dim, that they cannot see the 
 mighty brealiings forth of the Spirit of Christ in his 
 people. I. P. 
 
 LETTER LXXXI. 
 
 Of Love, Humility, and Order among Friends. Also of 
 Persecution. 
 
 To A Near Eelative. 
 
 Ah ! Dear , — Why dost thou so often give me oc- 
 casion of mourning before the Lord, on account of hard 
 and unrighteous charges from thee ! How often have I 
 solemnly professed, that there v!i\s never any desire in me, 
 or endeavour used by me, to draw thee to this way [of i-e- 
 ligious profession]. All that is in my soul is this, — that 
 thou miglitst have the true knowledge of Chri.st, that thou 
 niightst indeed hear his sayings and do them, and not set 
 u]) thy own or other men's imaginations and invented reas- 
 onings, instead of the sayings of Christ. 
 
 Now, though I am not for ways or opinions, but only 
 for Christ, the substance, the living power of God in the 
 heart ; yet, because thou sturablest at these things, and, 
 through prejudice, refusest the living testimony of God 
 concerning Christ the Rock, building upon that which thou 
 hast imagined concerning the Saviour, — in love and pity 
 to thy soul, I cannot but say somewhat ; — for, who knows, 
 .but God may at length give thee repentance to the ac- 
 knowledgment of the Truth, and to the disclaiming of the 
 way of error. 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 ISAAC 
 
 PENINGTON. 
 
 209 
 
 Thou layest down three reasons, why thou canst not 
 believe this way to be of God. 
 
 First. That God's way is a way of love, peace, and tm ity. 
 
 Answer. If thou hadst that eye which can see the things 
 of God, and didst apply thyself to look therewith, thou 
 mightst see that peace, that love, that unity among this 
 people, [Friends,] which other men do but talk of. But, 
 if thou take things by the report of the enemies both to 
 God and them, thou shalt be sure to hear and believe bad 
 enough. 
 
 They have no war with anything but unrighteousness, 
 and with that they cannot have peace, no, not in their 
 dearest relations. They love the souls of their enemies, 
 and think no pains or hazard too much for the saving of 
 them ; being persecuted, they bless, being reviled, they 
 entreat, and pray for their persecutors. They are at unity 
 with whatever is of God, but with the seed of the serpent 
 they cannot be at unity; they know the "generation of 
 vipers " in this present age, and can witness against them 
 under their several painted coverings, as freely as ever 
 Christ and his apostles did against the Scribes and Pliari- 
 sees. For, the spirit of the Scribes and Pharisees is now 
 in the world, as is also the Spirit of Christ and his apostles, 
 and they cannot but fight, each with tlieir proper weapons ; 
 the one with their stocks, whips, fines, prisons, &c., the 
 other with the spiritual armour of Christ. Thus, the one 
 of these wrestles with flesli and blood, fights with the crea- 
 ture, hurts that; the other loves the creature, seeks the 
 saving of it, and fights only with the power of darkness, 
 which rules the creature. Now, which of these are the 
 ministers of Christ ? These that stir up the magistrate to 
 afflict the body, or these that use the sword of the Sj)irit 
 to wound the conscience? 
 
 And this peace, this love, this unity they attain, not by 
 their own strivings, but by i-eceiviug it from above. In- 
 18* O 
 
210 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTOIf. 
 
 deed, all our religion lies iu receiving a gift, without which 
 we are nothing, and can do nothing, and in which nothing 
 is too hard for us. Yea, being kept in that, up to God, we 
 can do all things, we can believe all things, we can suffer 
 all things. Never was there a generation brought forth 
 weaker iu themselves, more foolish, more ridiculous to the 
 fleshy wisdom, moi'e exposed to sufferings from the world 
 and worldl3' professors; yet, being kept faithful to Him 
 that hath called us, we scuietimcs feel strength and wisdom, 
 even such, as the most zeiilous in the worldly ways of re- 
 ligion, have not an ear to hear the relation of. 
 
 Secondly. Tiiou sayest, that God's way is a way of hu- 
 mility. 
 
 An.swer. If this people had not been humbled and 
 broken by God, they could never have entered into a way, 
 which the lofty, fleshly part abhors ; nor is this a volun- 
 tary humility, but a humility which crosseth and breaketh 
 the will all the day long. Thou judgest at a distance, and 
 with that whicli is not to judge, but to be judged. 
 
 Thirdly. Tluit God is a God of order, and not of con- 
 fusion. 
 
 Answer. Blessed be the Lord, who hath recovered some- 
 what of the true church's order for us, and delivered out 
 of the confusion of antichrist". We know order in the 
 light, order in the Spirit, order in Christ the Truth ; but 
 that which man in his wisdom chills order, is but antichrist's 
 order, which with God is confusion. To have man's spirit 
 speak, and God'.s Spirit sto})ped, this is the order of all the 
 antichristian congregations, and churches;, but to have 
 man's spirit stopped, and God's Spirit s})eak, this is the 
 order of Christ's church. It is this order we know, and 
 rejoice in, finding that raised in us, whicli teaches us to 
 " cea.se from man," and his voice [as man] is not at all 
 " accounted of ; " but, the voice of the living God is heard, 
 known, loved, and obeyed, by that which he hath quick- 
 
LETTERS OF ISAAC 
 
 PENINGTON. 
 
 211 
 
 ened iu us, and made to live to himself. The liord is 
 judging that which loved man's meanings and inventions, 
 all that the human part in us could gather from the Scrip- 
 tures, and is nourishing that which is of himself, that which 
 can receive no food but from his hand. 
 
 Thou believest not, that Mr. Gurdon, (as the world calls 
 him,) or any other godly nmn, doth persecute these people 
 for the exercise of their consciences. 
 
 Answer. I know, no godly man can persecute; the 
 lamb did never worry the wolf. But, the grossest persons 
 will not acknowledge that they persecute for conscience, 
 but accuse those whom they persecute for evil-doers, and 
 say, they sutler as evil-doers. Canst not thou see the nar- 
 rowness of this covering? Would the Scribes and Phari- 
 sees, and zealous among the Jews, confess, that they put 
 Christ and Stephen to death for conscience? Did they 
 not put them to death as evil-doers, as blasphemers, as 
 speaking against the holy temple of God, the laws and 
 
 ordinances of Moses? Ah! , the children of wisdom 
 
 were never justified by that wisdom, wherewitii thou judg- 
 est of things. The Scribes and Pharisees were as confi- 
 dent that Christ and his disciples were deceivers, and that 
 they brought up a new way of religion contrary to Moses, 
 
 any can be that them peojjle are deceivers, and that their 
 way is new. The scene is turned ; the same things that 
 were then, are now ; and the eye of that spirit is as bliud 
 now, as it was then ; it cannot see its own deceit. 
 
 0 pie7-ce into the nature of thiiif/s ! set not up shadows 
 instead of the Truth; wait for the gift; receive the true 
 love, the true peace, the true unity, the true humility, 
 which lies not in the will of the creature, but destroys it; 
 — then, we sliall Jioon know one another, and have com- 
 fort one in another. I. P. 
 14tli of TwflitJi Month, I608. 
 
212 LETTERS OF ISAAC PEXIXGTON. 
 
 LETTER LXXXII. 
 
 On the Danger of Self-complacency. 
 To Catherine Pordage. 
 
 Friend, — In truth of heart and tender love to thee, it 
 is with me to return answers to the cliief passages in thy 
 letter, as briefly as I may. 
 
 It hath not been my work, to bring thee out of esteem 
 or into esteem of persons. The Lord guide thee into true 
 judgment, and keep thee out of judging, except so far as 
 that is raised in thee, which the Lord maketh able to 
 judge. But, I have known several, who have spoken 
 most gloriously and ravishingly, as to the Scriptures, open- 
 mg things even to admiration, who have been out of the 
 mystery of Truth ; and who have sparkled with the light 
 and life of a wrong spirit, though they themselves knew 
 it not to be so. 
 
 It is better with him who feels his unwillingness, and 
 waits to be made willing by the Lord, than with him, who 
 thinks he is willing, and, upon his own search, finds and 
 judges himself to be so. I have thought I had been will- 
 ing in several cases ; and that, if the Lord would have 
 showed me his will, I should have obeyed ; which I found 
 to be otherwise, when the Lord came to lay the law of his 
 Spirit and life upon me. This I am sure of ; there is that 
 in thee, which is not willing to be impoverished, and I 
 cannot say concerning thee, as in God's sight, that thou 
 art yet separated from it. Now, while it is in thee, it will 
 be workiug in a mystery of deceivableness, hidden from 
 thy heart, which thou canst not possibly discern, but as 
 the seed is raised, and the pure light shines in thee. Thou 
 mayest easily think better of thyself than indeed it is 
 
LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 218 
 
 with thee ; but, it is hard for thee, in this thy present 
 state, to know what and how thou art in the sight of the 
 Lord. 
 
 Thou shalt know the tenderness and melting compas- 
 sion of the Lord, when that is broken down in thee, towards 
 which his tenderness is not, and that raised up in thee and 
 thy mind joined to it, towards which his tenderness is; but 
 great and subtle workings are there in thy mind, from the 
 enemy, against God's Truth, which thou dost not discern 
 and eschew, but rather embrace, as if they were true and 
 precious. If that tenderness were ministered to thee, either 
 from God immediately, or from us, which thou expectest 
 and desirest, (perhaps, thinking thy state is wronged, in 
 not being so dealt with,) it might soon destroy thee, and 
 that forever. 
 
 Tlius, in great plainness, have I written to thee, and 
 beseech thee to be willing, or rather, to look up to tlie 
 Lord to make thee willing, to have the wound kept open 
 in thee, which the condition and state of thy soul needs ; 
 that it may be thoroughly searched, and that which is for 
 judgment judged and destroyed; and so, thy soul ever- 
 lastingly saved by the everlasting Physician, who is wise 
 and skilful in ministering both judgment and mercy to 
 eveiy one, according to their need. 
 
 Thy Friend in true, faithful, and unfeigned love and 
 tenderness? L P. 
 
 25th of First Month, 1671. 
 
214 LETTERS or ISAAC PENINGTON. 
 
 LETTER LXXXIII. 
 
 Against Self-exaltation ; and on the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ 
 To Catherine Pordage. 
 
 Friend, — I observed yesterday, that thou didst own 
 the liglit to be the principle of life; and that thou didst 
 affirm, that those people with whom thou walkedst, also 
 owned it, and directed to it. Now, it is one thing to own 
 the principle in judgment ; another thing to know it, feel 
 its guidance, and be subject to it. It is a good step to 
 own it in the comprehension, from the testimony without ; 
 but yet, they that go so far, may never come truly to 
 know and own the thing itself. Now, nothing redeems, 
 or can preserve, but the light and life itself. Therefore, 
 how to meet with the thing itself, and be changed by it into 
 its own nature, and therein to believe, know, will, under- 
 stand, and judge, — that is a skill which none can learn, 
 but those that are taught of God, and keep close to the 
 foundation, not rising in the high elevations above it. 
 Ah ! the humility of the seed, and of that soul that is one 
 ■svith the seed ! Ah ! how low it lies, and how weighty its 
 sense and operations are, and how pure and infallible is 
 its judgment! The great danger is, in rising up above 
 the thing itself, which whoso doth, miscarrieth, whatever 
 lie hath formerly known or enjoyed. 
 
 There now springs up in my mind a state since Adam, 
 which I would have thee seriously consider of ; and then 
 tell me, if thou hast known or heard of such another. It 
 is recorded in Ezekiel, 28th chapter, of one that was " per- 
 fect in wisdom and beauty." In what w^isdom, in what 
 beauty ? Let thy soul, if it hath understanding, answer. 
 For, he had " been in Eden, the garden of God," (what, 
 
LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 215 
 
 had any been so since Adam ?) " and had every precious 
 stone for his covering." What a glorious temple theii 
 Avas he ! yea, and he was created (by what creation ?) unto 
 this state. Yea, he was " the anointed cherub that cov- 
 ereth," and God had "set him so." (What is it, to be the 
 anointed, covering cherub, and to be so set by God !) He 
 was also " upon the holy mountain of God," and " walked 
 up and down in the midst of the stones of fire." Yea, 
 saith the Spirit of God further concerning liim, "Thou 
 wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast " 
 created. Yet, after all this, "iniquity was found iu " him, 
 and the hand of the Lord turned against him. Answer 
 me, now ; was tliis a state of mixture, or no? And if so 
 perfect a state was liable to this, what is a state of mix- 
 ture liable to ? 
 
 A h ! many have had some touches of the light, some 
 true appearances thereof, and tastes of the glory ; but, 
 who liatli been so united to the light, a?to keep out of all 
 that corruptetli ! There is .somewhat still lives near, that 
 would fain be mixing with it, and drawing higher than 
 the pure liglit of life and truth: but this leads out of the 
 way, above the pure, the true, the innocent, the simple ; 
 and then, there is a making haste to be rich and glorious, 
 and a departing from that poverty of spirit, wherein is 
 the safety and j)reservatiou. How have some that come 
 among us, here split themselves by aspiring! Ah! what 
 a foolish thing it is, to be found singing, before dominion 
 is witnessed, and victory over that which captivateth ; 
 such songs will end in desolation, anguish, and confusion ; 
 for thereby, the lust of the mind goes forth, and that is 
 fed, which keeps from the victory and the dominion. It is 
 better to know the old bottle emptied, yea, broken, than 
 filled with new wine. And, how many have taken them- 
 selves to be new made, who, when tlie Spirit of the Lord 
 hath come to search them by his pure, eternal light, have 
 been fouud and are fouud iu the old nature and spirit! 
 
216 
 
 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENIXGTON. 
 
 Come, live no more, know no more of thyself ; but 
 wait to feel the pure seed raised to live and know in thee, 
 and to feel its light enlightening thee, and creating a new 
 capacity in thee ; and that will give thee to bear the pain 
 of dying, and taking up the cross, which will really slay 
 every life, appearance, and power, that is not of its own 
 nature. Thou hast formerly taken up crosses in a way of 
 wisdom, and according to a comprehensive knowledge and 
 judgment ; come, now, learn to take up the seed's cross 
 in the true foolishness. For, there is not another thing 
 that gives life, than the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, 
 which truly and really slays ; and to that which can dis- 
 cern and take up this cross, and live and walk under it, 
 the yoke is easy and the burden light. But, that must 
 first be brought under and destroyed, which counteth it 
 hard, before it can be felt and owned to be so. If thou 
 couldst come out of thy own wisdom and cousideration 
 of things, into thff simplicity of the seed, thou wouldst 
 soon recover thy lost ground again ; and see, how the 
 enemy with his subtlety hath gained upon thee, and into 
 what great danger he hath brought thy soul. 
 
 The Lord searcheth and trieth the heart, and that is 
 the true state thereof, which his light disco vercth. That 
 is not the state, which the mind out of the light appre- 
 heudeth it to be, as we have often had experience of, in 
 ourselves. Therefore, be still ; justify not thyself, nor 
 condemn the judgment of others, till the Lord make 
 things manifest to thee. If it then prove better with thee 
 than others have said, that will be thy advantage ; but, 
 if thou then prove mistaken, and the judgment which 
 thou in thy heart hast condemned should stand, it will be 
 thy great loss and disadvantage. 
 
 This is in love and true friendship to thy soul, in a 
 deeper sight of thee and sense concerning thee, than thou 
 art aware of. I. P. 
 
 2Gth of Third Month, 1671. 
 
LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 217 
 
 LETTER LXXXIV. 
 
 To SUCH AS Drink of the Waters at Astrop Wells. 
 
 I ENTREAT you to Consider what is within written for 
 your eternal good ; and be not deceived by the enemy of 
 your souls, in things of an everlasting concern. 
 
 Some queries propounded to your consideration, 
 in the tender, melting love op my heart towards 
 your everlasting welfare. 
 
 First query. Is not the great God, who created heaven 
 and earth, light, pure light, spiritual light, eternal light, 
 in whom is no darkness at all? 1 John, i. 5. 
 
 Second query. Is not man, in his natural, unregenerate, 
 corrupt state, darkness? And can he possibly, in that 
 state, have any union or fellowship with the great God 
 and Saviour? See Eph. v. 8 ; 2 Cor. vi. 14 ; 1 John, i. 6. 
 
 Third query. Doth not the great God, in his tender 
 love to mankind, cause his pure heavenly light to shine 
 in man's heart, in this his dark and corrujjt state? 2 Coi*. 
 iv, 6 ; John, i. 5. 
 
 Fourth query. What is the end of God's causing his 
 pure light to shine in man's corrupt heart? Is it not, that 
 man miglit be turned from darkness, and from the power 
 of Satan, which keeps him in darkness, to the light which 
 God causeth to shine in him, and to God from whom this 
 light comes? Acts, xxvi. 18 ; that so, following Christ, and 
 not walking in darkness, he might obtain the iiglit of life ? 
 John, viii. 12. 
 
 Fifth query. Doth man, in his natui-al corrui)t state, 
 love this light, when it shines in him; or rather hate it? 
 19 
 
218 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTOy. 
 
 And can he hate it, without hating God from whom it 
 comes, and of whose nature it is ? 
 
 Sixth query. Why doth man, in his natural corrupt 
 state, hate this light? Is it not, because his deeds are 
 evil ; and because he would continue in his evil deeds, 
 without being disturbed or reclaimed by this light ? John, 
 iii. 19 to 21. 
 
 Seventh query. What does this light of the pure God, 
 and of his Christ, do for them that receive and obey it ? 
 Doth it not bring them out of darkness, and change their 
 nature ; so that they become children of the light, and no 
 more darkness, as they were before, but light in the Lord? 
 John, xii. 36 ; Eph. v. 8. 
 
 Eighth query. How shall it fiire with those, who receive 
 the shinings of this light of God ^nd Christ in their con- 
 sciences, hearkening to the reproofs of it, eschewing that 
 which it shows to be evil, and doing that which God by it 
 shows to be good ? Shall not they receive the remission 
 of their sins from God, and an inheritance among the 
 saints in light? Acts, xxvi. 18; Coloss. i. 12, 1.3. 
 
 Ninth query. What will become of those, who do not 
 mind the shining of God's light in their hearts, nor are 
 turned to it, nor changed by it ; but spend their time in 
 what pleasetli the corrupt part in themselves ? Will they 
 not be separated, when they go out of this world, from 
 God who is light, and have their portion with dark spirits, 
 in utter darkness ? 2 Thess. i. 6 to 10. See also Matt. 
 XXV. 30. 
 
 O consider these things, while ye have time, for your 
 soul's eternal good ! that )'e miss not of the holy way of 
 life and salvation, and so perish ; whom God would not 
 have perish, but stretcheth forth his hand of love, by his 
 inward " light of life," effectually to save your souls. 
 
 I. P. 
 
 ASTEOP, 
 
 20th of SLsth Month, 1678. 
 
LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 
 
 219 
 
 LETTER LXXXV. 
 
 To one who sent a Message to liiin from Astrop Wells. 
 
 I HAD no end in writing or sending those papers, but 
 true love to your immortal souls ; that ye might seriously 
 consider thereof, and be found in the practice of them, and 
 so be happy forever. For, as Christ said to his disciples, 
 so it is with me in this case towards you, "If ye know 
 these things, happy are ye if ye do them." I have felt the 
 sweetness and great benefit of the practice of them, which 
 I heartily desire ye may also experience. 
 
 I here send enclosed a token of my love to thee in par- 
 ticular, which thy courteous message drew from me. It 
 contains, in a few words, the true path-way of salvation ; 
 which, though thou mayest know already, yet the reading 
 and serious consideration thereof, may not be unservice- 
 able to thee. 
 
 I am thy Friend, in true love and desires for thee, 
 
 I. P. 
 
 THE PLAIN PATH-WAY OF SALVATION. 
 
 The Lord Jesus Christ is the only Saviour. 
 
 Grace and Truth comes by Jesus Christ. 
 
 The Lord Jesus Christ saves by the grace and Truth 
 which comes by him. 
 
 For, it is the grace of God that brings salvation, and 
 it is the Truth, as it is in Jesus, which makes free indeed. 
 
 He, therefore, that would be saved from sin and cou- 
 deiunatioii, must wait for the inward manifesting and re- 
 vealing of the grace and Truth in his heart; and must 
 receive it, and be subject to it, learning of the grace, to 
 deny ungodliness and worldly lusts in every kind; and he 
 must learn of the Truth as it is in Jesus, to deny what- 
 
220 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 
 
 ever is contrary to the life, nature, and Spirit of Jesus. 
 He must likewise learn of the grace and Truth, to fear 
 God ; to turn from all false, invented worships and ways 
 of men, and to worship God, the Father of spirits, in spirit 
 and in truth : and, as he learns and practises this, he will 
 also learn of the grace and Truth, to live soberly and 
 righteously in this present world, yea, and godlily also, 
 even as the holy God would have him ; for, God would 
 have men live no otherwise, than as his grace and Truth 
 teaches them. Now, God's grace and Truth,' and the law 
 of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus, which is written in the 
 inward parts, do not only teach that which is good, and to 
 deny and depart from that which is evil, but give ability 
 so to do. " My grace is sufficient for thee," said God to 
 Paul. And the Truth of Jesus, revealed inwardly, hath 
 virtue and power in it ; insomuch, that they who receive 
 the grace and Truth which comes by Jesus Christ, receive 
 power to become sous of God. For the grace, the Truth, 
 is not a notional thing, but hath the virtue and power of 
 life, and mortification in it ; and they that truly receive it, 
 partake of its virtue and power in operation and exercise 
 of it in their hearts, and are thereby really made dead 
 unto sin, and alive unto God. 
 
 So, then, he that knows the grace and Truth which 
 comes by Jesus Christ, receives it, learns of it, is subject 
 to it, and partakes of its virtue and power, he knows Christ 
 unto salvation ; but, he that knows not, receives not, is not 
 subject to the grace, doth not experience the sufficiency of 
 the grace, nor witness ability and power through it to 
 become a son to God, and to do the will of God, — he doth 
 not yet at all know the Lord Jesus Christ unto the salva- 
 tion of his soul, notwithstanding whatsoever he may pro- 
 fess or believe concerning him. I. P. 
 
 ASTROP, 
 
 2Sth of Sixth Month, 1678. 
 
LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 221 
 
 LETTER LXXXVI. 
 
 Acknowledgment of Christ's Manhood. 
 To Richard Egberts. 
 
 R. R. — Thou didst acquaint me, that Timothy Fly, the 
 Anabaptist teacher, did charge me with denying Christ's 
 humanity, and also the blood of Christ, which was shed at 
 Golgotha, without the gates of Jerusalem ; and that I own 
 no other Christ but what is within men. 
 
 Sure I am, that neither T. Fly, nor any other man, did 
 ever hear me deny, that Christ, according to the flesh, was 
 born of the Virgin Mary, or that that was his blood, which 
 was shed without the gates of Jerusalem. And the Lord, 
 who knoweth my heart, knoweth, that such a thing never 
 was in my heart; nay, I do greatly value that flesh and 
 blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, and witness forgiveness of 
 sins and redemption through it. Yet, if I should say, I 
 do not know, nor partake of his flesh and blood in the 
 mystery also, I should not be a faithful witness to the 
 Lord. For, there is the mystery of God and of Christ ; 
 and that is tke soul's food which gives life to the soul, 
 even the living bread and the living water. For, there is 
 living bread and living water ; and the flesh and blood in 
 the mystery, on which the soul feeds, is not inferior in 
 nature and virtue to the bread and water. There is a 
 knowing Christ after the flesh, and there is a knowing 
 him after the Spirit, and a feeding on his Spirit and life; 
 and this doth not destroy his appearing in flesh, or the 
 blessed ends thereof, but confirm and fulfil them. 
 
 The owning of Christ being inwardly in his saints, doth 
 not deny his appearing outwardly in the body prepared ; 
 unless T. F. can maintain this, that the same Christ that 
 appeared outwardly, cannot appear inwardly. " Know 
 19* 
 
222 
 
 LETTERS OP ISAAC PENINGTON. 
 
 ye uot your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, 
 except ye be reprobates ? " 2 Cor. xiii. 5. " Aud if Christ 
 be iu you, the body is dead because of siu," &c. liom, 
 viii. 10. " Christ in you, the hope of glory." Col. i. 27. 
 " Behold, I stand at the door and knock ; if any man hear 
 my voice aud open the door, I will come in to him." Rev. 
 iii. 20. " I will come again," saith Christ : Ye are now in 
 pain, as a woman iu travail, full of sorrow for the loss of 
 my outward, bodily presence ; but I will come to you 
 again in spirit ; see John, xvi. ; aud, John, xiv. 17, " He," 
 that " dwelleth with you, shall be in you : " and then, 
 Avheu the Bridegroom is inwardly and spiritually in you, 
 and with you, " your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no 
 man taketh from you," John, xvi. 22. And so, the apostles 
 aud primitive Christians did " rejoice with joy unspeak- 
 able, aud full of glory," 1 Peter, i. 8, because of the 
 spiritual appearance aud presence of the Bridegroom. 
 And yet, there is no other bridegroom, who now appears 
 in spirit, or spiritually in the hearts of his, than He that 
 once appeared in the prepared body, and did the Father's 
 will therein. 1. P. 
 
 LETTER LXXXVII. 
 
 Postscript to some Considerations respecting tlie Gospel Church. 
 
 Addressed to the Independents at Canterbury. 
 
 I HAVE been a seeker after God, and a worshipper of 
 him from my childhood, according to the best of my un- 
 derstandiug ; and, at last, sat down in that way, which is 
 called Independency, believing it to be the way of the 
 gospel, aud entering into it with much fear and seeking 
 
LETTERS OF ISAAC P£2«'INGT0N. 223 
 
 of God. In which way, the Lord had regard to the up- 
 riglituess aud teudei'uess of heart, which he had formed 
 iu me. 
 
 But, at length, the Lord's haud fell upon me, breaking 
 Die all to pieces therein, as to my inward state; for what 
 cause, I had then no knowledge at all of; but mourned 
 before him unutterably, night and day, aud lay panting 
 and languishing after him, who was the only Beloved of 
 my soul. Many pitied me, but none could reach my 
 state, but, after much serious discourse with me, greatly 
 wondered : and some said, it was a prerogative case, and 
 would, questionless, end in good-will and mercy from the 
 Lord to me. I parted from that people in great love aud 
 tenderness ; they expecting my return to them again, (the ^ 
 love between me and them being so exceeding great, and 
 I having let in no prejudice against them,) and I knowing 
 nothing to the contrary. 
 
 But, it pleased the Lord, after many years, when my 
 hope nearly failed, to visit me in a wonderful manner, 
 breaking my heart in pieces, giving me to feel his pure, 
 living power, and the raising of his holy seed in my heart 
 thereby ; insomuch, that I cried out inwardly before him, 
 " This is He, this is He whom I have sought after, and so 
 much wanted ! this is the pearl, this is the holy leaven ! 
 do what thou wilt with me, afflict me how thou wilt, and 
 as long as thou pleasest, so that at length I may be joined 
 with this, and become one with this ! " So, the eye of my 
 understanding was from that day anointed, and I saw and 
 felt the pure life of the Son made manifest iu me ; and 
 the Father drew me to him, as to a living stone, and hath 
 built my soul upon him, and brought me to mount Zion, 
 and the holy city of our God ; where the river of life sends 
 forth its streams, which refresh aud make glad the holy 
 city, and all the tabernacles that arc built on God's holy 
 hill. Aud indeed, from this holy hill and city, the law 
 
224 LETTERS or ISAAC 'PENINGTON. 
 
 aud word of life doth issue, aud the iuhabitaiits of the rock 
 of life hear it, and are friends to the Bridegroom, aud 
 glad of the Bridegroom's voice, and follow the Lamb, the 
 Shepherd and Bishoj) of their souls, whithersoever he 
 leads ; who leads them into the pastures of life, and folds 
 of pure rest, and gives them eternal life to feed on, and 
 his peace aud patience to possess their souls in. 
 
 O ye Independents ! whom I have loved above all people, 
 and never had thoughts of rending from you, but was 
 forcibly taken by the hand of the Lord out of your 
 Society ; — yet, not without a desire to return to you again, 
 if the Lord pleased to make any way thereto ; — I say, O 
 ye Independents, above all professions the one most dearly 
 beloved by me ! — O that ye could hear the sensible, ex 
 perienced testimony, that is on my heart to you concern- 
 ing my Beloved, concerning his appearance, concerning 
 his church, concerning his way, his Truth, his kingdom. 
 It is nigher than ye are aware, and above all that ye can 
 comprehend concerning it. O that ye might inwardly 
 know these things ! Turn in, turn in : mind what stirs in 
 your hearts ; what moves against sin, what moves towards 
 sin. The one is the Son's life, the Son's grace, the Son's 
 Spirit ; the other is the spirit and nature which is contrary 
 thereto. If ye could but come to the sense of this, and 
 come to a true, inward silence, and waiting, and turning 
 at the i-eproofs of heavenly wisdom, and know the heavenly 
 drawings into that which is holy and living ; ye would 
 soon find the Lord working in your hearts, to stop the 
 issues of death, and to open the issues of life there ; and 
 ye would find yourselves anointed daily by the Lord, (for 
 there is not a day but we need to see, nor a day but the 
 Lord gives sight,) and an understanding also would be 
 given you to know Him that is true, and the " eternal life," 
 1 John, i. 2, and an abiding in him that is true. And, 
 abiding here, ye cannot fail of receiving power, (from him 
 
LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 
 
 225 
 
 who ministers according to the power of the endless life,) 
 not only to overcome sin and your soul's enemies, but to 
 become sons to God, with delight performing his will. 
 And that yoke which yokes down and subdues sin in you, 
 will be easy, yea, the ease, pleasure, and joy of your souls. 
 
 The Lord open an ear in you to hear as the learned, that 
 ye may become experiencers and possessors of these things ; 
 for, of a truth, the Lord is arisen to shake terribly the 
 earth, and to build up his Zion, and to give unto his people 
 " a peaceable habitation, and sure dwellings, and quiet 
 resting-places " upon mount Zion. Isai. xxxii. 18. 
 
 I. P. 
 
 LETTER LXXXVIIL 
 
 The Way to Life Narrow ; Hard Tilings Made Easy to tlie Obe- 
 dient. Also, Some Answers to Objections on Prayer, &c. 
 
 To Catherine Pordage. 
 
 Friend, — It is true, the way to life is so difficult and 
 intricate, that none can find it, but such as are lighted by 
 the Lord, and follow the guidance of his Spirit. 
 
 Christ, who preached the kingdom, and bid men seek 
 it, yet said, " Strait is the gate and narrow is the way 
 which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." 
 In a race, many run, but one obtaineth the prize. Canst 
 thou read what Christ said, " Except ye eat the flesh of 
 the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in 
 you ; " that seemed a hard saying to some of his own dis- 
 ciples, many of whom left him. And truly. Friend, as it 
 is not an easy thing to come into the way, so neither is it 
 an easy thing to abide in the way; for, many are the 
 by-paths, many and great the temptations, both on the 
 
 P 
 
226 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINaTON. 
 
 right hand, aud on the left. The way was always the 
 same, full as difficult and hard formerly as now; but, the 
 states and conditions of some make it harder to them, 
 than it is to others ; yea, it is easier now, than it hath 
 been in many foregoing generations, being prepared and 
 cast up by the Lord. 
 
 It is sad, indeed, that any should be convinced of Truth, 
 and not come into subjection to it ; yet, it is very easy and 
 common. For, men cannot withstand conviction, when it 
 comes in power ; but, they may deny obedience to that, 
 which they are convinced of; nay, some in the apostles' 
 day went further, even to taste of the heavenly gift, and 
 powers of the world to come, and to partake of the Holy 
 Ghost, and yet fall away. Was not this very sad ? and 
 yet, this was no well-grounded objection against the Truth 
 aud way of God then. Indeed, I make little of the illu- 
 mination of the understanding, without subjection to him 
 that illuminateth, ii/ those things wherein he illuminateth. 
 But, that is a great mistake, to suppose I did condemn 
 any waiting or praying, that is according to a true illu- 
 mination and leading of God's Spirit ; for, the true light 
 aud spirit are not separated ; but, the exceptions I have 
 against the prayers of professors is, that they are so 
 much out of the true illumination, in a light of their own 
 apprehending, forming, aud conceiving. Now, these are 
 but the limits of the fleshly birth, out of which comes 
 nothing that is pleasing to the Father. 
 
 Did I, or any of us, ever affirm, that the forbearance 
 of the means was the way to attain the end ? But, the 
 setting up or using a false means, is not the way to attain 
 the true end. " So run," said the apostle, " that ye may 
 obtain ; " did he not forbid all running, but the right run- 
 ning? The praying of the fleshly birth, or in the will, 
 and according to the wisdom of the flesh, is not the means 
 or way to obtain the everlasting kingdom ; but the pray- 
 
LETTERS OP ISAAC PENIXGTON. 227 
 
 ers of tlie true birth are. Aud, if I should say tlnis ag;ii!i 
 and again to thee, So pray, as that thou mayest obtain 
 what thou prayest for, — I should not be thine enemy 
 therein ; for, it is easy asking amiss, not so easy to ask 
 aright. Prayer is a gift : and he that receiveth it, must 
 first come to the sense of his own inability : and so, 
 wait to receive ; and, perhaps, begin but with a groan or 
 sigh from the true Spirit, and thus grow in ability from 
 the same Spirit, denying the ability which is after the 
 flesh : this latter abounds in many, who mistake and err 
 in judgment, not waiting on the Lord, to be enabled by 
 him rightly to judge and distinguish between flesh aud 
 spirit, but are many times willingly ignorant in this par- 
 ticular,— it will cost so dear to come to a true under- 
 standing therein. 
 
 Hath not all flesh had some manifestation of God's 
 Spirit allotted it? was not that which might be known of 
 God manifest in the Gentiles ? aud ought not all flesh, in 
 that, to call upon the Lord, as the true sense is given 
 them therefrom? But because of this, might the heathen 
 pray according to their own imagination ''' Is there not a 
 rule of prayer? Is not God's light, God's gift, God's 
 Spirit, the rule to all ? Is any prayer i"equired or accepted 
 out of this ? Indeed, he that hath the sense of being but 
 a dog, as I may say, and not worthy to be counted a 
 child, yet, may pray for crumbs, and be heard, aud re- 
 ceive them. But, what are prayers, out of the light and 
 life of God's Spirit? are they not prayers of the fleshly 
 birth, fleshly will, fleshly wisdom? can they that are in 
 the flesh, or pray in the flesh, please God? O forsake 
 thy own wisdom, reasonings, will, aud desires! that thou 
 mayest come to true understanding in this particular. 
 
 As to stirring up the gift, 2 Tim. i. 6, Paul knew to 
 whom he wrote: Timothy had a great understanding, and 
 both knew the gift and how to stii- it up ; but, he that 
 
228 LETTERS OF ISAAC PEXINGTON. 
 
 hath not a true understanding, may stir up somewhat else, 
 instead of stirring up the gift, and so, kindle a fire of his 
 own, and offer up his own sacrifice, with his own fire, 
 neither of which are acceptable to the Lord. 
 
 The troubled soul is not only to go to the Lord, but, it 
 ,must be taught by him, how to go to Him. The Lord is 
 the Teacher ; and this is a great lesson, which the soul 
 cannot learn of itself, but as it is taught by him. Men 
 abound in their several ways in religion, in that which 
 God is arising to scatter and confound ; so that, it is not 
 the great and main work to be found doing, but to be 
 found doing aright, from the true teachings, and from the 
 right Spirit. 
 
 In the time of great trouble, there may be life stirring 
 underneath, and a true and tender sense, and pure desires, 
 in which there may be a drawing nigh and breathing of 
 heart to the Lord ; but, in the time of trouble and great 
 darkness, may not a man easily desire amiss, and pray 
 amiss, if he have not his Guide ? A little praying from 
 God's Spirit, and in that which is true and pure, is better 
 than thousands of vehement desires in one's own will, and 
 after the flesh. For, as long as a man prayeth thus, that 
 which should die in him, lives in his very prayers ; and 
 how shall it ever be destroyed, if it get food and gain 
 Btreugth there ? But, life and virtue may be felt, and that 
 which troubleth be near too, and greatly troubling. Did 
 Christ feel neither life nor virtue, in the time of his great 
 trouble ? 
 
 We neither lay weight on outward things, as considered 
 in themselves, nor take off from the inward. Ah ! con- 
 sider what spirit this charge comes from ; and if thou 
 discern it, take heed of joining to it, and bringing forth 
 the fruits of it any more. What, if God hath chosen 
 weak and foolish things to the eye of man's wisdom, now, 
 as formerly? Do we, in so testifying, lay any more 
 
LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 
 
 229 
 
 •weight tlit'reupoii, tluvu God layetli ? And what, if 
 God hath thrown by all preachings, prayings, singings, 
 (yea, inward,) which are not in his Spirit, but from the 
 translbriuing spirit and birth. Do we herein debase, oi 
 testify against, any thing that is inwardly of God ? The 
 oiihvard which is right in God's sight, must come from the 
 inward, but not from the inward will or wisdom of the 
 flesh, but from the inward light and Spirit of God ; but, 
 it is a great matter to receive singly and go along with 
 the inward light, and avoid the inward, deceitful appear- 
 ance of things. 
 
 Tliere is one thing hath been with me all along, still, 
 throughout tliy letter, even a cry to thee for obedience, 
 obedience to the Spirit and power of the Lord ; and to 
 consider, whether disobedience hath not drawn this dark- 
 ness and power of the enemy upon thee. It is not thy 
 proper work to look out at the way, or think it hard, (for, 
 it is not so to the true seed,) but, to be travelling in faith- 
 fulness, as thou art drawn aud led ; and this will save 
 thee much sorrow. 
 
 As for Christ being a Mediator and Reconciler, it is by 
 his death and life ; both of which are partaken of, in the 
 light which comes from him, even in the grace and truth 
 which he dispenseth. For, as God wrought all in him by 
 the fulness which he bestowed on him, so, he works all in 
 his by a measure of the same Spirit, life, and power. But, 
 why dost thou so desire to be able to comprehend and 
 reason about these things ? — that is not thy present work, 
 but to feel after and be joined to that, whereby Christ 
 reneweth and changeth the mind, and wherein he gives 
 the kjiowledge of his good, and acceptable, and perfect 
 will. Take heed of being exalted above measure, or de- 
 siring to know the things of the kingdom after the flesh , 
 for, it is better to lie low, and as a child to enter the king- 
 dom, and to receive the knowledge of the things of God 
 20 
 
230 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 
 
 there, than to be feeding that knowing mind, which is to 
 be kept out and famished. 
 
 Ah ! watch, that thou mayest not lose thy Leader, and 
 meet with the deceiver, instead of Him that is true ; and 
 so, go back from light, life, truth, and power, instead of 
 going forwards toward them. Indeed, this letter of thine 
 makes me afraid, as Paul speaketh to the Galatians, lest I 
 have bestowed labour on thee in vain ; for, there seems to 
 me to be in thee, a strengthening of thy mind towards re- 
 turning back to that, from which the Lord in his mercy 
 hath been redeeming and gathering thee. If thou feel 
 the right seed, and come to be of the right seed, the way 
 of the seed will not be too hard for thee ; otherwise, it will. 
 
 This is to thee, iu love and grief, from thy soul's true 
 Friend, L P. 
 
 21st of Sixth Month, 1671. 
 
 LETTER LXXXIX. 
 
 The Scriptures Exceedingly Precious. Tlie Gospel a Ministration 
 of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus. The Liability of Losing 
 the Sense and Savour of this. 
 
 Professors have long known the name of Christ, and 
 what the Scripture relateth concerning him so named ; 
 but, O that they could once know Christ [himself,] and 
 receive him into their vessels, and feel life flowing from 
 him into them. Then, would they indeed know Christ 
 according to the Spirit ; which knowledge quickeneth, but 
 the literal knowledge killeth. For, he that hath the Son, 
 he that is in true union with Him, and really changed by 
 him, so as to become one nature and Spirit with Him, he 
 hath life ; but, he that hath not the Sou, hath not the life 
 
LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 231 
 
 of the Sou, nor the liberty of the Son, but is in the death 
 of sin, and in service unto sin. 
 
 The directions from God's Holy Spirit in the Scriptures, 
 are exceediugly weighty and precious in themselves, and 
 very proper to the several states to which they were given 
 forth ; and, blessed is he, who is found in the practice and 
 observation of them. And it hath been the desire of my 
 heart from my childhood, and still is, that I might be 
 found walking witli the Lord, according to what is there 
 taught and prescribed to the children of God, in the sev- 
 eral foregoing ages and generations ; which things were 
 written, and are useful, for our instruction also, being 
 read by us, and heeded, in that which gives the true under- 
 standing of them. 
 
 But, though this was my desire, yet, in my way to attain 
 this, I missed ; for, I thought, that by getting the direc- 
 tions of Scripture into my mind, and applying myself to 
 the strict observatioij of them, and praying for God's Spirit 
 and help, I might obtain what I desired. And truly, the 
 Lord was merciful to me, and did help me in a great meas- 
 ure, to walk uprightly and lowlily with him, and inof- 
 fensively before men ; yet not so, but that I often felt the 
 temptations and darkness of the enemy nearer me than my 
 rule, and in many cases knew not what to do, nor how to 
 be resolved from the Scriptures. 
 
 At length, the Lord greatly distressed me, and brought 
 me to a fuller sense of my want of his Spirit and power, 
 and dashed all my religion in pieces; that I was just like 
 Babylon, for in one hour judgment and desolation came 
 upon me. Rev. xviii. 10 ; and I knew not what to do without 
 the Lord, nor which way to draw nigh to him — but, then 
 was the Lord j)ri;pariug for me that day of mercy, which 
 since, in his tender goodness, is brokeu in upon me. And 
 now, the eye which he hatii opened in me se(;th, that the 
 gospel is a ministration of the Spirit and power of the Lord 
 
232 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 
 
 Jesus Christ ; and that he who would be his disciple in- 
 deed, must be turned to His Spirit, and receive the imme- 
 diate light and shinings of His Spirit into his vessel ; and 
 must feel the law of life, the holy laws of the new cove- 
 nant, not comprehended outwardly in his mind, but writ- 
 ten inwardly in his heart by the finger of God's Spirit. 
 And, being written in his heart, they have power over his 
 heart, and cause him to obey them ; so that, being here, 
 he cannot possibly but fulfil the holy directions of the 
 Scriptures, he being in that from which they came, which 
 reveals the substance of them unto him, and makes them 
 living and powerful in him. For, indeed, the law of sin 
 and death hath power over a man so long as he liveth ; 
 but, when he meets with that, which kills sin and death 
 in him, and maketh him alive to God, and he receives life 
 in abundance in and through the Lord Jesus Christ ; then, 
 the fruits of life become easy and natural to him, and the 
 fruits and ways of sin, unbelief, and disobedience unnatural : 
 and here, the yoke is easy and the burden light, and none 
 of the commandments of our Lord Jesus Christ grievous. 
 But, take them merely out of the letter, not feeling the Spirit 
 leading into them, and quickening and enabling to the per- 
 formance of them, O how heavy, how hard are they ! How 
 impossible to believe aright, hope aright, pray aright, 
 walk aright, watch aright over the heart, fight against the 
 enemies, lusts, and corruptions aright ! &c. On the other 
 hand, how pleasant is the way of life in the covenant of 
 life, in the power and virtue of life, and ministered from 
 the Spirit of our God ! and here, he is praised, and victory 
 over his enemies witnessed, and peace with him enjoyed in 
 the pure seed of life ; blessed be the name of our God for- 
 ever ! For the letter, or description of things, is not the 
 way ; but the life is the way, the Spirit the way, the power 
 the way, the Truth as it is in Jesus the way, which none 
 can truly and rightly know, but as they are ingrafted into 
 and formed in him, and he formed in them ; — this is only 
 
LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 
 
 233 
 
 obtained, witnessed, and preserved, in the soul's union and 
 communion with, and obedience to his Spirit and power 
 inwardly revealed and made manifest. 
 
 Friend, there is somewhat further in my heart towards 
 thee, which I have the true and certain sense of, which is 
 this : the Lord, who is near thee with his Holy Spirit and 
 power, hath been begetting life in thee, and hath at times 
 given thee a true sense and discerning, in some measure ; 
 but, there is also somewhat near thee, which watcheth to 
 destroy and devour what the Holy Spirit of God begets in 
 thee, and to beget another sense and belief in thee, differ- 
 ent therefrom, and indeed contrary thereto. Now, it be- 
 hoveth thee exceedingly to watch, and to pray to the Lord 
 for help ; for, the life of thy soul depends upon the ono 
 of these, and death and destruction will inevitably break 
 in upon thee, and have power over thee, if thou hearken 
 to the other. Whom doth the enemy so much strive to 
 devour, as the sheep and inheritance of the Lord? And, 
 they are only preserved in the Lord's way, and in subjec- 
 tion to his Spirit. O how many hath the enemy betrayed 
 and deceived of the life of their souls ! how many men's 
 spirits are now cankered, and the good long ago eaten 
 out of them, who had once some tenderness and upright 
 breathings after the Lord ! but now, their silver has be- 
 come dross, and their wine mixed with water, so that the 
 very nature and property of it is changed ; the salt having 
 lost its savour, — wherewith shall it be seasoned ? I men- 
 tion this to thee, that thou mayest watch and pray ; that 
 thou thyself do not lose thy savour, and sense, and tender- 
 ness, which the Lord at some times kindleth in thee, by 
 hearkening to the subtle reasonings and suggestions of 
 another spirit, either in thyself or others. 
 
 This is in the nakedness of my heart, as in the Lord's 
 sight, and in the truth of friendship towards thee. 
 
 27 th of Ninth Mouth, 1G70. I. P. 
 
 20* 
 
234 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 
 
 LETTER XC. 
 
 On Abiding in the Root of Life. 
 
 For my pear Friends, Brethren, and Sisters in the 
 Truth, in and about the two Chalfonts. 
 
 Friends, — The Lord will wonderfully teacli his people, 
 and wonderfully help them ! he will pour of his life and 
 virtue into them, and cause his strength to appear in them, 
 and break forth through them, to the glorifying of his 
 name, and making glad the hearts of those that have 
 breathed after him, and waited for him. Therefore, let us 
 lift up our heads, and " fear the Lord, and his goodness in 
 the latter days! " And, let us wait to be made able by 
 him to receive of his riches, and drink in of his fulness, 
 that we may become rich and full in him, and kept empty 
 and poor in ourselves ; that the more the life ariseth in 
 us, the more we may feel our own nothingness, and be to 
 the praise of the riches of his grace and mercy, wherein 
 and whereby he hath made us accepted in his Beloved. 
 
 And, dear Friends, mind the principle, mind the root, 
 into which the Lord hath ingrafted us ; that we may abide 
 and grow up therein, and daily find and feel the sap 
 thereof springing up in us, and quickening us more and 
 more to God. Ye know how ye entered ; even so, ye must 
 abide and grow up, — even, in the light, in the life, in the 
 power, which gathered, preserveth, and causeth to flourish. 
 So, niy dear Friends, let us all dwell in our everlasting 
 habitation, and no more go forth, but sink into the king- 
 dom, and wait to feel the dominion, righteousness, holiness, 
 power, and purity thereof, daily revealed more and more 
 in our hearts. For, there is no other root or spring of life, 
 than that into which the Lord hath gathered us, no other 
 
LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 
 
 235 
 
 true life and power in any vessel upon the earth, besides 
 that which springs therefrom. Therefore feel, O ! i'eel that 
 which estaljlislieth, and that wherein the establishment is, 
 and your union, life, and strength therein ; that ye may 
 not be bowed down or overborne by whatever happens, 
 either from within or without ; but, may feel and enjoy 
 the rest and peace of your souls, in that which is over all, 
 and orders all to the good of those who fear him, and in 
 uprightness of heart wait upon him ! I. P. 
 
 Aylesbury Gaol, , 
 23rd of Fourtli Month, 1667. 
 
 LETTER XCI. 
 
 The Unsearchable Riches of Clirist. Believers may partake thereof 
 through obedience, and be preserved from every harm. 
 
 To Friends of both the Chalfonts. 
 
 Oh ! the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, the riches 
 of love, mercy, life, power, and grace of our God, which 
 are treasured up for the soul in the Lord Jesus; and are 
 freely dispensed and given out by him, to them that come 
 unto him, wait upon him, abide in him, and give up faith- 
 fully to the law of his life, — whose delight it is, to be 
 found in subjection and obedience to the light and requir- 
 ings of his Spirit. 
 
 Feel, my Friends, O ! feel your portion, and abide in 
 that wlierein the inheritance is known, received and 
 enjoyed. For, there is no knowing Christ truly and sen- 
 sibly, but by a measure of his life lielt in the heart, whereby 
 it is made capable of understanding the things of the 
 kingdom. The soul without him is dead : by the quicken- 
 ings of his Spirit, it comes to a sense and capacity of uu- 
 
236 LETTERS OP ISAAC PENINGTON. 
 
 derstiuiding the things of God. Life gives it a feeliug, 
 a siglit, a tasting, a hearing, a smelling of the heavenly 
 things, by which senses it is able to discern and distinguish 
 them from the earthly things. And, from this measure of 
 life, the capacity iucreaseth, the senses grow stronger ; it 
 sees more, feels more, tastes more, hears more, smells more. 
 Now, when the senses are grown up to strength, then comes 
 settlement and stability, assurance and satisfaction. Then, 
 the soul is assured of, and established concerning the things 
 of God in the faith, and the faith gives assurance to the 
 understanding ; so that doubtings and disputes in the mind 
 fly away, and the soul lives in the certain demonstration, 
 and fresh sense, and power of life. It daily feels the eternal 
 Word and power of life, to be, in the heart and soul, what 
 is testified of it in the Scripture. It knows the flesh and 
 blood of the Lamb, the water and wine of the kingdom, 
 the bread which comes down from heaven into the vessel, 
 from all other things, by its daily feeding on it, and con- 
 verse with it in spirit. What heart can conceive the right- 
 eousness, the holiness, the peace, the joy, the strength of 
 life that is felt here ! 
 
 For, Friends, there is no straituess in the Fountain. 
 God is fulness : and it is his delight to empty himself into 
 the hearts of his children ; and he doth empty himself, ac- 
 cording as he makes way in them, and as they are able to 
 drink in of his living virtue. Therefore, where the soul is 
 enlarged, where the senses are grown strong, where the 
 mouth is opened wide, (the Lord God, standing ready to 
 pour out of his riches,) what should hinder it from being 
 filled ? And, being filled, how natural is it to run over, 
 and break forth inwardly, in admiration and deep sense of 
 spirit, concerning what it cannot utter! saying, O the ful- 
 ness, O the depth, height, breadth, and length of the love ! 
 O the compassion, the mercy, the tenderness of our Father ! 
 How hath he pitied, how hath he pardoned, beyond what 
 
LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 
 
 237 
 
 the heart could believe ! how hath he helped in the hour 
 of distress ! how hath he conquered, and scattered the 
 enemies ! which, in the unbelief^ the heart was ready often 
 to say, were unconquerable, and that it should one day 
 die, by the hand of one or other of its mighty enemies, 
 lusts, and corruptions. How hath he put an end to doubts, 
 fears, disputes, troubles, wherewith the mind was over- 
 whelmed and tossed ! and now, he extends peace like a 
 river ; now, he puts the soul forth out of the pit, into the 
 green pastures ; now, it feeds on the freshness of life, and 
 is satisfied, and drinks of the river of God's pleasure, and 
 is delighted ! and sings praise to the Lamb, and Him that 
 sits on the throne, saying. Glory, glory! life, power, do- 
 minion, and majesty, over all the powers of darkness, over 
 all the enemies of the soul, be to thy name for evermore ! 
 
 Now, my dear Friends, ye know somewhat of this, and 
 ye know the way to it. O be faithful, be faithful !— travel 
 on, travel on ; let nothing stop you ; but, wait for and 
 daily follow the sensible leadings of that measure of life, 
 which God hath placed in you, — which is one with the 
 fulness, and into which the fulness runs daily and fills it, 
 that it may run into you and fill you. O that ye were 
 enlarged in your own hearts, as the bowels of the Eiord 
 are enlarged towards you ! It is the day of love, of 
 mercy, of kindness, of the working of the tender hand, — • 
 of the wisdom, power, and goodness of our God, manifested 
 richly in Jesus Christ ! O ! why should there be any stop 
 in any of us ? The Lord remove that which stands in the 
 way ; and, in the faithful waiting on the power which is 
 arisen, the Lord will remove, yea, the Lord doth remove ; 
 and growth in his Truth and power, is witnessed by those 
 that wait upon him. So, my dear Friends, be encouraged 
 to wait upon the Lord in the pure fear, in the precious 
 faith and hope which is of him ; and ye will see and leel, 
 he will exalt the horn of his Anointed in you, over the 
 
?38 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 
 
 horn of that which is unaiioiuted, and will sweep, and 
 cleanse, and purify, even till he hath left no place for the 
 impure : and then ye shall become his full dwelling-place, 
 the place of his rest, the place of his delight, the place of 
 his displaying his pure life and glory ; and he will be your 
 perfect dwelling-place for evermore ! 
 
 May the Lord God in his tender mercy, and because of 
 his deep and free love unto us, guide our hearts daily 
 more and more in the travel, and into the possession of 
 this ; that every soul may inherit and possess, notwith- 
 standing all its enemies, what it hath travelled into, and 
 may also daily, further and further, travel into what is 
 yet before. I. P, 
 
 Aylesbury Gaol, 
 2nd and 3rd of Sixth Month, 1667. 
 
 POSTSCRIPT. 
 
 Friends, — Be not discouraged because of your soul's 
 enemies. Are ye troubled with thoughts, fears, doubts, 
 imaginations, reasonings, &c ? yea, do ye see, yet, much 
 in you unsubdued to the power of life ? O ! do not fear 
 it ; do not look at it, so as to be discouraged by it ; but 
 lookfto Him ! look up to the power which is over all their 
 strength ; wait for the descendings of the power upon you ; 
 abide in faith of the Lord's help, and wait in patience till 
 the Lord arise ; and see, if his arm do not scatter, what 
 yours could not. So, be still before him, and, in stillness, 
 believe in his name ; yea, enter not into the hurryings of 
 the enemy, though they fill the soul ; for, there is yet some- 
 what to which they cannot enter, from whence patience, 
 faith, and hope, will spring up in you, even in the midst 
 of all that they can do. 
 
 Therefore, into this sink ; in this lie hid in the evil hour ; 
 and the temptations will pass away, and the tempter's 
 strength be broken, and the arm of the Lord, which brake 
 
LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 
 
 239 
 
 him, be revealed ; and then ye shall see, that he raised but 
 a sea of trouble to your souls, to sink himself by ; and the 
 Lord will throw the horse and his rider, which ti'ampelled 
 upon and rode over the Just in you, into that sea; and ye 
 sliall stand upon the bank, and sing the song of Moses to 
 Him that drowned him, and delivered you from him! and, 
 in due season, ye shall sing the song of the Lamb also, 
 when his life springs up in you in his pure dominion ; 
 triumphing over death, and all that is contrary to God, 
 both within and without. 
 
 Now, Friends, in a sensible waiting and giving up to 
 the Lord, in the daily exercise, by the daily cross to that 
 in you, which is not of the life, this work will daily go 
 on; and ye will feel, from the Lord, that which will help, 
 relieve, refresh, and satisfy, which neither tongues nor 
 words can utter. And, may the Lord God breathe upon 
 you, preserve and fill you with his life and holy Sjiirit ; 
 to the growth and rejoicing of your souls in him, who is 
 our blessed Father, and merciful Redeemer — in the Lord 
 Jesus Christ, our Head and King forever and for ever- 
 more ! 
 
 And then, as to what may befall us outwardly, in this 
 confused state of things, shall we not trust our tender 
 Father, and rest satisfied in his will ? Are we not engraven 
 in his heart, and on the palms of his hands, and can he 
 forget us in any thing he doth? Shall any thing hurt us? 
 Shall any tiling come between us and our life, between us 
 and his love; and tender care over us ? What, though the 
 fig-tree should not blossom, neither there be any fruit in 
 the vine; what though the labour of the olive should fail, 
 and the fields yield no meat ; what, though the flock be 
 cut off from the fold, and there be no herd in the stalls ; 
 may we not, for all this, rejoice in the Lord, and joy in 
 the God of our salvation? And what, though the earth 
 be removed, and the mountains carried into the midst of 
 
240 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 
 
 the sea ; what, though the waters thereof roar and be 
 troubled, and the raountaius shake with the swelling 
 thereof ; is there not a river, the streams whereof make 
 glad the city of God? Is not the joy, the virtue, the life, 
 the sweet refreshment thereof, felt in the holy place of the 
 tabernacle of the Most High ? And He that provides in- 
 ward food for the inward man, inward clothing, inward 
 refreshment; shall he not provide also sufficient for the 
 outward ? Yea, shall he not bear up the mind, and be our 
 strength, portion, armour, rock, peace, joy, and full satis- 
 faction, in every condition ? For, it is not the condition 
 makes miserable, but the want of him in the condition : 
 he is the substance of all, the virtue of all, the life of all, 
 the power of all ; he nourisheth, he preserveth, he uphold- 
 eth, with the creatures or without the creatures, as it 
 pleaseth him ; and he that hath Him, he that is with Him, 
 he that is in Him cannot want. Hath the spirit of this 
 world content in all that it enjoys ? No : it is restless, it 
 is unsatisfied. But, can tribulation, distress, persecution, 
 famine, nakedness, peril, or sword, come between the love 
 of the Father to the child, or the child's rest, content, and 
 delight in his love? And doth not the love, the peace, 
 the joy, the rest felt, swallow up all the bitterness and 
 sorrow of the outward condition ? 
 
 The seed, the godliness, the uprightness, the true na- 
 ture and birth, hath not only the promise of eternal 
 life ; but, also whatever is necessary for the vessel where- 
 in it dwells, in this life too. So, dwell in that to which is 
 the promise, and live upon the promise ; yea, live upon 
 that, which cannot miss of the promise, but feels the pres- 
 ence and power of the Father, in all and over all. The 
 just lives by his faith ; and he that is in union with the 
 just, lives by the faith of the just, and takes no more care 
 than the lilies, but leaves the care of all, to Him to whom 
 it properly belongs, and who hath taken it upon him ; 
 
LETTERS OF ISAAC 
 
 PENINGTON. 
 
 241 
 
 who nourishes, clothes, preserves, and pauses the lilies of 
 the field to grow aud flourish iu beauty and glory : and 
 shall he not much more clothe, nourish, and take care of 
 his own lilies, the heavenly lilies, the lilies of his garden ? 
 
 Let us, then, not look out, like the world, or judge or 
 fear according to the appearance of things, after the man- 
 ner of the world ; but let us sanctify the Lord of hosts in 
 our hearts, and let him be our fear and dread ; and he 
 shall be an hiding-place unto us in the storms, and in the 
 tempests, which are coming thick upon the earth. 
 
 Thus, my dear friends, let us retire, and dwell in the 
 peace which God breathes, and lie down in the Lamb's 
 patience, and stillness, night and day, which nothing can 
 wear out or disturb : and so, the preservation of the poor 
 and needy shall be felt to be in his name ; and glory shall 
 be sung to his name over all, which is a strong tower, a 
 mighty, impregnable rock of defence, against all assaults 
 and dangers whatsoever ; — which, they that have trusted 
 therein, have already experienced it to be; and they that 
 continue trusting therein, shall always experience it so to 
 be, in all trials and dangers, whatever may happen, of 
 what kind soever, even to the end. Amen. 
 
 LETTER XCIL 
 
 On the Fear of God. 
 
 To THOSE Persons that Drink of the Waters at 
 AsTKOP Wells. 
 
 Thkre is a great God, the Creator of all things, who 
 gave man a being here in this world ; to whom every man 
 must give an account, when he goes out of this world. 
 
 This great God, who loves mankind, and would not have 
 21 ' O 
 
242 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 
 
 them perish, is nigh unto man, to teach him the fear, which 
 is due from him to God. The man that learns this pure 
 fear of God, is daily exercised by it in departing from evil, 
 both in thought, word, and deed, and in doing that which 
 is good in his sight. 
 
 There is likewise another teacher near man, who is also 
 ready to teach such as do not know God, or fear God, that 
 which is dishonourable to the great God, who made man a 
 vessel of honour, and to be to his glory. They that learn 
 of this teacher, learn not to fear God, or to do good, but 
 to please themselves in doing evil, botli in thought, word, 
 and deed. O ! what account will all such give, when they 
 go out of this world, and come to be judged by the great 
 God, (who is of pure eyes, and cannot behold iniquity,) 
 when all their sins are set in order by him before them, 
 and just judgment proportioned by him thereunto ! O ! 
 why do men forget God their Creator, days without num- 
 ber, hearkening to him who first deceived them, doing the 
 will of the deceiver and destroyer of souls, and not the 
 will of the blessed Creator and Saviour ! 
 
 O ! hearken to wisdom's counsel, when she cries in the 
 secret of your hearts against that which is evil, and con- 
 trary to the nature, life, and will of God ; lest a day of 
 calamity from God come upon you, and then ye crj unto 
 the pitiful and tender God, and his face be turned against 
 you, and he refuse to show mercy to you ! Read Prov. i. 
 20, to the end of the chapter ; and the Lord give you the 
 weighty consideration and true understanding of it for 
 your soul's good, and for the reclaiming of you from any- 
 thing that is evil, and destructive to your souls. 
 
 This is written in tender love unto you, from one who 
 pities and loves you, and desires your prosperity in this 
 world, and your everlasting happiness with God forever. 
 
 I. P. 
 
 ASTBOP, 
 
 15tli of Sixtli Month, 1678. 
 
LETTEES OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 243 
 
 LETTER XCIII. 
 
 Some Doubts Answered Eesj)ecting Prayer. 
 
 To Widow Hemmings. 
 
 Friend, — Well may there doubts and scruples arise in 
 the minds of persons concerning prayer, as they come to 
 any sense or touch of Truth from God's Holy Spirit ; that 
 duty having been performed and practised so long from 
 the fleshly mind and nature, and not in the leading will 
 and compass of God's Holy Spirit and power. And those 
 who doubt therein, cannot be satisfied, till the Lord open 
 their spirits, and make the thing manifest to them! yet, 
 this is most certain, that all prayer, all true prayer to 
 God, is in and from his Holy Spirit ; and whatsoever is 
 otherwise, is not accepted of the Father. The promise, 
 indeed, is to the prayer in faith and to the Holy Spirit ; 
 but not to the prayer of the fleshly birth, will, or wisdom. 
 Therefore, the great care and concern in prayer is, that 
 that which is of God pray unto the Father, in the quick- 
 enings and motions of his own Spirit. For, the dead can- 
 not praise God, nor can the dead truly pray unto him. 
 And truly, in the forbearing praying, there can be no 
 peace, for we are to pray continually ; nor in praying in 
 a formal way without life, without God's Spirit, (who 
 gives to pray, and who makes intercession,) can there be 
 any peace within ; rather accusation and anguish to that 
 mind, which, desiring to pray aright, yet knows not how 
 so to do. But it is manifest, prayer is not in the time, 
 will, or power of the creature ; foi', it is a gift of God, and 
 the ability lodges in his Spirit ; it is not ours, but as given 
 of his Sj)irit, — which, therefore, is to be waited upon, 
 when it will move and breathe in us, and so give us the 
 
244 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 
 
 ability of calling upon the Father, and the power of pre- 
 vailing with the Father, in the name and through the 
 life of the Son. 
 
 Now, as to thy queries, I shall answer in plainness, as 
 the Lord shall please to open my heart. 
 
 As to the first. Whenever the creature finds breathings 
 to the Father from a sense of its wants, these are not to 
 be stopped, but to be offered up in that, from which the 
 breathings come. For, there is no true sense of one's con- 
 dition, or of one's wants, but from the Spirit of the Lord ; 
 and the Lord gives this sense, that the soul might feel its 
 need of him, and cry to him ; and every sigh and groan, 
 that is thus offered up to him, is accepted of him, and 
 prevails with him for good towards that soul, which it 
 shall certainly receive, as it comes to know the Lamb of 
 God, and follow him in the leadings of his good and Holy 
 Spirit. And, in particular, it ought to pray for the ap- 
 pearance of God's Spirit and power ; and, if it do already 
 taste somewhat of it, it ought to pray for more of the Spirit, 
 and that it may distinguish the requests that rise up in 
 the heart, whether they come from God's Holy Spirit and 
 will, or from the fleshly nature and will. For, the wi'ong 
 birth also desires the kingdom, and would have the king- 
 dom, and prays for the kingdom, and strives for the king- 
 dom ; but it prays amiss, and it strives amiss, even so, as 
 it never shall obtain, the kingdom being appointed for, 
 and given to another. 
 
 To the second. Those that do not know, nor are sensible 
 partakers of the Spirit, yet feeling their want thereof, and 
 true desires after it, ought to offer up those desires to God ; 
 and keejiing in that which begets those desires, they shall 
 not long be ignorant of God's Spirit, but find that God is 
 more willing to give it, than a parent to give necessary 
 things to his children. But those that have prayed long 
 for the Spirit, yet have not hitherto received it, have just 
 
LETTERS OP ISAAC PENINGTON". 245 
 
 cause to question the nature and ground of their prayers ; 
 since God is so ready to ^ive the Spii'it to his children. 
 For, doth a child ask bread of his father for many years, 
 and not receive it? O consider this thing! If the child 
 ask the Spirit aright, it is impossible but he should receive 
 some proportion of it from the Father, so much as is 
 necessary to his present state. God doth require his chil- 
 dren to perform everything to him in and with his Spirit, 
 knowing they can do nothing right without it ; and surely, 
 he will not require duties of them, and withhold that from 
 them, without which, they cannot acceptably perform 
 these duties to him. 
 
 To the third. A notion that all the soul's supplies are 
 from the Father, is not a sufficient ground of prayer ; for 
 the false birth may, and often doth pray so ; but, a true 
 feeling of the thing, is a sufficient ground, if the heart 
 and mind keep within the limits of the feeling, and offer 
 up no more than what ariseth there ; for, truly, that is 
 from the Spirit, of the Spirit, and in the Spirit, wherever 
 it is found. And, O ! that every one who hath any true 
 sense of God, might wait on him, to savour ihi.s little which 
 ariseth from God, from [amidst] the multitude of his 
 thoughts, words, and desires, Avhich are from another root, 
 — even from the flesh, and are of a fleshly nature, neither 
 are of value, nor avail with the Lox'd : but, the birth of 
 life, the sensible breathings of his own life, in the poorest 
 and weakest babe, are always of esteem, and prevail with 
 the Father. 
 
 To the fourth. The creature may misapprehend its 
 duty, may have a wrong sense, apprehending that to be its 
 duty which is not, and may not apprehend that to be its 
 duty which is; and so, if the sense be wrong, then the act 
 of obedience, (according to this wrong sense,) is wrong 
 also, and is not accepted with the Father. It is true, 
 prayer is of God, and is a duty ; not all prayer, but prayer 
 21* 
 
246 LETTERS OP ISAAC PENINGTON. 
 
 after that manner that the Lord requires, whicli is in the 
 true sense, and within the limits of the true Spirit and 
 power — praying always in the Holy Ghost. The pure 
 prayer, the pure breathings of God's child, of the true 
 birth, is always within the limit which God hath pre- 
 scribed. Therefore, watch unto prayer, watch unto God's 
 preparing the heart, by the motion and virtue of his good 
 Spirit, and offer up the breathings that then arise; and 
 wait to distinguish between the desires which arise from 
 the fleshly part, and the desires which arise from the spir- 
 itual and heavenly part. For, the first nature is earthly ; 
 but the second nature, the nature which is from the second 
 Adam, the quickening Spirit, is pure and heavenly ; and 
 such are all the desires and breathings, that spring from 
 that nature in the vessel. And, as thou comest into that 
 nature, and into that Spirit from which the nature pro- 
 ceeds, thou wilt truly distinguish concerning prayer, con- 
 cerning fixith, concerning love, and all other spiritual 
 things ; and wilt know Him who is Truth and no lie, 
 who deceives not, but preserves that mind which is 
 given up to him, and abides in him, out of all error and 
 deceit. 
 
 Thou seeniest, also, to be disturbed about some other 
 duties, as well as prayer. If the Lord have begun to put 
 a stop to the workings of flesh in thee, and thou be sub- 
 ject to him therein, and cease from thy own willings 
 and workings, and wait ou him 'to be taught to perform 
 things aright, — this is his love to thee; and, if thou 
 come to feel the leadings of his Spirit further, and fol- 
 low him, thou wilt have cause to bless his name, as many 
 others have, whom in this day he hath thus led. In- 
 deed, flesh should be silent before him. Alas! what room 
 is there for his Spirit and power, when there is such a 
 multitude of thoughts, and workings, and reasonings, 
 such a noise of flesh in many hearts and spirits? Hapjsy 
 
LETTERS OP ISAAC PENINGTON. 247 
 
 is he, who feels flesh silent, who comes to an end of his 
 own willing and running, though that is a time of great 
 distress, when the full mind is emptied and brought 
 low ; but then, He that shows mercy is near, and the day 
 of mercy is not far off to that soul. 
 
 The Lord raise up that in thee, which is of him ; and 
 so guide and order thy heart, that it may long and cry 
 after him, and be heard and satisfied by him. I. P. 
 
 28tli of Ninth Month, 1C70. 
 
 LETTEE XCIV. 
 
 On Drinking of the Fountain of Living Waters. 
 To Widow Hemmings. 
 
 There are two or three Scriptures now on my heart to 
 lay before thee ; and it is the desire of soul, that thou ^ 
 mayest so know the Lord, and so receive his Sou, as that 
 thou mayest experience them. 
 
 The first is in Prov. v. 15, " Drink waters out of thine 
 own cistern, and running waters out of thine own well." 
 
 The second is the words of Christ, John, vii. 38, " He 
 that believeth on me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his 
 belly shall flow rivers (or streams) of living waters." For, 
 " there is a river the streams whereof make glad the city 
 of God." 
 
 The third is that of John, iv. 14, where Christ signifies, 
 that whosoever drinketli of the water which he givcth, 
 shall never tliirst more alter water from without, but shall 
 forever thenceforward be satisfied with the springings up 
 of the well of life from within. 
 
 To these I may add, the precious promise of the sweet 
 
248 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENIKGTON. 
 
 Btate of the gospel, Isai. xii. 3, " Therefore, with joy shall 
 ye draw water out of the wells of salvation : " the out- 
 ward Jew drew the outward water from the outward wells : 
 they had the upper springs, and the nether springs out- 
 wardly ; but the inward Jew, in the light of the gospel 
 day, draws inward water out of the inward wells with joy. 
 The thirsting after it, when the soul could not meet with 
 it, was a time of great sorrow and perplexity ; but, when 
 the river of life is found, when the well of life is received, 
 and the water springs up, the soul draws it from the spring, 
 and drinks it with unspeakable joy. This metaphor or 
 similitude is explained by the evangelist John, at ch. 7, 
 V. 39. The receiving of the Spirit, the receiving of the 
 substance, belongs to the Christian's state, as the receiving 
 of the figures did to the Jew's state. When the Spirit is 
 receiv'ed — the river, the well of life is received ; and then, 
 the waters thereof flow, and are drawn and drunk of Now, 
 the primitive Christians did receive the Spirit, not only in 
 gifts and manifestations, but as a fountain of life and heav- 
 enly virtue dwelling within them. Kom. viii. 9. And, as 
 He dwelt in them, so life sprang up from him, peace, joy, 
 knowledge, virtue, wisdom, power, &c. ; even the peace 
 which passeth all man's understanding, and joy which is 
 unspeakable and full of glory. The presence of God Avas 
 with these, and they knew the times of refreshment, even 
 the times of consolation from the holy Comforter. 
 
 These things are witnessed now again, in the preaching 
 of the same everlasting gos^jel, by the same eternal Sjairit 
 and power, which preached it at first. For, though the 
 vessels in which the power appears are contemptible now, 
 to the professors and wise ones of this age, as they were 
 then to the professors and wise ones of that age ; yet, it is 
 the same treasure of life which is hid, and at times is made 
 manifest, revealed in and through the earthen vessels : — 
 blessed be the Lord ! of whom is the excellence of the glory, 
 
LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 249 
 
 and not of us, who are but instruments and vessels in his 
 hand. Now, seeing the Lord liath given us to partake of 
 the riches of his grace, and of the precious treasures of life 
 in his Son, and of his everlasting kingdom, we cannot hold 
 our peace ; but, are required of him to proclaim the day 
 of the Lord, the day of the gospel, even the evei'lasting 
 day, which never shall have an end ; and invite to the 
 waters of life, the pure, still streams of Shiloh, which our 
 souls drink of, and are satisfied with ; — especially to such 
 as now thirst after them, as our souls once vehemently did, 
 and were near failing through the extremity of thirst ; — 
 which thirst or desire, for the nature of it, (blessed be the 
 Lord !) is not lost or extinguished, but satisfied. And so, the 
 spouse having heard the Spirit inviting to the waters, being 
 taught by Him to come to, and drink of the living streams, 
 daily also enjoying life and sweetness therefrom ; now, she 
 cries also to her fellow-travellers, to the weary and thirsty 
 ones, — O come, saith she, to the fountain of life, which I 
 mourned after, and languished for want of! O taste the 
 sweetness of my Beloved, for whom my soul fainted, when 
 I could not find him ! So that, not only the Spirit of the 
 living God saith. Come ; but tlie bride also saith. Come ; 
 for, the fountain is not now sealed any longer, but open, 
 through the tender mercies of our God, for every thirsty 
 soul ; that whoever hath a'will kindled in him by the Lord, 
 may come to drink of the water of life freely. 
 
 O ! drink, then, no longer at the muddy streams of your 
 own conceivings and imaginations, with which, that which 
 inwardly thirsts after the living God, and his pure streams 
 of life, cannot be satisfied ; (it is not the true seed, it is 
 another birth which is satisfied with these things, before 
 the fountain of life comes to be opened in the heart ;) but, 
 wait on the Lord, retire in spirit to be gathered into his 
 light, which he causes to shine in tlie heart, and into his 
 Sou's life and Spirit, which he mauifestetb and revealeth 
 
250 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTOJf. 
 
 there ; that ye may eat that which is good, and be satisfied 
 with the fatness of his house, and drink of the river of his 
 pleasures ! For, indeed, the Lord, in this liis gospel day, 
 doth make to his children a feast of fot things, and of 
 wines on the lees well refine,d, on his holy mountain, even 
 in the kingdom which cannot be shaken ; and the Beloved 
 doth not only knock at the door of the heart, but comes 
 in, and sups with his, and they with him. I. P. 
 
 16th of Eighth Month, 1672. 
 
 LETTER XCV. 
 
 Considerations relative to the Cliurch ; with some Cautions to 
 Christian Professors. 
 
 To MY Friexds at Hoetox axd thereabouts. 
 
 There hath been a cloudy and dark day, wherein God's 
 church and building hath been laid waste, and his holy 
 city (according to his decree and pur})0se) trodden under 
 foot by the Gentiles ; all which time, his church hath been 
 as a desolate widow, mourning in the wilderness. Yet, 
 during this season, God hath not left his people ; but, there 
 have been breathings and stirrings of life in and from the 
 precious seed ; in which breathings of life, they have seen 
 somewhat of the beauty of the built state, and have had 
 true desires and longings after it : but, in the midst of 
 these desires, the enemy hath struck in upon their spirits, 
 and put them upon pressing more forward towards it, than 
 they have been truly led. So, reading in the Scriptures 
 of a Church state and church orders, &c., they thought it 
 was their duty to set on building ; and so, have thrust 
 themselves into these things, in which they have not been 
 accepted of the Lord ; though, in their breathings and 
 
LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 251 
 
 true desires, they were accepted. And, what hath been 
 the issue of these buildings ? Ah ! the pure seed hath 
 been buried in them — they have been as a grave to it; 
 and their own imaginations, and wrought out knowledge, 
 and way of worship, hath been of high esteem. 
 
 O Lord my God! raise again, I beseech thee, the pure 
 life, and those pure breathings which have been drowned, 
 lost and buried in these buildings ! 
 
 Now, dear Friends, the Lord alone built his church at 
 the first. The Lord also laid the buildings waste, and 
 carried his living temple, out of the shell of it, into a 
 wilderness. And the Lord alone can lead his church out 
 of the wilderness, (leaning upon her Beloved,) into her 
 built state again. Ah! dear Friends, all must be scat- 
 tered, all must be scattered, — all the gatherings, all the 
 buildings, which are not of the Lord, that his gathering, 
 his building may be known and exalted in the earth : so 
 that, I would not have you hold up any thing, in this day 
 of the Lord, (it is so, indeed,) against the light and power 
 of the Lord. The Lord is able, and will maintain his 
 building, however weak and low of esteem it be in the eye 
 of man ; but, man shall not be able to maintain his build- 
 ings, however high and strong in his own eye ; yea, every 
 high tower, and every fenced city shall fall before the 
 dread of His presence, who hath now appeared among his 
 poor, desolate people, and gathered them within the verge 
 of his power : blessed be his holy name forever ! 
 
 And, since my spirit is at this time thus unexpectedly 
 opened, in love and in life, towards you, I shall mention 
 one or two great snares, which I see professors entangled 
 in ; that you may wait on the Lord, to escape the evil and 
 danger of them. — One is, this : they look too much at out- 
 ward time and outward tilings, and their expectations are 
 too much that way. O let it not be so with you ! but wait 
 for the inward day, wherein, the things of God are wrought 
 
252 LETTEES OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 
 
 in the heart. And take heed to your steps, thoughts, and 
 ways: for, the Lord, who liath long tenderly visited, is now 
 laying stumbling-blocks; and not only the world, but even 
 professors also, shall be hardened, snared, fall, and be 
 taken ; and this word shall be fulfilled, even among them, 
 " He taketh the wise in their own craftiness." But, wo 
 unto liim that hath stumbled at the living appearance of 
 God's precious Truth in this our day, and in his wisdom 
 hath been exalted above that, which he should have fallen 
 down before ! O that none of you, (whom I have dearly 
 loved, and still love, and whom I have truly sought in the 
 Lord, and still seek,) ever prove sad examples and spec- 
 tacles of what I now write, in a living, feeling sense ! O 
 that that, which hath mourned and is opjiressed among 
 you, might live and rise up in the power of life, over that 
 which hath grieved and oppresseth it ! for, of a truth, I 
 feel among you a wisdom and knowledge, which is not of 
 the seed, but oppresseth it. O what plainness of speech 
 doth the Lord give me towards you ! indeed, I am melted 
 in concern for you ; and, in the strength of that love which 
 searches into your bosoms, desire, that the abominable 
 thing among you might be discovered and purged out, and 
 that which is indeed of God might spring up, live, and 
 flourish among you. 
 
 A second thing, wherein professors grievously mistake, 
 is, about praying in the name of Christ ; in which name, he 
 that asketh, receiveth ; and, out of which, there is no right 
 asking of the Father. They think, that praying in the 
 name of Christ, consists in using some outward words, as, 
 " Do this for thy Son's sake," or, " We beg of thee in 
 Christ's name ; " whereas, that in the heart, which knoweth 
 not the Father, may use such words ; and that which is 
 taught of the Father to pray, and prayeth in the Son, may 
 not be led to use those words. The name, wherein the 
 asking and acceptance is, is living ; and he that prayeth 
 
LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 253 
 
 in the motion of the Spirit, and in the power and virtue 
 of the Sou's life, he prayeth hi the name, and his voice is 
 owned of the Father ; and not the other, who hath learned 
 in his own will, time, and spirit, to use those words rela- 
 tive to the Son. 
 
 Another thing, wherein professors exceedingly err and 
 mistake, is, about the applying of Christ's righteousness, 
 which is only rightly done in the Spirit, where the appli- 
 cation hath its true virtue. But, man's misapplication 
 hath no virtue ; for, notwithstanding that, his sins remain ; 
 and so, the comfort, hope, and joy in his heart, that his 
 sins are pardoned, is only a pleasing dream, which will 
 deceive him when he awakes, and finds his sins not blotted 
 out by God, but only in his own apprehension. 
 
 Ah, Friends ! that ye might travel into Truth, and 
 meet with the unerring substance of things, that ye might 
 live and not die ; and then, ye will see, how man hath 
 erred and errs, — yea, even the man in you; and that the 
 seed only, and they that are born of the seed, know the 
 living Truth, and walk in the living path, where there is 
 no error, no deceit, but a perfect preservation out of them. 
 There, it is my desire to meet and embrace you, in the 
 dear bowels of love, where we may unite and know one 
 another, in the spiritual birth and life, inseparably, for- 
 ever; if we daily mourn after, and faithfully wait upon, 
 the true Guide and leader thereunto. 
 
 I remain your imprisoned Friend, according to the wis- 
 dom of God, and in his pure content and fear ; though the 
 wisdom of man might easily have avoided these bonds. 
 
 I. P, 
 
 Aylesbury Gaol, 
 22n(l of Eighth Month, 1665. 
 22 
 
254 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 
 
 LETTER XCVI. 
 
 Hints on steadfastness in the Truth and its Testimony; on Forsak- 
 ing Assemblies for Divine Worship, and on Slighting Gospel 
 Ministers. 
 
 To Thomas and Ann Mudd. 
 
 Dear Friends, — Of whose love to me, I have been 
 and am sensible, and to whom I bear true love. 
 
 When I was last at Rickmausworth, it was on my heart 
 to visit you ; and, while I was there with you, true and 
 living breathings did spring up in my heart to the Lord 
 for you. Since, I have often thought of you, and in my 
 desires have wished well concerning you, as concerning ray 
 own soul. 
 
 Your days here cannot be long ; and what ye sow here, 
 ye must reap, when ye go out of this world. O that ye 
 may now so sow to the Spirit of God, as that ye may then 
 reap of him life everlasting ! 
 
 Last first day, my wife had a letter of George Fox's 
 sent her, which I heard read that night. In the reading 
 of it, I had many thoughts resi^ecting you, and a desire 
 that ye might sincerely and uprightly, without prejudice, 
 peruse it ; which I sent unto you, the next day, for that 
 end. 
 
 Now, this morning, ye were upon my heart ; and two 
 or three things rose up in me in reference to you as very 
 necessary for you, that ye may be safe, and that it may go 
 well with you forever. 
 
 One was, that ye keep steadfast in that holy testimony 
 of Truth, which was given forth among us at the begin- 
 ning. For, this Truth is the same, and the testimony of 
 it doth not vary or pass away, but shall last throughout 
 ages and generations, to redeem all that receive it and 
 
LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 255 
 
 are faithful to it. The testimony was, to draw from out- 
 ward dead knowledge, and out of dead practices and wor- 
 ships, after men's own conceivings, into an inward princi- 
 ple, and into worship in spirit and truth, both inwardly 
 in the heart, and outwardly in the assemblies of God's 
 gathering. 
 
 The second was, that we keep in the sense, esteem, and 
 sanctified use of those holy instruments, which God hath 
 made choice of, both to gather and build up his called 
 and chosen ones. It was never well with Israel, when 
 they slighted Moses, (though they many times had excep- 
 tions against him ;) nor when they despised the projihets, 
 whom God sent afterwards, (though they were often pre- 
 judiced against them also;) nor Avas it well with any of 
 the churches, when, by the subtlety and seeming simplic- 
 ity of those that endeavoured to betray them, or by any 
 other means, they were drawn to think meanly of any of 
 the apostles or ministers of Christ, in their day. And the 
 Lord, who preserved Moses in his day, and the prophets 
 in their day, and the apostles and holy ministers of Truth 
 in the first promulgation of the gospel, is the same God 
 still ; and doth, and will preserve those, whom he hath in 
 this age sent forth to publish his everlasting gospel, and to 
 gather his lambs and scattered sheep into holy gatherings 
 and assemblies. 
 
 The third was, that ye be daily exercised, guided, and 
 your hearts opened and quickened, by the principle and 
 Spirit of Truth ; that so, ye may know what it is, to walk 
 with the Lord, and to feel the i)ower of the Lord, and 
 enjoy the presence of the Lord; and be led by him out of, 
 and away from, the mysterious workings of the power and 
 spirit of darkness, inwardly. For if, through grievous 
 mistake, ye let this into your minds and spirits, instead 
 of the Spirit of Truth, ye must needs call darkness light, 
 and light darkness ; truth eiTor, and error truth ; and so 
 
256 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 
 
 •will err from that, which is indeed the way, into some- 
 what, which in God's sight is not so. For, there is a 
 spirit of delusion, as well as of truth ; this works in the 
 heart as a minister of righteousness, in a seeming light, 
 and, warming the heart with a wrong fire, brings it into a 
 wrong bed of rest, and administers to it a wrong peace, 
 hope, and joy ; setting up there a wrong sense, belief, and 
 judgment concerning itself and others. This leads to 
 separate from them that are true, and joins to them that 
 are false ; draws from the assemblies and worships of 
 God's gathering, and begets prejudices against and hard 
 thoughts of those, who are owned by the Lord, and are 
 kept in their habitation by him, who' dwells in them, and 
 they in him. 
 
 O my Friends ! the Lord give you the true discerning 
 of this spirit, and of his own Spirit ; and deliver you out 
 of the snare of the enemy, and open that eye in you, to 
 which he gives the sight of what is, and who are of him, 
 and what is, and who are not of him : that ye may be dis- 
 joined from all that is not of God, and joined to the Lord, 
 abiding and walking in him ; and may know, that God 
 doth not cast off his holy people, gatherings, and assemblies, 
 but constantly appears in the midst of such as truly and 
 humbly wait for him ; glory be to his name ! 
 
 God knoweth in what sense, in what understanding, in 
 what love, in what desire, in what fear, in what knowledge 
 from him, I write this to you ; who am a true Friend to 
 you both, (in true and faithful love, as in God's sight,) 
 and an hearty desirer of your everlasting happiness. 
 
 LP. 
 
 19tli of Twelfth Month, 1672. 
 
LETTERS OP ISAAC PENINGTON. 257 
 
 LETTER XCVIL 
 
 On hating Reproof. 
 To Catherine Poedage and anothee. 
 
 Friends, — Take heed of that spirit, which will be stir- 
 ring up hard thoughts in you of God and his way, and the 
 faithful testimony thereof, when, in the tender mercy of 
 the Lord, it is given forth to you ; for, that spirit is your 
 soul's enemy. Wait, therefore, to know in yourselves that 
 which is to stumble, and fall, and be snared, and broken, 
 and taken ; for, it cannot receive God's Truth. 
 
 And, take care of that spirit which hateth reproof ; for, 
 the reproofs of instruction are the ways of life, and, whom 
 the Lord loves, he rebukes and chastens. And truly, 
 Friends, this is God's Truth in my heart to you both, this 
 morning : — the ministration of conviction and reproof, is 
 that which ye are to come under : and, it is your proper 
 state to wait daily, not for comforts, not for refreshments, 
 (that day is to come afterwards,) but, for convictions and 
 reproofs of that in you, which is contrary to God. And,, 
 if ye walk faithfully in this dispensation, ye shall in due 
 time know another, when the work of this is over ; for 
 really. Friends, ye must be emptied of that wherewith ye 
 are now filled, before ye can be filled with that which is 
 true and living. If I should say one word to you, could 
 ye bear it ? and yet this counsel is with me towards you : 
 O ! wait for, receive, embrace, be glad of that which re- 
 proves you, and be afraid of that which comforts you in 
 your present state ; for, ye are to come through the trou- 
 ble, judgment, breaking down, plucking up, consuming, 
 and burning of the contrary nature and spirit, which yet 
 deceives you ; and to witness all the knowledge, profession, 
 practices, beliefs, hopes, that are founded thei-e, and spring 
 22* R 
 
258 LETTERS OP ISAAC PENINGTOK. 
 
 up theuce, coufomidcd and destroyed, before ye can pos- 
 sibly come into the true ministration of life and power. 
 (Ye must die to your own wisdom, if ever ye will be born 
 of, and walk in tbe wisdom of God.) Yea, ye must die to 
 tliat part, that is so active from and in that wisdom, and 
 which wo<ild be labouring in the very fire for what is but 
 vanity ; if ye will receive the knowledge, which springs 
 out of truth and life itself, which indeed flows over, and 
 covers the earth of God's heritage, as the waters cover the 
 sea, in this day of his great goodness and plentiful redemp- 
 tion. 
 
 When we were in desolation and great distress, indeed, 
 unutterable, we had none of these helps and instructions, 
 which abound towards you. O what a day of mercy have 
 you met with ? and how great will be your condemnation, 
 if ye become as deaf adders to the Spirit of the Lord, and 
 so miss of his salvation. And, if ye will ever know the 
 Sjjirit of the Lord, ye must meet with him, as a searcher 
 and reprover, in your own hearts ; yea, the merciful God 
 must ye meet with, as a severe Judge, and unquenchable, 
 consuming fire against that spirit, wisdom, knowledge, and 
 faith in youj which is but of a chaffy nature. Truly, 
 Friends, it is far better to be stripped of it, than to find 
 any rest or pleasure in it. 
 
 O hear the voice of the living God ! His word is nigh, 
 uigh you ; and his word hath a voice that speaks. O that 
 the ear that can hear, might be opened in you ! and the 
 ear stopped, which will not, cannot hear the voice of the 
 Shepherd I O wait for the Reprover ! and turn the ear to 
 him, letting in his reproofs, and turning from what he re- 
 proves for, without murmuring, without disputing ; and the 
 exercise of that ear, will open it more an<l more : so that, 
 ye will come to know the voice more and more; which, 
 though it prove very bitter to that which is of a contrary 
 nature, and would not hear the voice, yet will be sweet, 
 
LETTERS OF ISAAC PENIKGTON. 
 
 259 
 
 yea, sweeter and sweeter daily, to the true birth. And 
 here, ye will witness true death to that which is to die; 
 and true life, ministered by Him who lives forever, to that 
 which is to live. 
 
 But, while ye are striving to comprehend, and to begin 
 obedience after that wisdom, ye will find the power, which 
 opens to others, shutting you out from that which is true; 
 and yourselves liable to be tempted, and persuaded to 
 esteem and take up that which is false, instead of that 
 which is true. 
 
 "What spirit is that in you, which prejudices your hearts 
 'jiwardly against, and makes you so apt to cry out [be- 
 jause] of destroying ? Is it not that spirit, which would 
 save alive what is to be destroyed in you, that your souls 
 might live in and to God ! The Lord discover to you, 
 how the enemy works in you, against the life and salva- 
 tion of your souls ; for he knows what will be the issue 
 of this destroying work, if it have its thorough course and 
 effect upon you ; and that none of his kingdom will be 
 left standing in you. I. P. 
 
 7th of Seventh Month, 1671. 
 
 LETTER XCVIIL 
 
 Of "Fleshly Wisdom." 
 
 To Francis Pordage. 
 
 Friend, — Thei-e is a mind, which can never know nor 
 receive the things of God's kingdom ; and yet, this mind 
 is very busy in searching and inquiring after them. 
 
 The Scribes and Pharisees were still questioning Christ, 
 and desiring satisfaction about the kingdom, and about 
 his doctrine and miracles, and the practice of his disciples, 
 
260 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENIXGTOJf. 
 
 but could uever receive satisfaction ; yet, the disciples 
 themselves were many times afraid to ask Christ questions, 
 there being a dread of God upon their spirits, and a limit 
 to the knowing and inquiring part in them ; for indeed, 
 the true birth learns under the yoke. 
 
 This, therefore, is precious ; to come to feel somewhat 
 to limit that mind, which is forward and inquisitive out 
 of the true nature and sense, and to receive the yoke, and to 
 be limited by it and famished ; for famine, not food of life, 
 is appointed for that mind and birth. It is written, " I 
 will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and bring to nothing 
 the understanding of the prudent." Now, this is precious 
 and greatly needful : for a man to know, and discern, and 
 ■watch against that wisdom and understanding in himself, 
 which God will destroy and bring to nothing ; for, to be 
 sure, while he is learning and striving to know with that, 
 God will never teach him, but rather hide the mystery of 
 life and salvation from him. And what is all man's 
 knowledge worth, that he learns of himself without God's 
 teaching ; and which he receives into that understanding, 
 which is to perish and be destroyed ? In the new under- 
 standing, God sets up the true light ; but, in the other 
 understanding, are false lights set up, which do not give 
 a true distinction of good and evil, but they call good evil, 
 and evil good, and put darkness for light, and light for 
 darkness, and cannot do otherwise ; because, the light in 
 them is darkness, it not being the gift of grace whereby 
 they see and judge, but a light of their own forming, 
 according to their own comprehension of things, in the 
 dark and fallen understanding. 
 
 Now, the Lord hath taught us the difference between 
 all these lights, and the light of his grace, which purely 
 teacheth, liviugly teacheth, not in the reasonings of the 
 mind, but in the evidence and demonstration of God's 
 Spirit in the soul and conscience. When we came to see 
 
LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTOX. 261 
 
 in this liglit, we found, that that which we had called 
 good, according to our former apprehension of things, was 
 not so in the true balance ; and what we thought had 
 jileased God, was abominable in his eyes. And, truly, all 
 that are not come to this light, they offer that which is 
 abominable to God, and yet think it pleaseth him ; and 
 what a gross and dangerous mistake is this ! indeed, all 
 are no better than will-deeds, which are done out of the 
 light, life, virtue, and power of God's Spirit. For, the 
 root must be good, or the fruit cannot be good. The 
 mind must be renewed, or the knowledge is but old, dead, 
 literal, and fleshly ; such as the fleshly understanding 
 comprehends and receives, which can neither know nor 
 receive what is spiritual. 
 
 Truly, the Lord hath led us a great way in our journey, 
 nd done great things inwardly for and in our spirits ; 
 yet, if we were not kept under the yoke, but that part in 
 us had liberty to know, and live, and act, and worship, 
 we should yet perish, and be cut off from the land of the 
 living. I. P. 
 
 LETTER XCIX. 
 
 Advice on Churcli Discipline. 
 
 To THE Women Friends that meet at Armscot in 
 Worcestershire. 
 
 Dear Friends, — In your meetings together to do ser- 
 vice for the Lord, be every one of you very careful and 
 diligent in watching to his power, that ye may have the 
 sensible, living feeling of it, each of you in your own 
 hearts, and in the hearts one of another ; and that ye may 
 
262 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 
 
 keep within the limits of it, and not think, or speak, or 
 act beyond it. And know, O! wait more and more to 
 know, how to keep that silence, which is of the power: 
 that, in every one of you, what the power would have 
 silent, may be silent. O ! take heed of the forwardness 
 of the flesh, the wisdom of the flesh, the will of the flesh, 
 the talkativeness of the flesh ; keep them back, O ! let 
 them forever be kept back in every one of you, by the 
 presence and virtue of the power. 
 
 The power is the authority and blessing of your meet- 
 ings, and therein lies your ability to perform what God 
 requires ; be sure ye have it with you. Keep back to the 
 life, keep low in the holy fear, and ye shall not miss of it. 
 You will find it easy to transgress, easj' to set up self, easy 
 to run into sudden apprehensions about things, and one 
 to be of this mind and another of that ; but, feel the 
 power to keep down all this, and to keep you out of all 
 this ; every one watching to the life, when and where it 
 will arise to help you, and that ye may be sensible of it 
 when it doth arise, and not in a wrong wisdom opjiose it, 
 but be one with it. And thus, if any thing should arise 
 from the wrong wisdom in any, ye may be sensible of it, 
 not defiled or entangled with it, but abiding in that which 
 sees through it and judges it ; that so, life may reign in 
 your hearts and in your meetings, above that which will 
 be forward, and perking over the life, if ye be not very 
 watchful. 
 
 So, the Lord God of my life be with you, and season 
 your hearts with his grace and Truth, and daily keep you 
 in the savour thereof ; that ye may be blessed by him, and 
 a blessing in his hands ; all that is evil and contrary to 
 Truth, being kept down in your own hearts, ye will be fit 
 to keep down evil in the minds and hearts of others ; and, 
 if any thing be unsavoury anywhere, it will be searched 
 into, judged, cast out, and the recovery of the soul which 
 
LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 263 
 
 hath let it in, sought, that, if possible, it may be restored ; 
 and tlien, ye will know the joy of seeking out and bring- 
 ing back the lost sheep. And, be tender to others, in true 
 compassion, as ye would be tendered by others, if ye were 
 in their conditions. 
 
 There is that near you, which will guide you ; O ! wait 
 for it, and be sure ye keep to it ; that, being innocent and 
 faithful, in following the Lord in the leadings of his power, 
 his power may plead your cause in the hearts of all his 
 tender people hereabouts : and they may see and acknowl- 
 edge, that your meetings are of God, — that ye are guided 
 by him into that way of service, in his holy fear, in which 
 he himself is with you, and by the movings of his Holy 
 Spirit in your hearts, hath engaged you. Be not hasty, 
 either in conceiving any thing in your minds, or in speak- 
 ing it forth, or in any thing ye are to do ; but, feel him 
 by his Spirit and life going along with you, and leading 
 you into what he would have any of you, or every one of 
 you do. If ye be in the true feeling sense of what the 
 Lord your God would have done, and join with what is of 
 God, as it riseth in any, or against any thing that is not ^ 
 of God, as it is made manifest among you ; ye are all in 
 your places and proper services, obeying the blessed will, 
 and doing the blessed work, of the Lord your God. 
 
 I had somewhat u])on me yesterday to you, but my 
 weakness was great. Tliis morning, this lay as a weight 
 upon ray spirit to lay upon yours; may the weight of it 
 come upon you, to weigh down whatever is light or chaffy 
 • in any of you, that tiie seed of life may come up over it, 
 and ye may be weighty before the Lord, in the weighty 
 seed of life. The Lord make you rightly serviceable to 
 him, and truly glorious in your meetings, and in your 
 several places. Ye will find a great work to keep one 
 part down, that that which is pure and living of God may 
 
264 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 
 
 come up in you, and ye act only in it, not exceeding the 
 limits of it. L P. 
 
 Written at John Hawfoed's, 
 7th of Seventh Month, 1678._ 
 
 LETTER C. 
 
 * An Expostulation and Warning. 
 
 To THE Eael of Beidgewater.* 
 
 Friend, — It is the desire of my heart to walk with 
 God, in the true fear of his name, and in true love and 
 good will to all men, all my days here upon the earth. 
 For this end, I wait upon God night and day, to know his 
 will, and to receive certain instruction from him, concern- 
 ing what is acceptable in his sight. After he hath in any 
 thing made manifest his pleasure, I wait upon him for 
 strength to perform it ; and when he hath wrought it by 
 me, my soul blesseth him therefore. If this be a right 
 course, I am not to be condemned herein : if it be not, and 
 thou kuowest better, show me, in love, meekness, and ten- 
 derness ; as I would be willing to make any thing known 
 to thee, for thy good, which the Lord hath shown me. 
 
 But, this I am fully assured of, that God is higher than 
 man : and that his will and laws are to be set up, and 
 obeyed, in the first place ; and man's only in the second ; 
 and, in their due subordination to the will and laws of 
 God. 
 
 Now, Friend, apply thyself to do that which is right 
 and noble, and that which is truly justifiable in God's 
 sight ; that thou mayest give a comfortable account to 
 hiin, when he shall call thereunto. That which thou hast 
 
 *See the Life of Isaac Penington, by J. G. Bevan. 
 
LETTERS OF ISAAC PEJiTIlSrGTON. 265 
 
 done to me, hath not made me thy enemy ; but, .in the 
 midst of the sense of it, I desire thy welfare, and that thou 
 mayest so carry thyself in thy place, and actions, as that 
 thou mayest neither provoke God against thee in this 
 world, nor in the world to come. Hast thou not yet 
 afflicted me enough, without cause ? Wouldst thou have 
 me bow to thee therein, wherein the Lord hath not given 
 me liberty? If I should give thee outward titles and 
 honours, might I not do thee hurt ? O come down, be low 
 in thy spirit before the Lord ! honour him in thy heart 
 and ways, and wait for the true nobility and honour from 
 him. Thou hast but a time to be in the world, and then 
 eternity begins ; and what thou hast sown here, thou must 
 then reap. O that thou mightst sow, not to thy own will 
 and wisdom, but to God's Spirit ; and know his guidance, 
 who is only able to lead man aright. Indeed, thou 
 shouldst be subject in thy own heart to that, which thou 
 art offended at in others, — even that in the inner parts, 
 whicli testifies for God and against the thoughts, ways, and 
 works of corrupt man; that thou mightst feel a principle 
 of life from God, and good fruit brought forth from that 
 principle to him ; and that the evil nature, and the evil 
 works thereof, might be cut down in thee ; that thy soul 
 may escape the wrath and misery, which attends the works 
 and workers of iniquity. 
 
 ' I have sent thee this enclosed, in love. Read it in fear 
 and humility, lifting up thy heart to the Lord, who giveth 
 understanding, that it may be a blessing to thee; for, in 
 true love was it written, and is of a healing and guiding 
 nature. I have formerly written to thee ; but my way 
 hath been so barred up, that I have not found access easy ; 
 and how or whether this will come to thy hand, I know 
 not ; but, this I truly say to thee, I have felt the Lamb's 
 nature, under my sufferings from thee, whereunto I have 
 given thee no provocation, neither for the beginning nor 
 23 
 
266 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 
 
 contiuuauce of them ; and if thou canst, bring that thing 
 to the trial of the witness of God in thy heart, that will 
 deal truly with thee, blaming what God blames, and justi- 
 fying what he justifieth. And, though the Lord behold- 
 eth, and will plead the cause of his innocent ones, (who 
 the more helpless they are, the more they are considered 
 and tendered by him,) yet, I do not desire that thou 
 shouldst suffer, either from God or man, on my account; 
 but, that thou mightst be guided to, and preserved in, that 
 which will be sweet rest, peace, and safety, to all that are 
 sheltered by it, in the troublous and stormy hour; in which, 
 the Lord will distress man, and make him feel his sin and 
 misery. 
 
 This is the sum of what I have at present to say ; who 
 have written this, not for any by-end, but, in the stirrings 
 of true love towards thee ; and from a true desire, that 
 thou mightst feel the power of God forming in thy heart 
 aright and bringing forth the fruits of righteousness in 
 thee; — that thou mightst be made by him of the seed of 
 the blessed, and inherit the blessing, and find the earthly 
 nature consumed, and brought to naught in thee. For, to 
 [this nature] is the curse, and it must feel the curse, as 
 God brings forth his righteous judgments in the hearts, 
 and upon the heads of the transgressors. And, knowing 
 there is a certain day of God's calling transgressors to 
 account, also the terribleness of his wrath and consuming 
 pleasure in that day, — I warn thee in tenderness, and in 
 love beseech thee, to consider thy ways, and make thy 
 peace with him ; that thou mayest not be irrecoverably 
 and eternally miserable; but, mayest be transformed by 
 his life and nature, and sow to him the fruits thereof, that 
 thou mayest reap, and receive of him that which is the 
 soul's joy. 
 
 And, Fi-iend, know this assured truth, — it is not a re- 
 ligion of man's making or choosing, (neither the Pope's 
 
LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 
 
 267 
 
 nor any otlier man's,) but only that wliicli is of God, which 
 is acceptable to Him : and, what will become of that man, 
 whose very religion and worship is hateful to God ? Where 
 will he stand, or what account will he be able to give, 
 when he apjjcars before him ? 
 
 Thou hast not often met with such plain dealing as this. 
 These things very nearly concern thee. O ! wait upon 
 God for his true light, that thou mayest not be deceived 
 about them ; because thy loss thereby, will be so great and 
 irreparable. 
 
 I am thy Friend in these things, and have written as a 
 true lover and desirer of the welfare of thy soul. 
 
 I. P. 
 
 From Aylesbury Gaol, 
 24th of Sixth Montli, 1666. 
 
 LETTER CI. 
 
 Faithful dealing between Brethren Recommended. 
 
 Dear Friend, — I have heard that thou hast somewhat 
 against W. R., whereupon thou forbearest coming to meet- 
 ings at his house : this thou oughtst seriously to weigh and 
 consider ; that thy path and walking herein, may be right 
 and straight before the Lord. Is the thing, or are the 
 things, which thou hast against him, fully so, as thou ap- 
 prehendest? Hast thou seen evil in him, or to break forth 
 from him ? and hast thou considered him therein, and dealt 
 with him, as if it had been thy own case? Hast thou 
 pitied him, mourned over him, cried to the Lord for him, 
 and in tender love and meekness of spirit, laid tlie thing 
 before him ? And, if he hath refused to hear thee, hast 
 thou tenderly mentioned it to others, and desired them to 
 
268 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 
 
 go Avith thee to liim ? that, what is evil and offensive in 
 him, might be more weightily and advantageously laid 
 before him, for his humbling, and for his recovery unto 
 that, which is a witness and strength against the evil. If 
 thou hast i^roceeded thus, thou hast proceeded tenderly 
 and orderl)', according to the law of brotherly love ; and 
 God's witness in thy conscience will justify thee therein. 
 But, if thou hast let in any hardness of si)irit, or hard 
 reasonings against him, or bard resolutions as relating to 
 him, the witness of God will not justify thee in that. 
 
 And if, at any time hereafter, thou hast anything against 
 others, 0 learn, from that of God in thee, to show com- 
 passion towards them, even as the Lord has had pity on 
 thee ! And keep to his witness in thy heart. Wait to feel 
 the seed, and to keep thy dwelling therein, that thou 
 mayest abide in the peace and rest tliereof, and not depart 
 out of thy habitation, out of the sense of Truth ; for, that 
 will let in temptation upon thee, give the enemy strength 
 against thee, and fill thy soul with anguish and perplexity. 
 
 So, the Lord God of infinite tenderness renew his mercy 
 upon thee, and keep thee in that, wherein his love, life, 
 rest, joy, peace, and unspeakable comfort of his Holy 
 Spirit, (which keeps the mind out of all the snares and 
 temptations of that which is unholy,) is felt and witnessed, 
 — by those, who are taught and enabled of him, to abide 
 and dwell in that, into which he gathered them, — and in 
 which he hath pleased to appear unto them. 
 
 This is, in the love and tender goodness of the Lord to 
 thee, from thy Friend in the Truth, and for the Truth's 
 sake. I. P. 
 
 13th of Tenth Month, 1667. 
 
LETTEES OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 269 
 
 . LETTER CII. 
 
 On Dwelling with the Lowly Seed of Life in all Conditions. 
 To M. HiORKS. 
 
 Dear Friend, — I received two letters from thee lately, 
 ■whereby the seuse is revived in me of thy great love to 
 me, and the Lord's great goodness to thee, in administer- 
 ing that which rejoiceth and refresheth thee. ^ 
 
 Now, this advice ariseth in my heart. O! keep cool 
 and low before the Lord, that the seed, the pure, living 
 seed, may spring more and more in thee, and thy heart be 
 united more and more to the Lord therein. Coolness of 
 spirit is a precious frame ; and the glory of the Lord most 
 shines therein, — in its own lustre and brightness; and, 
 when the soul is low before the Lord, it is still near the 
 seed, and preciously (in its life) one with the seed. And, 
 when the seed riseth, thou shalt have liberty in the Lord 
 to rise with it ; only, take heed of that part, which will be 
 outrunning it, and getting above it, and so, not ready to 
 descend again, and keep low in the deeps with it. 
 
 O ray Friend ! I have a sense, that this hath been the 
 error of that people, thou hast formerly walked with : and 
 I observe in tliy spirit yet a liability thereto ; which the 
 Lord give thee to watch against, that thou mayest come 
 to a pure observation and discerning of the everlasting, 
 unchangeable seed in thy own heart, and mayest daily feel 
 thy mind bowed down and worship in it, becoming wholly 
 leavened into it, and perfectly changed and preserved 
 by it. 
 
 POSTSCRIPT. 
 
 We are here but a while in this world, for the Lord to 
 make use of us, and serve himself by us ; and so, by hia 
 23* 
 
270 LETTEES OF ISAAC PEKINGTON. 
 
 ordering of us, to fit us for the crown of glory, which he 
 ■will give us fully to wear in the other world. Now, feel 
 the child's nature, which chooseth nothing, but desires the 
 fulfilling of the Father's will in it. I cannot desire to 
 enjoy any thing, (saith the nature of the true birth,) but 
 as the Father, of himself, pleaseth to give me to enjoy. 
 There is a time to want, as well as to abound, while we 
 are in this world. And the times of wanting, as well as 
 abounding, are greatly advantageous to us. How should 
 faith, love, patience, meekness, and the excellency and 
 sufiiciency of God's grace shine, but by, in, and through 
 the many exercises and varieties of conditions, wherewith 
 the Lord visiteth his ? Yea, the greatest in the life, power, 
 and glory of the Lord, have the greatest trials and exer- 
 cises, which is to their advantage, as also for the good and 
 benefit of others, and to the great honour and glory of the 
 Lord. O ! at all times, and in all conditions, take heed 
 of a will, take heed of a wisdom, above the seed's will, 
 and above the seed's wisdom. 
 
 Let the Lord alone be all in thee, and make thee every 
 day what he pleaseth ; and, in due time, thou shalt know 
 a life, — even the seed's life, the Son's life, — whom all the 
 angels are to worship, — and the mystery of whose life, the 
 angels desire to look into, as it is revealed and brought 
 forth ! So, be still and quiet, and silent before the Lord ; 
 not putting up any request to the Father, nor cherishing 
 any desire in thee, but in the seed's lowly nature and 
 purely springing life ; and the Lord give thee the clear 
 discerning, in the lowly seed, of all that springs and arises 
 in thy heart. 
 
 Thou didst read precious things of the seed, when thou 
 wast here, written outwardly ; O that thou mighlst read 
 the same things, written inwardly in thy own heart ; which 
 that thou mayest do, become as a weaned child, not exer- 
 cising thyself in things, too high or too wonderful for 
 
LETTERS OF ISAAC PEKIKGTON. 271 
 
 thee. Every secret thing, every spiritual mystery, but 
 what God opens to thee, is too high and wonderful for 
 thee. And, if the Lord at any time open to thee deep 
 mysteries ; fear before the Lord ; and go no further into 
 them, than the Lord leads thee. The error is, stiil, in the 
 comprehending, knowing miud, but never in the lowly, 
 weighty seed of life; — whither the Lord God of my life 
 more and more lead thee, and counsel thee to take up thy 
 dwelling-place there, daily instructing thee so to do. For 
 the greatest, as well as the least, must be daily taught of 
 the Lord, both in ascending and descending, or they will 
 miss their way ; yea, they must be daily taught of him to 
 be silent before him, and know [what it is] to be still in 
 him, or they will be apt to miss in either. 
 
 This from thy Friend, I. P. 
 
 Amersham, "Woodside, 
 4th of Fifth Month, 1679. 
 
 LETTEK GUI. 
 
 On Prejudices against Anointed Ministers. 
 I To HIS Brother. 
 
 Dear Brother, — This morning, as I was going out 
 to walk, somewhat sprang up in my heart freshly and 
 livingly to thee ; whereupon, I consulted not, but im- 
 mediately turned back so to do. Now, if the Lord make 
 it useful to thee, thou wilt have cause to bless his name ; 
 and so shall I also, who heartily desire the life and welfare 
 of thy soul in the living God, and thy avoiding all such 
 snares as the enemy lays to beti-ay, and to keep it in death 
 and bondage. The thing that rose up in me, was this. 
 
 God gave some apostles, some prophets, &c., for the 
 
272 LETTERS OF ISAAC PEJTINGTOIT. 
 
 work of the ministry, for the building up of the body, for 
 the perfecting of the saints. This was God's gift, in mercy 
 and love, to them in that day, of which gift they were to 
 walk worthy, and to be thankful for it. 
 
 And, in these days, the Lord hath given gifts to some 
 for this work, which the body hath need of ; and the body 
 is to wait on the Lord in the use of his gift, in fear and 
 humility. For, those that gather the soul to the Lord, 
 they also are appointed to watch over the soul, in the 
 same power and authority that gathered. Now, that which 
 is of God in any heart, being heeded, will teach to make 
 use of the gift and ministry which is of Hira ; and it can- 
 not be despised, but God is despised ; nor can it be neg- 
 lected, without loss and danger to the soul that neglects 
 it. For God is wise, and his ordinances, his ministry, his 
 gifts are weighty, and his blessings go along with them. 
 Who have been gathered to him in these days, but by his 
 ministry which he hath appointed and sent to gather? and 
 who have been preserved, but those who have waited on 
 the Lord, and been subject to his Spirit in the same minis- 
 try which hath gathei-ed ? Mark, Brother, in every age, 
 God's ministers have been despised. Moses and all the 
 prophets Were despised in their day. What I [said the 
 despisers,] hath God spoken only by Moses ? hath he not 
 spoken also by us ? The, apostles were despised in their 
 days, by those that kept not to the anointing ; for this 
 always teacheth to reverence, in subjection to the Lord, 
 the ministry which is of the anointing. " He that de- 
 spiseth you," said Christ, " despiseth me." He that de- 
 spiseth them in their gathering, or in their building up, 
 despiseth Him that sent them. They were earthen ves- 
 sels, in presence contemptible, and very liable to be de- 
 spised. It is easy still, to despise God's messengers and 
 servants ; but, he that will truly and rightly esteem them, 
 must lie low, must dwell in the pure fear, and in the sense 
 
LETTERS OF ISAAC PEKINGTON. 273 
 
 of life, that he may be taught of God so to do. It is an 
 easy matter to have objectious enough against tliem ; but, 
 to see through all prejudices and objectious, to the pure 
 and precious life in them, and to the gift and spirit and 
 power of the Lord, wherein and whereby they minister, — 
 this requires a true eye, and an heart opened by the Lord. 
 
 Ah Brother ! this is a snare, wherein many have been 
 caught in former ages, and in this age also, — which it is 
 easy falling into, — but the preservation out of it, is not 
 easy, but only by the power and mercy of the Lord. And 
 blessed are those, whom the Lord so favours as to preserve 
 out of it, and to remove from them those prejudices and 
 devices, whereby they are entangled. Dear Brother ! when 
 I am in the jDure sense before the Lord, and my spirit 
 opened by him, and iliou presented before me ; I could 
 even beg most earnestly of the Lord, that he*would open 
 thy eye, and give thee a true sight of thy state, and cause 
 thy spirit to bow before him ; and to know and honour 
 what is of him, and not, by any device of the enemy, be 
 hindered from receiving therefrom, what he, in tender 
 love and mercy, holds out to thee. 
 
 And, dear Brother, mind this advice which just springs 
 in my heart : pick out some of the faithful ones of the 
 Lord's servants, and open thy heart to them, as, in the 
 leadings of the Lord and waiting upon him, thou fiudest 
 freedom thereunto. Indeed, Brother, I have had, for a 
 long time, a deep sense of danger towards thee : the Lord 
 prevent it, that thy soul may live to him, and not die from 
 him ! There is a wisdom, a will near thee, which will de- 
 stroy thee, unless the Lord destroy it in thee. 
 
 O that thou mightst come to wait aright for the motion 
 of his Spirit ! and mightst be kept by him in that which 
 knows the drawing ; then wilt thou hunger and thirst after 
 the righteousness of his kingdom, and long after times of 
 meeting and assembling with his people; and find thy 
 
 S 
 
274 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENIXGTOX. 
 
 sense of them living, and thy life refreshed therein. For, 
 God is ^Yith liis people, of a truth, and they meet not with- 
 out him ; but, his presence is in the midst of them, causing 
 his life to flow into every vessel, that stands open to him. 
 And, death has not come over his people, whatever the 
 enemy suggests, where he gets an ear open ; but, life grows 
 more and more in freshness and into dominion in them. 
 O Brother ! the Lord fully gather thee i6to and preserve 
 thee in that, wherein thou mayest feel this in thy own par- 
 ticular, — wherein thou mayest feel the freshness of life, 
 and the power thereof in them ; that thy heart, also, may 
 be as a watered garden, and as a living temple, wherein 
 the pure, living God dwells ! 
 
 I am satisfied in my heart, that not only my love, but 
 my life speaks to thee. O that thou couldst hear, and feel, 
 and fear, and bow down before the Lord ! that he might, 
 in his due season, raise thee up in his life and power among 
 his peojile, purifying thee, and preserving thee pure and 
 living to him forever. 
 
 POSTSCRIPT. 
 
 Dear Brother, — The desire of my heart to the Lord 
 for thee is, that he would open and keep open in thee the 
 eye which sees, and the ear which hears, and the heart 
 which understands his truth ; and that he would prevent 
 the enemy from raising up another thing in thee, instead 
 of the seed of life and holy witness. 
 
 Great hath been the subtlety, and deep hath been the 
 error from the Truth ; and many who seem to be Jews 
 are not, but have erred from the Spirit, life, and power, 
 wherewith they were at first convinced, and whereby they 
 were at first led. And, in these, the enemy hath raised 
 up a seat of prejudices, and strong holds, against the 
 ministry and power of the living God; but, those that 
 
LETTERS OF ISAAC PEKINGTON. 275 
 
 are of the right seed, bless the Lord, beholding his work, 
 while others slight it, and are expecting somewhat else ; 
 they bless also the church which the Lord hath built, 
 and the ministry which he hath sent forth to gather and 
 build it. 
 
 O Brother ! there is an high-mindeduess in some which 
 takes upon it to judge beyond its growth and capacity ; 
 and there is a fear in the hearts of others, lest any thing 
 in them should get up, or judge, or be any thing, beyond 
 or beside the jnire Truth ; — this teacheth to honour and 
 prefer those, whom the Lord hath preferred, the other hath 
 accusations and pleas against them ; the one of these wit- 
 nesseth preservation from God, the other is left to fall. 
 Dear Brother, believe a traveller in the path of life, — ■ 
 (the Lord God raise up in thee that which can believe,) — 
 the .enemy with great subtlety hath laid his snares, — hath 
 taken many in his snares, — even in the snares which he 
 
 laid by his instrument, J P ; and many did let 
 
 in his spirit before they were aware, and are at this day 
 (unknown to their own hearts) entangled therein. The 
 Lord God will terribly appear against such, (indeed, it is 
 truth,) unless they bow to his light, acknowledge their 
 error from the Truth, and come back to the body by 
 repentance, and turning from that, wherein this spirit 
 hath entangled them. 
 
 Dear Brother, it is my desire that thou mayest not per- 
 ish, but feelAhe carrying on of the work of salvation in 
 thee ; travel on in the pure, holy, living, powerful path, 
 and receive the crown of fidelity to the Truth ! Ah 
 Brother ! mourn to the Lord ; fear before him ; converse 
 and consult with those that abide faithful ; and they may 
 help thee to see, (through the guidance, presence, and 
 power of the Spirit of the Lord with them,) what of thy- 
 self, thou art not able to see. Remember this counsel ; 
 thy life is wrapped up in it ; for thou hast need of the 
 
276 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 
 
 helps, which the Lord in his tender mercy hath provided, 
 aud canst not be safe without them. 
 
 Thy dear Brother, iu the unity of nature, longing after 
 perfect sense of thee, aud unity with thee, iu the pure 
 life. I. P. 
 
 Aylesbury Gaol, 
 7th of Eighth Month, 1667. 
 
 LETTER CIV. 
 
 Of the Church and Ministry. 
 
 In Reply to an Answer of I. H. to Somewhat Writ- 
 ten ON Behalf of Truth. 
 
 Indeed, to speak properly, the church of the 
 
 gospel, or new testament church, is invisible. The per- 
 sons in whom the church is, are visible ; yet, the new tes- 
 tament church is not a society of men, but rather, of the 
 invisible life in men. It is a fellowship in the faith, in 
 the spirit, which is the bond of their unity and of their 
 peace. 
 
 The life is breathed invisibly into the hidden man. 
 Jolm iii. 8 ; it is there nourished and built up invisibly 
 into a spiritual invisible temple, house, or church, and in 
 that is the unity and fellowship. So that, the church is a 
 mystery, aud the fellowship a mystery, which is hid from 
 every eye but the eye of life ; aud there is no having fel- 
 lowship one with another, but by coming to that, and 
 keeping in that, wherein is the fellowship. 1 John, i. 7. 
 It is of inward Jews the church is built; it is of such God 
 seeks to frame his new house of worship, under the gospel. 
 John, iv. 23. Now, of such stones as these, the Lord 
 builds up a temple for his Spirit to dwell in, a house for 
 
LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTOK. 277 
 
 his life and presence to manifest itself in, — even a church 
 for the living God. Tliis building is by the Spirit, in the 
 Spirit, and of that which is spiritual ; this building is one 
 with the foundation, and therefore is the pillar and ground 
 of Truth, which none is but Christ, and that which 13 
 married to htm, and so one with him. 1 Tim. iii. 15. Con- 
 sider the place well, and see whether it relate to that, 
 which tliou callest the invisible, or to that, which thou 
 callest the vidble church. 
 
 It is the candlestick in persons, that is the church ; not 
 any outward meeting of persons, or joining together by 
 covenant, or receiving or practising of ordinances, can 
 make a church ; but, the eternal life in believers, formed 
 by the Spirit into a candlestick, to hold the eternal lamp 
 or light, with the everlasting oil of salvation. The light 
 thus shining in this candlestick, continually refreshed by 
 this oil, — here is a flourishing temple, wherever it is 
 found; here is the churcli of the living God, here is the 
 spouse married to the Lamb, her Husbanct. But, grieve 
 the Spirit, quench the Spirit, despise the prophesyings 
 thereof, (and liglit up a candle of the fleshly wisdom and 
 knowledge of the things of God, instead of these,) the oil 
 soon fails ; the oil failing, the lamp goes out ; the lamp, 
 or light being gone out of the candlestick, the Lord soon 
 removes the candlestick ; and the candlestick being once 
 removed, the very same persons may meet together often, 
 and hold up the form, (performing things mentioned in 
 the Scriptures concerning a church, and observing such 
 things as they may call the institutions and ordinances 
 thereof,) but they are far from continuing to be a 
 church. Take away the faith, what is left of a Christian ? 
 and take away the candlestick, what is left of a church ? 
 
 It is the Spirit alone that can square stones, and fit 
 them for building a church of; and He alone can build 
 them up into a house, when he hath squared them. Epb. 
 24 
 
278 LETTERS OF ISAAC PENINGTON. 
 
 ii. 22. And, after he hath built, He can pull down again, 
 and bring into a Avilderness state ; for, there is a wilder- 
 ness state of Christianity, as well as a built state, Rev. xii. 
 6 ; and as, in the built state, it is dangerous to be out of 
 the church, so, in the wilderness state, it is dangerous 
 remaining in that building, which the Spirit of the Lord 
 hath forsaken. Now, if the Spirit be the builder, then, 
 surely, he will take in no stones, but such as he hath first 
 squared and fitted for the building. And, after the church 
 is built, it is he alone who addeth to the church ; who will 
 be sure to add none, but those whom he hath first con- 
 verted. Acts, ii. 47. 
 
 The chui-ch is a body gathered in the Spirit, and watch- 
 ing to the Spirit; who is present there with His pure, 
 searching, discerning eyes ; so that, nothing that is impure 
 can enter, (they watching to the Spirit, according to the 
 order of the gospel ;) no, not one counterfeit Jew, no, nor 
 so much as one false apostle, though they clothe them- 
 selves ever so like angels of light. Rev. xxii. But if 
 they be negligent, and from off" the watch, not waiting for 
 the guidance of the Spirit ; then, that which is corrupt 
 may creep in, and endanger the body. Jude, 4. 
 
AN ACCOUOT OF LADY COKWAT. 
 
 \Forming a Supplementary Note to Page 195 of this Volume.^ 
 
 THE preceding sheets were nearly printed off, when, through 
 the kindness of a friend, the editor at length obtained a 
 sight of a small work, in which some account is preserved of 
 the Lady Viscountess Conway. It is entitled, "The Life of 
 the learned and pious Dr. Henry More, late Fellow of Christ's 
 College, Cambridge; &c., by Richard Ward, A. M. — London, 
 1710." 
 
 This excellent lady appears to have been at one time a pupil 
 of the above named Henry More, and between them there sub- 
 sisted from first to last a great degree of friendship and esteem. 
 While the circumstance of her having attached herself to the 
 Society of Friends, would render some mention of her charac- 
 ter highly interesting to that class of readers ; it was thought, 
 on the other hand, that the high standing of her encomiast, as 
 a member of the Established Church, and his public opposition 
 to the religious principles of the Friends,* would not fail to 
 add weight to his testimony in her favour. Much allowance 
 must, however, be made on this latter account, for the imper- 
 fect exhibition of this lady's views and motives, in the humil- 
 iating preference, which she gave to " Quakerism." With this 
 proviso, a faithful abstract shall be given of the particulars re- 
 corded of her by Henry More and his biographers. 
 
 She was sister to "Sir John Finch," some time Ambassador 
 from the English Court to tliat of the Ottoman Empire. Her 
 understanding was singularly quick and apprehensive, her 
 judgment sound and solid, and her sagacity and prudence in 
 affairs of moment, were such as surprised all those, who had 
 occasion to consult with her. Her friend, Henry More, would — 
 
 * See several of his publications. 
 
 279 
 
280 
 
 AN ACCOUNT OF LADY CONWAY. 
 
 say of her, that he scarcely ever met with any person, man or 
 woman, of better natural endowments. With regard to the 
 cultivation of these extensive powers, we are told, she was mis- 
 tress of the highest theories, whether of philosoj)hy or religion; 
 having the greatest facility for physical, metaphysical, and 
 mathematical speculations ; and was qualified to search into, 
 and judiciously sift the most abstruse writers of theology. In 
 the company of others, she never, upon the fairest occasion, 
 made the slightest display of her superior ability or acquire- 
 ments ; nor did it appear, that she indulged in these studies 
 out of any vanity of mind or fond curiosity; such pursuits 
 seeming to be as the genuine food of her natural genius, not- 
 withstanding the distressing impediment, under which they 
 were usually engaged in. For she had the affliction to be ex- 
 ercised, from her very youth, with extreme and continued 
 pains in her bead, which at length extended over her whole 
 frame, and, at times, accompanied with such severe paroxysms, 
 as might nearly be said to be insupportable. In hope of relief 
 or recovery from this malady, she submitted to many very 
 painful remedies; and, having tried the medical skill which 
 this country at that time afforded, she went to France for the 
 same purpose ; but, without receiving any benefit or allevia- 
 tion. 
 
 There was nothing in the character of this "incomparable 
 Lady," (as Henry More was accustomed to call her,) which so 
 called forth the admiration of the serious, among those who 
 had known her from her youth, as this, — that she had such a 
 timely sense and high relish of that, which is infinitely beyond 
 all other attainments, — even, the saving knowledge of" Christ 
 (that is, of his power, life, and Spirit) in us, the hope of glory." 
 It was by virtue of this, as her learned friend justly remarks, — 
 in comparison of which, she esteemed all things else but as loss, 
 that she was endued with such marvellous patience, composure, 
 and fortitude, to bear the constant, tedious, as well as more 
 agonizing conflicts of the flesh. And, it seemed to him to be 
 not without i^rovidential wisdom, that all means of mitigation 
 proved so ineffectual ; in order that tliis glorious power of God, 
 in its operation on an obedient soul, might the more fully 
 appear. Thus it was, that, in a close pu.suit after Truth and 
 
AN ACCOUNT OF LADY CONWAY. 281 
 
 knowledge, the Cliristian graces so eminently shone forth in 
 her, as even to obscure the lustre of other accomplisliinents, at 
 least, with those who could behold and appreciate them. 
 
 Something of the pious resignation of her spirit is discovered 
 in the following expressions, which occur in a letter. " From 
 the redoubling of my afflictions, the continuedness of my grea't 
 pains, increase of weakness, with new additional distempers, I 
 might fancy my release not far off, from those weighty sutfer- 
 ings I have groaned under so many years. But, life and death 
 are in the hands of the Almighty; and what he designs for me, 
 I desire I may be enabled to give myself up to willingly, with- 
 out murmuring; who only kpows, what measure of sutfering 
 is most necessary for me." Her mind was not so fastened 
 down to her own personal concernments or situation, as to 
 render her conversation ungrateful to others; but meekness, 
 disinterestedness, uniform kindness to all around, condescen- 
 sion and forbearance towards the failings of others, together 
 with a provident solicitude on behalf of relations and friends, 
 continued to be the frame of her mind up to the very close. 
 And though her pains of body increased, the clearness of hei 
 intellect was not in any wise impaired, nor the tranquillity of 
 her soul molested ; for, at the last, she went off as one asleep, 
 drawing her breath shorter and shorter, and thus yielding up 
 her spirit to God, who gave it, and had redeemed it to himself 
 through much tribulation. 
 
 One of her earliest friends, on being made acquainted with 
 the manner of her departure, made this remark : " I perceive, 
 and bless God for it, that my Lady Conway was my Lady Con- 
 way to her last breath ; the greatest example of patience and 
 presence of mind, in highest extremities of pain and affliction, 
 that we shall easily meet with : scarce any thing to be found 
 like her, since the primitive times of the church." 
 
 Several of Henry More's learned treatises were composed at 
 Eagley Hall, the family seat, and expressly at the desire of the 
 Lady Conway ; and, in an Epistle Dedicatory to his "Antidote 
 to Atheism," he gives a great character of her. After her de- 
 cease, it was designed, that something of her own exjierience 
 should have been printed, by way of Remains or Pious Frag- 
 ments ; and, with this view, her valued friend essayed an 
 24* 
 
282 AN ACCOUNT OF LADY CONWAY. 
 
 account of her, by way of preface, from which, some parts of 
 the i^resent brief memorial are taken. This document winds 
 up with the succeeding reflection. 
 
 " Tliese things, which I have communicated to thee, concern- 
 ing our friend, this excellent Lady, I have not done out of any 
 partial or carnal boastings; but, that God may be glorified, 
 and that thou mayest the more fully understand, that that 
 religion, which availeth any thing in the time of distress, is 
 not opinion, ceremony, talk, or fancy ; but the power of God 
 in the inward man, in virtue of the new birth, or real regener- 
 ation ; which is the true and saving knowledge of Christ in us, 
 the hope of glory. Which mystery, she being acquainted with 
 from her youth, and growing up therein, it made her such an 
 invincible champion, and enabled her to bear up with that 
 stoutness and constancy, either against the buffetings of Satan, 
 or sad incumbrances of afflictive nature; in which, by the 
 divine power in the new birth, she hath proved herself more 
 than conqueror." 
 
 It does not appear at what period she began to attach her- 
 self to the Society of Friends, nor at what time she expressed 
 the following sentiments connected with that subject, in a 
 letter to Henry More. " Your conversation with them [the 
 Friends] at London, might be, as you express it, charitably 
 intended, like that of a physician frequenting his patients, for 
 the increase or confirmation of their health; but, /must pro- 
 fess, that my converse with them is, to receive health and re- 
 freshment frovi them." And, towards the close of the same 
 letter, she further adds, " I pray God, give us all a clear dis- 
 cerning between melancholy, enthusiasm, and true inspiration; 
 that we may not be imposed ujion, to believe a lie. The great 
 difference of opinion in this point, amongst the learned and 
 experienced, occasions much perplexity in minds less ex- 
 ercised, and thus not so well fitted for judging." Her learned 
 friend said of her, that she would not give up her judgment 
 entirely unto any; which makes it the more remarkable, that 
 she should have cherished such a leaning towards this people, 
 as she is known to have done. He attributed this change to 
 the height of her virtue, and said, " It was the greatness of her 
 mind which betrayed her to it ; who, looking upo» some pre- 
 
AN ACCOUNT OF LADY CONWAY. 
 
 283 
 
 tensions of the Quakers to be very excellent, all the external 
 considerations of her quality and of the world, availed nothing 
 with her, for the hindering of those regards which she showed 
 towards them." She preferred such servants as were of this 
 persuasion, because of their seriousness and quietness, which 
 indeed were qualifications very desirable in her tried state. 
 Hence the inference was drawn, that the melancholy circum- 
 stances, under which she so long laboured, gradually inclined 
 her towards Friends and their opinions. This, however, is 
 clear ; she chose the company of some of the best and most 
 eminent among them, as Robert Barclay, William Penn, &c. : 
 her physician, also. Baron Van Helmont, who lived long in 
 her family, is said to have been " a frequenter of the Quakers' 
 Meetings." She acknowledged, she was never in love with 
 the name of a Quaker, nor with their rusticity ; but regarded 
 only their principles and practices, so far as they were good 
 and Christian. In the same letter, she particularly takes 
 notice of the pressures and sufferings they had lain under, and 
 that she was much refreshed by the accounts of their trials 
 and consolations ; and that they were fitted, from the various 
 and heavy exercises they had themselves experienced, and 
 their supports under them, to administer comfort to others in 
 great distress. 
 
 Henry More was much affected with the change wrought in 
 the Countess, so that, at length, he received the account with 
 tears; and laboured all that a faithful friend could do, to set 
 her, as he thought, right, with regard to her judgment in these 
 matters. But, when he saw, that he could not sufficiently jjre- 
 Tail, he desisted ; and thought fit to leave that great person to 
 enjoy, in her extremities, the company and the ways she most 
 approved. How far her peace of mind was concerned, with 
 regard to the humiliating path she must often have had to 
 tread, while espousing a cause so misrepresented and despised, 
 as that of the Society of Friends then was — how far she was 
 satisfied in the course she adopted, may be fairly estimated 
 from the sincerity and piety of her character through life, and 
 from the consolation and support she was favoured with in 
 death. 
 
 THE END. 
 
 I 
 
/ 
 
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