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FRIENDS' FAMILY LIBRARY.
VOL. VII.

LETTERS

ISAAC PENINGTON.

LETTERS

ISAAC PENINGTON,
SON OF ALDERMAN PENINGTON OF LONDON,
AND
AN EMINENT MINISTER OP THE GOSPEL
IN
2Thc Soctetg of iFrienHs,
WHICH HE JOINED ABOUT THE YEAR 1658.

FROM THE SECOND LONDON EDITION.

PHILADELPHIA:
NATHAN KITE— 50 NORTH FOURTH STREET.

Joseph and William Kite, Printers.
1842.

PREFACE

The editor of the present volume, having been
much instructed in perusing " Letters of Isaac Pening-
ton," &c. (published in the year 1796, by John Ken
dall of Colchester, and now, for a considerable time out
of print,) was induced to turn his attention towards
reviving them. In this object he was further encour
aged, by the circumstance 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
ascertained, that the work above mentioned was com
piled from an extensive collection of Isaac Penington'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 slight verbal
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 occa
sionally excluded, when they appeared to bear too close
a resemblance to other passages, or to be adapted
rather to the circumstances of those times than the
present. On producing from obscurity these valuable records,
for the perusal of the Society of Friends and others,

IV PREFACE.

the editor cannot well refrain from stating, that his
concern and intention has been, to promote, if it be
ever so feebly, the spiritual edification, harmony, and
enlargement of our Divine Redeemer's Church Uni
versal ; 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 compacted
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." Ephes. iv. 15, 16. The
very weighty and confirming character of these letters,
their quickening tendency, — the clear doctrine, and
deep experience throughout evinced, must, it is appre
hended, if perused with desires after spiritual good,
prove salutary in various ways to most classes and
states of Christian believers. They are not the pro
duct of a speculative imagination or of uncertain rea
sonings ; they comprehend many of the plain positions
of Scriptural faith and practice, conveyed in simple
but forcible, 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 mani
fold outward sufferings.
And here, it may with deference be suggested, that
this particular description of ministerial communica
tion, (for such it is,) will be likely to prove more bene
ficial, if but a few, or even a single letter be read at
one time, and a sufficient interval be allowed for the
mind to reflect on 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 him, the
editor has attempted, (however imperfectly,) at the
head of each letter, and in the Table of Contents, to

PREFACE. V
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 interesting 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 Barclay.
Alton, Fifth Month, 1828.

1*

VI TESTIMONY OF WILLIAM PENN.
Testimony of William Penn, concerning Isaac Penington.
" As ' the memory of the just is blessed,' so to me
there seems a blessing upon those, that have a right
remembrance of them ; wherefore, to the memory of
this just man, my dear Friend and relation, Isaac Pen
ington, I do, with a sincere and religious affection,
dedicate this ensuing testimony.
" He was well descended as to his worldly parent
age,* and born about the year 1617, being heir to a
fair inheritance; his education was suitable to his
quality among men, having all the advantages the
schools and universities of his own country could give,
joined with the conversation of some of the most
knowing and considerable men of that time. His
natural abilities, the gifts of his Creator, excelled ; he
was a man quick in apprehension, fruitful in concep
tion, 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
pretensions enough to a share of this world's great
ness ; but he, with blessed meek Moses, refused the
Egyptian glory of it, and chose rather a life dedicated
to an inquiry after God, and holy fellowship with him
and his despised Israel.
" Very early did the Lord visit him, with more
than ordinary manifestations of His love ; and it had
such an 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 frequent retirements, declining all com
pany that might interrupt his meditations: by thus
giving himself over to a life of mourning and pilgrim-

* 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.

TESTIMONY OF WILLIAM PENN. Vll
age, 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 that
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 uncir-
cumcised and uncrucified flesh, which is as grass, pro
fessing the mysteries of the heavenly kingdom ; — I
mean, people under but ordinary convictions, who had
never known Jacob's troubles, nor the fear and trem
bling 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 bur
dened, 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 ;
insomuch, that he found it his duty to endeavour to
break their false peace, and bewilder their lofty wis
dom and profession : rather approving of a state of
humble doubting, than hypocritical confidence. For,
the Lord's coming in spirit, without sin, to the salva
tion of the soul, is to be waited for ; that people may
truly know him and his work, and, from thence, speak
forth his praise to others ; rather than profess the
enjoyments of other saints, which have been obtained
through great tribulations, while they have never
known this in themselves, and so, can have no true
sense of an acceptable sacrifice of God's preparing.

VIII TESTIMONY OF WILLIAM PENN.
"Such views drew reproach upon him from the world
ly 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 man in power and great
glory, found him out, valued, and honoured him ; and,
sweet was their 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 before 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 father-in-law, Isaac Penington,
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 hea
venly 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 formerly received
many heavenly openings of Truth's mysteries ; yet,
did the Lord's way of appearance disappoint his expec
tation. 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, before he could become that blessed little child,
that new and heavenly birth, which inherits the king
dom of God: this, indeed, made him cry, 'Narrow is
the way, and strait is the gate that leads to life.'
" But, to the glory of the living God, and praise of
this just man's memory, let me say, — neither his
worldly station, (the most considerable of any, that had
closed in with his way of religion,) nor the contra-

TESTIMONY OF WILLIAM PENN. IX
dictions it gave to his former conceptions, nor the
debasement it brought upon his learning and wisdom,
nor yet that reproach and loss which attended his pub
lic 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 spiri
tual 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 defence 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 kingdom 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 and reverent in them ;
one that ever loved power and life, more 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 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 pre-

X TESTIMONY OF WILLIAM PENN.
judices, have hindered from closing with the blessed
'Truth, as it is known and felt amongst us. His fer
vent labour to remove these obstructions, was with
such tenderness, yet great clearness, that I may ven
ture 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 ancient
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 Saviour, to the salvation of
their souls. I pray God, they may answer his love;
for, he was much spent on their account; that so his
ministry, writings, travels, and tears, may not be mat
ter of charge and evidence against them in the day of
judgment.* " As his outward man grew in age, his inward man
grew in grace, and in the knowledge of our dear Lord
and Saviour Jesus Christ, for the excellency of which,

*Some account of his sufferings is here added, given hy
Thomas Ellwood, who was well acquainted with him. " And,
as it was given him to believe in Christ, so he had also to suffer
for his sake ; his imprisonments being many, and some of them
long ; which he underwent with great constancy aDd quietness
of mind. He was first imprisoned in the year 1661, in Ayles
bury Gaol, for worshipping God in his own house ; and endured
great hardships for seventeen weeks, in a cold incommodious
Toom, without a chimney, great part of the time in winter ; from
which usage, his body contracted so great a disorder, that, for
several weeks, he was not able to turn himself in his' bed. He
was imprisoned five times after this, on account of his religious
profession ; and being of a tender constitution, was in danger of
losing his life from the hardship he endured. Thus, through
many tribulations did he enter the kingdom, having been long
exercised, tried, and approved of the Lord."

TESTIMONY OF WILLIAM PENN. xi
he had justly counted all things else but as dross and
dung. For 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 replenished 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 appeared in two eminent
respects. " First, he was very urgent, that all those who knew
any thing of the heavenly gift of ministry to others,
would always wait in their several exercises, to be
endued with matter and power from on high, before
they opened their mouths in a testimony for the Lord.
And that, at all times, as well out of meetings as in
them, they might live so near the Lord, as to feel the
key of David opening the mysteries of the heavenly
kingdom; and, by experiencing the depth of the hea
venly travail, and the trials, deliverances, and conso
lations of it, — with that dominion and victory that, in
the end, by perseverance is obtained, — they might be
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 contin
ued and conveyed to the generations to come, — that
they might not only hear, but taste of what we have
known of the Word of life and work of redemption in
our age.
" But, his excellency in the second respect, was his
fervent love to the heavenly union of brethren; what
ever 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

Xll TESTIMONY OF WILLIAM PENN.
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 persons
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 beginning 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 ministry mani
festly increased in life and power, and his peace flowed
as a river, and many were witnesses of his enlarge
ments. 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 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
heavenly places, will abundantly rejoice too.
" These two cares were chiefly and almost con
tinually before him. And as he was, in these respects,
a light in the church, so he was a blessing to his own

TESTIMONY OF WILLIAM PENN. XIII
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 1
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 63rd 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. However, to internal peace so well esta
blished, 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 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 for
ever. 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  25
II. Christ the Root of all True Religion, &c— To Thomas
Walmsley  26
III. Of a growth in Grace, amidst distressing Exercises of
Spirit.— To Bridget Atley  29
IV. On the State of the Puritans, and of Friends - - 32
V. The Compassions of the Shepherd of the Flock towards
the Weak, &c. How they should follow Him. — To
Friends  34
VI. On Searching for the hidden Treasure, and Selling all
for it. — To Catherine Pordage - - - - - 36
VII. A Christian Salutation. — To Elizabeth Walmsley - 39
VHL On Christ being manifested within, and the Sprinkling
of his Blood inwardly. — To Thomas Walmsley - - 40
IX. The Way of God's Redemption is above the ways of
Man's Wisdom ...... _ . 42
X. On the Gospel, and on Preaching it ; also on the Scrip
tures, &c. ........44
XI. The Duty of being Content with what is made known 46
XII. Of Faith in the healing Power of Christ - 48
XIII. Advice to One respecting the dark Suggestions ofthe
Enemy ......... 50
XIV. On Obedience, spiritual Growth, Establishment, and
Victory, in and through our Lord Jesus Christ - - 52
XV. The least Messenger of the Gospel is not to be de
spised. A Change of Heart is to be sought, rather
than a Sign -.-..---56
XVI. Advice on Reading the Scriptures - - - - 57
XVII. On the Righteousness which is of Christ. On the
Manhood and Godhead of Christ. — To the Friend of
Francis Fines  -59
XVIII. On religious Care of Children. — To a Parent. - 65
XIX, A Day of Calamity. — To a Friend in London : sup
posed to be written on occasion of the Plague - - 67

XVI CONTENTS.
Letter. -Pa£e-
XX. The spiritual Life is to be cherished. — To Friends of
Truth in and about the two Chalfonts - - - 68
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 - 70
XXn. To a Couple about to marry - - - - 73
XXJJI. The Day of God's Power and Love.— To John Man-
nock  ---75
XXIV. On Simplicity of Faith and Dedication. — To John
Mannock  ---79
XXV. The Blessedness of Suffering for Christ's sake. — To
Elizabeth Walmsley  81
XXVI. Exhortation, chiefly, on Rev. xiv. 7, "Fear God,
give glory to Him," &c. — To Widow Hemmings - 84
XXVII. Advice and Sympathy under Trial. — To Elizabeth
Walmsley  - 89
XXVIII. Of Obedience in confessing Christ; also on the
Light of Christ.— To Elizabeth Stonar - 90
XXIX. On the Life, inward Sense, and power of the Spi
rit; also respecting the Scriptures, and the Church,
&c.— To Nathaniel Stonar  92
XXX. Of Truth in the inward Parts.— To Widow Hem
mings ...  97
XXXI. Deliverance from spiritual Enemies by Christ, &c. ;
also of Offences ...... -98
XXXII. Encouragement to Faithfulness under apprehension
of Sufferings. — To Widow Hemmings ... 102
XXXIII. Exhortation relative to the Christian Life and
Travel.— To Dulcibella Laiton - - - - 103
XXXIV. On Decay of "first Love," and a hardened State
"through the Deceitfulness of Sin." — To George
Winkfield  105
XXXV. Propositions relating to the Truth and Substance
of Religion. — To Sir William Drake, (so styled) - 107
XXXVI. Concerning the Seed ofthe Kingdom.— To S. W. Ill
XXXVD. Comfort and Counsel under Affliction. — To the
Lady Conway  113
XXXVIII. On the benefit of Chastening by Afflictions.—
To the Lady Conway - - - - - -115
XXXIX. On being ingrafted into Christ, being preserved
alive in Him, and growing up in Him in all Things. —
To S. W. - . . - - - - 118
XL. Counsel to One tossed as with Tempests - - - 122
XLI. Encouragement under Trials incident to bearing the
Cross of Christ  - 123

CONTENTS. XVII
Letter. Page.
XLH. On being offended with those who fall into Tempta
tion  123
XLHI. The Mind may be stayed in Peace amidst the Ene
my's Accusations. — To Widow Hemmings - - 126
XLP7. On resisting, and on receiving God's Spirit ; also on
Redemption by Christ Jesus. — To Nathaniel Stonar 128
XLV. Respecting some Snares of the Adversary to distress
the Soul.— To Bridget Atley  131
XLVI. Weighty Counsel. — To Sir William Armorer (so
styled)  133
XLVIL— On an unfaithful profession of the Truth.— To
Abraham Grimsden  135
XL VIII. Christ, the Resurrection and the Life. On His
Appearance in the Flesh, &c.  137
XLIX. To One who sent a Paper of Richard Baxter's 138
L. Ofthe Gospel State in general, and ofthe State of Be
lievers in particular ------- 140
LI. On shunning the Cross. — To Catherine Pordage - 142
LII. On Love, Meekness, and watching over each other. —
To Friends in Amersham ..... 143
LIII. On the Spiritual Appearance of Christ ... 144
LIV. To One under Divine Visitation .... 146
LV. The Kingdom of God within. Of the new Covenant.
Professors of the day. Trial of Spirits. Exhortation
to wait for and walk in the Spirit - - 7. -147
LVI. Encouragement to look up to the Lord, amidst his
Chastenings, and the Smitings ofthe Enemy - - 151
LVH Of the Gospel Dispensation, and of the States of its
Professors. — To Colonel Kenrick ... - 153
LVIII. On the Lord's Supper with Believers. — To Widow
Hemmings ........ 157
LIX. Respecting the Payment of Tithes. — To James Eeles 159
LX. On Election, and on Falling Away. Of our own Righ
teousness, and of Christ's in us. — To Ruth Palmer 161
LXI. To his Brother Arthur, who became a Roman Catholic 166
LXII. Respecting his Brother, a Roman Catholic. — To Jo
seph Wright  170
LXIII. On Baptism by Water.— To William Rolls - - 172
LXIV. On unreserved Obedience. — To Bridget Atley - 173
LXV. To the Poor among Friends, who are relieved by the
Charity and bowels of Love, which God opens in other
Friends towards them ------ 175
LXVI. Afflictions may work out a weight of Glory. — For
Friends in Scotland  177
LXVII. Against Earthly Reasonings and Expectations. —
To Sarah Bond  179

XVlll CONTENTS.
Letter. '"fin
LXVIII. An Invitation to Heavenly Substance, - -lew
LXIX. Exhortation to walk in the Truth.— To Friends at
T pwps — — — — ~~'"~"* -^offc
LXX. Consolation for a Mother on the Death of her Child.
—To Sarah Elgar,  ," „ " 185
LXXI. Advice respecting Church Discipline.— To the Wo-
men's Meeting of Friends, at John Mannock s, - - 186
LXXII. On Prayer in Families, &c. Also on the State of
Professors of the Day,  '189
LXXIII. Of preservation and a Growth in the Heavenly
Life ; its power over the Earthly Nature.— To Friends
in and about the two Chalfonts, .... 192
LXXIV. The Holy Scriptures not the Primary Rule.— To
Nathaniel Stonar, ----.-- 197
LXXV. On true, living, heavenly Knowledge. — To the
Lady Conway, ...---- 200
LXXVI. On Disputation; and on hearing Wisdom's voice.
Also respecting the Puritan State. — To E. Terry, - 203
LXXVII. Advice as to Self-deceit. On the Unity of the
Spirit. The younger are to submit to the Elder. — To
Miles Stancliff,  205
LXXVIII. The Loving-kindness of the Lord.— To Eliza
beth Walmsley,  207
LXXIX. On Confessing Christ before Men, &c— To Eliza
beth Stonar,  208
LXXX. Observations on the Ministry. — To a near Relative, 212
LXXXI. Of Love, Humility, and Order among Friends.
Also of Persecution. — To a near Relative, - - 215
LXXXII. Danger of Self-complacency. — To Catherine Por-
dage,  219
LXXXIII. Against Self-exaltation ; and on the Cross of our
Lord Jesus Christ.— 'To Catherine Pordage, - 221
LXXXIV. To such as Drink of the Waters at Astrop
Wells,  224
LXXXV. To One who sent a Message to him from Astrop
Wells,  - - 226
LXXXVI. Acknowledgment of Christ's Manhood. —To
Richard Roberts, ....... 228
LXXXVII. Postscript to some Considerations respecting
the Gospel Church. — Addressed to the Independents at
Canterbury, ..--.--- 230
LXXXVIII. The Way to Life narrow ; hard things made
easy to the Obedient. Also some Answers to Objec-
jections on Prayer, &c. — To Catherine Pordage, - 233
LXXXIX. The Scriptures exceedingly precious. The Gos--

CONTENTS. XIX
Letter. Page.
pel a Ministration ofthe Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus.
The Liability of losing the Sense and Savour of this, 238
XC. On abiding in the Root of Life. — To Friends in and
about the two Chalfonts, ------ 241
XCI. The unsearchable Riches of Christ. Believers may
partake thereof through Obedience, and be preserved
from every Harm. — To Friends of both the Chalfonts, 243
XCII. On the Fear of God. To those persons that drink of
the Waters at Astrop Wells,  249
XCIII. Some Doubts answered respecting Prayer. — To
Widow Hemmings, ------- 251
XCIV. On Drinking of the Fountain of Living Waters. —
To Widow Hemmings, ------ 255
XCV. Considerations relative to the Church; with some
Cautions to Christian Professors. — To his Friends at
Horton and thereabouts, ------ 258
XCVI. Hints on Steadfastness in the Truth and its Testi
mony; on forsaking Assemblies for Divine Worship,
and on slighting Gospel Ministers. — To Thomas and
Ann Mudd,  262
XCVII. On hating Reproof. — To Catherine Pordage and
another,  265
XCVIII. Of " Fleshly Wisdom."— To Francis Pordage, 268
XCIX. Advice on Church Discipline. — To the Women
Friends that meet at Armscot in Worcestershire, - 270
C. An Expostulation and Warning. — To the Earl of Bridge-
water, --------- 272
CI. Faithful Dealing between Brethren recommended, - 276
CII. On dwelling with the lowly Seed of Life in all Condi
tions.— To M. Hiorns,  - 277
CHI. On Prejudices against Anointed Ministers. — To his
Brother,  280
CIV. Ofthe Church and Ministry. In reply to an Answer
of I. H. to somewhat written on behalf of Truth, - 285

Account of Lady Conway,  - 289

LETTERS, &c.
LETTER I.
On the Pure, Living, Spiritual Food.
To the Friends at Chalfont, in Buckinghamshire.
0 Friends !
Feed on the tree of life ; feed on the measure of life,
and the pure power thereof, which God hath revealed,
and manifesteth 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 seemeth very
desirable to the other eye, and very able to make wise.
0 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
3

26 penington's letters.
names. But keep to the principle of life — keep to the
seed of the 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 habitations ;
and feed on the food which God brings you into your
habitations ; which is pure, living, spiritual, 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,
I. P.
Aylesbury Gaol,
18th of Fifth month, 1667.

LETTER II.
Christ the Root of all True Religion, &c.
To Thomas Walmsley.
Dear Friend,
There is somewhat on my heart this morning to

penington's letters. 27
write to thee, in the same love wherein I have hitherto
written, which I feel to be pure, of God, and unfeigned
towards thee and all men ; though it also putteth a
difference between those that are renewed by him and
bear his image, and those who have only a form of
religion, without the power and life thereof, which
sanctifies and redeems up to God, wherever it is
received. That which was on my 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, bear
ing 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 ingrafted 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
ofhis light in my heart; God, who caused the light to
shine out of darkness, causing it to shine there ; so that,
in and through him, I come to know, not the Son him
self 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 subjection of soul and spirit, upon him : — here, is
unspeakable 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.

28 penington's letters.
O Friend ! I beseech thee, mind this ; come, O come
to the true root ! 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 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 wis
dom 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 wisdom,
which cleanses darkness and impurity out ofthe hearts
of those to whom it is given. For light expelleth dark
ness; 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
witness 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 whatsoever 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 evercome through
Christ ? Read Rev. iii. 21. I would not have thee
deceived of thy soul, or of that religion which saves

penington's letters. 29
the soul, which religion stands not in word, but in
power. Therefore, wait to feel the Spirit and power
of Christ, saving thee from that, which nothing else
can save Ihee from ; and bringing that down in thee
under his feet, which nothing else can bring down.
This is from the true desire which my soul hath,
after the eternal salvation and satisfaction of thine. I. P.
28th of First month, 1670.

LETTER III.
Of a growth 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 after
wards that it hath grown. My heart is refreshed for
thy sake, rejoicing in the Lord's goodness towards
thee ; and that the blackness of darkness 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
3*

30 penington's letters.
in thee ; nay, though they have entered thee, fear them
not, but be still awhile, not believing in the power which
thou feelest they have over thee, and it will fall on a
sudden. It is good for thy spirit, and greatly to thy advan
tage, to be much and variously exercised by the Lord.
Thou dost not know what the Lord hath already done,
and what 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 affrighted 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, which is with
patience to be waited for at his season in every con
dition. 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 healing through the
chastisement, and know there is an Advocate, who,
in that hour, hath an office of love and a faithful 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, terrors, and the like ; no, no ! but in that
which inclines to the patience, to the stillness, to the
hope, lo the waiting, to the silence before the Father :
this is the same 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 mind
ing but overlooking the other, thou wilt find some of

penington's letters. 31
the same virtue springing up in thy heart and soul, at
least to stay thee.
In and through these things, thou wilt become
deeply acquainted with the nature of God, and know
the wonderful riches and virtue of his life, the mighti
ness of his power, and the preciousness of his love,
tenderness of his mercy, and infiniteness of his wis
dom, the glory also, and exactness of his righteous
ness, &c. : thou wilt be made large in spirit to receive
and drink in 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 great 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 reasonings and temptations,
the wrong sense, and death with them.
Thus mayest thou witness, in and through thy Re
deemer, the abundance of his life and peace.
I. P.

32 penington's letters.

LETTER IV.
On the State of the Puritans, and of Friends.
The Lord God of heaven and earth, who searcheth
the heart and trieth the reins, knows, that we, who are
called Quakers, have no secret things or hidden prin
ciples among us to win people to ; but, as we have our
selves been won to the simplicity and plainness of
Trulh, as it is in Christ Jesus, and walk therein, so it
is the single desire of our hearts to bring men thither,
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 experienced in the days of our
former profession. For, we well 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 prin
ciple of life, which God hath now manifested to us,
and turned our minds unto. And, 0 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 professors 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 appeared in that body of flesh,
whatever the professors of this age think or speak con-

penington's letters. 33
cerning it ; and they are not guiltless 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 (here was
such a rent among them, by falling into several ways
of worship. There was among them great sincerity,
and love,, and tenderness, 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 conceiv
ings of their own minds upon the Scriptures. Now,
had these known the true Leader, they would never
thus have wandered, 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 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 sin
cerity and simplicity in many of them ; but was 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 carried some
life with them into their forms, yet by degrees the
form grew, and the virtue and power of godliness
decreased, and they were swallowed up in high esteem
of, and contending^, each sort, for their forms ; but
themselves had lost what they were inwardly to God,
and had inwardly received from God in the days of
their former zeal and tenderness. 0 that they could
see this ! O that they could return to their Puritan
state, to the sense they then had, the love and tender
ness that was then in them, to the feeling of the prin
ciple of life, which they then felt, and which then
wrought in them ! though, they then distinctly knew
it not, yet they loved that which gathered their minds

34 penington's letters.
to God, and in which they felt ability to pray, and
which opened the Scriptures and the things of God,
and warmed their hearts truly and livingly in some
measure. 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.
S LP.
Reading Gaol,
19th of Seventh Month, 1670.

LETTER V.

The Compassion of the Shepherd of the Flock towards the
weak, &c. How they should follow Him.
To Friends.
He that is weak and foolish among the lambs, con
tinually ready to wander, both out of the pastures and
from the fold, and thus to betray his life into the hands
of the enemy ; — he who is continually scattering 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 stir-
ings of the springs of life, and find some encourage
ments from thee, to hope in the free and large mercies
of the Shepherd of Israel; who casteth not off his
sheep because of their wanderings, because of their
backslidings, because of their infirmities, because of
their diseases, nay, not because of their hardness ; but
pursues them with his love, findeth them out, visiteth

penington's letters. 35
with his correcting hand according to their need,
woundeth with his sword, and meltetn 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.
0 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 mercies, and delighteth in pardbn-
ing and forgiving much and very often. What
tender mother can be more ready to forgive and
embrace the child, that appears broken and afflicted
with her sore displeasure ! Yea, He gives brokenness,
he melteth the heart, that he may be tender towards,
and embrace it in his arms of reconciliation, and in
the peace of his Spirit.
O my dear companions, and fellow-travellers in
spirit towards the land of the living ! all 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 contra
riety 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 exalted upon his throne in
your hearts : this is your rest, peace, life, kingdom,
and crown forever.
LP.

36 penington's letters.
LETTER VI.
On Searching for the Hidden Treasure, and selling all for it.
To Catherine Pordage.
Friend, 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 enter
tained, who hunteih after the precious life. This word
of advice haih 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, whe
ther thou canst sell all for it, both inward and outward
riches ; that, if thou do set thy hand to the plough,
thou mayst not look back after any thing else, within
or without, but mayest be content and satisfied with
the pearl of true wisdom and life alone.
Now, if thou be truly willing in God's sight thus to
do, thou must singly give up to follow the Lord in the
leadings of his Spirit, out of all the ways of thy own
wisdom and knowledge, out of all things wherein thou
hast a life and delight out of him ; thou must not deter
mine 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,) somewhat in thy heart, somewhat in thy ways,
somewhat in thy words, thoughts, &c, which is con
trary to his pure life and Spirit ; and then, that must
be denied and given up immediately. And afterwards,
perhaps the Lord will soon discover to thee another

penington's letters. 37
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 Beloved, 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 simpli
city and nakedness of Truth, into some image or other
of it, so that instead of the pure Truth itself, thou wilt
believe arid 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, and 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 unto him, and
faithfully follow; and many devices wilt thou meet
with, to turn thy mind out of the way, and to cause
thee 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 Lord
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
4

38 penington's letters.
thou be not hasty to join with the enemy, nor give up
thy judgment to believe what he represents, and seems
inwardly to represent to thee as true ; but abide and
dwell in the sense of thy own inability to judge, wait
ing 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
aside, even with the judgment proper for it ; that Zion
in thee might be thereby redeemed, and thy soul con
verted to, and truly brought forth in righteousness.
LP.
1-1 th of First Month, 1670.

penington's letters. 39
LETTER VII.
A Christian Salutation.
To Elizabeth Walmsley.
Dear Friend,
My heart was exceedingly melted within me at the
reading of thy precious and tender lines ; yea, indeed,
I was quite overcome, and was fain several times to
break off, the freshness and strength of life in them did
so flow in upon me ; and 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
preserving 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 flowings
and streamings of this life, remember me at the throne
of my Father's mercy, by which alone I five, 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 my 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.
Aylesbury Gaol,
19th of Eighth Month, 1665.

40 penington's letters.

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 taught me to love, have I loved
thee, and sought the everlasting good of thy soul, even
as of my 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, right
eous, and impartial Judge, might own and approve of,
to thy eternal joy: for which end, two things were
upon my heart to propose to thee, to be rightly consi-
sidered 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 ? 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 and
belief concerning Christ without, and never known

penington's letters. 41
what it was to have the Son revealed in thee ? Oh !
that thou mightst know, and experimentally understand
this Scripture, before thou go hence and be no more
seen, — " If Christ be in you, the body is dead because
of sin ;" — and this other also, — " He that is Christ's
hath 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 everlasting concern
ment to thy soul !
The other is, whether thou dost experience the
sprinkling of the blood of the Lord Jesus upon thy
conscience ? The Jews were saved by the sprinkling
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 cove
nant, the everlasting covenant with thee, wherein the
blood of sprinkling is felt, and the precious effects of
it experienced ? for then, indeed, iniquities are forgiven,
and sin remembered no more ; but the soul comes to
witness real justification from sin, and that peace
which passeth 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
righteousness 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.

4*

42 penington's letters.

LETTER IX.
The Way of God's Redemption is above the Ways of Man's
Wisdom.
My Dear Friend,
 This then is the way of redemption ; to wait to
feel the appearance of the light of the Spirit in the
heart; and, at its least or lowest appearance, to be
turned from the 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.
O 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. I know thy snare : there is a building in the earthly
wisdom, a knowledge which thou holdest in the com
prehension, 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 confounding 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

penington's letters. 43
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 putting 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 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 spirits in a higher principle.
I found my heart in great love drawn to write these
things to thee ; and my soul pursueth them with
breathings 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 life here, or of the salva
tion 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 in 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 hath sought out and gathered many
into the fold of his pure rest, where he is become their
living Shepherd, and daily ministers of his life unto
them. And he is seeking out many more: — happy

44 penington's letters.
are they, that know and return at the Shepherd's voice,
when he calleth after them. .
I remain thy true, entire, faithful, loving Friend, m
the love and good-will of the Lord, wishing to thy soul
as to my own.

LETTER X.
On the Gospel, and on preaching it ; also on the Scriptures, &c.
There is a question ariseth in my heart to thee,
which is this :
How is the everlasting 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 may men come to
hear it, that their souls may live? Are not they
blessed that hear the joyful 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, a'nd 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, prudent, professing eye in every age
and generation. O Friend ! that thou didst thoroughly
know that wise and prudent eye in thyself, from which

penington s letters. 45
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 in the Scriptures of truth.
The gospel, after the apostacy,is thus to be preached,
" Fear God, and give glory to him ; for the hour of his
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 gos
pel, the everlasting 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 Son 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 com
prehension of things, and miss of the drawings 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
Scriptures. Friend, God who caused light to shine in this out
ward 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

46 penington's letters.
true sense and discerning of inward and spiritual
things. Yea, here the Son is known, and his blood
felt cleansing ; which, without this, the Scriptures do
not make manifest ; but, in this, the Scriptures are a
clear and faithful record of and testimony to them. 0
take heed how thou readest, and how thou understandest
the Scriptures, — in what light, in what spirit ! for, it is
easy erring ; and without the presence and guidance
of God's Spirit herein, thou canst not walk safely.
And truly it is great presumption in any man to read
the Scriptures boldly, and withdut 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.
LP.
4th of Fourth Month, —

LETTER XI.
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, arid 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 disobedience 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

penington's letters. 47
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 receivedst from God ;
yea, thou wouldst miss of the way of true knowledge,
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 knowing ; but the
child knows, in resignation and subjection of its very
knowledge ; and if there appear ever so great a neces
sity 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 bears it up in such a
state. But this is a great mystery ; yet sensibly expe
rienced 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 preciousness of that lesson, and of
whom thou art to learn it, even, in every state to be
content.

48 penington's letters.
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, sweet
ly and freshly, which I had pure drawings to impart
to thee.
There was a quick sense of thee upon my heart,
and in that sense this cry was in me : — Oh ! that thou
wert acquainted with the pure, eternal power of the
Lord, and mightst 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 moun
tains 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 heal
ing, 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 sal
vation, 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,

penington's letters. 49
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 displayed in thee, and the victories and con
quests 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 mayest obtain the
desires of thy heart ; for, I really believe thy desire is
after holiness and after communion with the Father
and the Son, and with the saints in light: O that
thou mayst be led into the true pure light of life,
that there thou mayst enjoy what in this kind thou
desirest !
This is from one, who singly, as in the Lord's sight,
wisheth well unto thee.
LP.
Reading Gaol,
27th of Eighth Month, 1670.

50 penington's letters.
LETTER XIII.
Advice to one Respecting the Dark Suggestions of the Enemy.
Dear Friend,
Thou hast had the path of salvation faithfully testi
fied of to thee, and hast come to a sense of the thing ;
even to the feeling of that, whereby the Father begets
life, and manifesteth 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 pre
serve from that which darkens and leads out of the
way ; that thou mayst pass 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
righteousness, 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 voice, hear it,
learn daily of him, become his disciple ; take up,
from his nature, what is contrary to thy 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 dis
trust the Lord or hearken to his enemy. And then
thou wilt change that dwelling-place (into which

penington's LETTERS. 51
Satan brings dark thoughts, suggestions, and reason
ings,) for the dwelling-place which is from above,
which is the habitation of the righteous ; wherein there
is light, life, peace, satisfaction, health, salvation, 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. 0 that thou couldst
trust it ! (why canst thou not ! hath it not sown a seed
of faith in thee ?) and come into and abide in the path,
wherein its mighty, powerful operations are felt and
made manifest ! And, O that thou mayst 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 ene
my's dark suggestions work according to their nature ;
and, if thou let them lie upon thee, how can they but
darken, afflict, and perplex thee ?
Therefore, in the evil hour, fly from all things that
thus 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 somewhat, 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 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 themselves
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 pf

52 penington's letters.
the Lord, though they may seem to thee to have
Look up to the Father, that thou mayst 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 possess
and inherit, and rejoice before the Lord in thy por
tion. Thy Friend in the Truth, which changeth not, but
is pure, and preserveth pure forever.
From Aylesbury Gaol,
28th of Seventh Month, 1667.

LETTER XIV.

On Obedience, Spiritual Growth, Establishment, and Victory in
and through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Dear Friend,
Some Scriptures did spring up and open in my 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 ful
filling 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 gives the knowledge, he requires*
obedience ; which is to be learned of God in the new
spirit and life. For, in the old nature, mind and spirit,
there is nothing but darkness and disobedience ; in the
new creation is the new obedience. So that, there is
first a beginning of knowledge in the Spirit, a begin
ning of faith in the renewing power, and a beginning

penington's letters. 53
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 measure 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 have 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 strong hold 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 obe
dience of Christ ; with a readiness to reject all unbe
lief and disobedience, that will so much as offer to rise
up. Now, is not this the Christian state, which God
would have his children aim and arrive at? and, are
not they blessed who witness it ? and doth not the true
ministration 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 profession 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 begotten to God by the word of life and power,
even by the word which God ingrafts into the heart.
O what living desires, then, are there, after that which
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
5*

54 penington's letters.
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 them
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. 0 the remembrance 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 wisdom
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 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

penington's letters. 55
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 witnessed, even now, in these our days?
Were not he a messenger of good tidings to thee, who
from God could tell thee, how thou mightst 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 war
fare 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 gospel 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 faith is known, which
quencheth the fire of the enemy's temptations. There
also, is the helmet of salvation, the true hope ; for in
it, Christ, the hope of glory, is revealed, and felt to be
near. And then, the sword of the Spirit is witnessed,
which is the living Word, the Spirit which quickens
and gives life; which Word is quick, piercing, and
exceeding powerful, able to smite and wound death.
(See Rev. i. 16, lsai. 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 general ; but for those more especially, on
whom lies the weight of the service in and towards
the body : so that, here, is prayer in its due season,

56 penington's letters.
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 con
cernment to thee ! In the grace of the gospel, in the
measure of truth and life from the quickening Word,
thou meetest with the whole armour of God. Thou
mayst there know it, thou mayst there put it on, stand
armed with it, and fight with success against thy soul's
enemies. Out of this, thou mayst get apprehensions
in 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 thy 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 Tenth Month, 1671.

LETTER XV.

The least Messenger of the Gospel is not to he despised. A
Change of Heart is to be sought, rather than a Sign.
What is Paul ? what is Apollos ? or what is Cephas 1
It is one and the same pure life and word of power,
which springs in all the 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 can be despised in their message,

penington's letters. 57
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 adul
terous 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 with us. If thou feel the principle
of Truth in thy own heart, and in 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 in their own hearts, may soon and easily do.

LETTER XVI.
Advice on Reading the Scriptures.
Friend, Hearken to a word 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 mayst, from him, feel
the right limit to thy mind, in reading the Scriptures.
For, the mind of man 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 under-
standingly to distinguish, between God's opening to
thee words, concerning the kingdom and the things of

58 penington's letters.
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 mayst live dependently
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 wis
dom 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 understand
ing, 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 mayst see light and enjoy life. For, if thou didst
certainly and infallibly understand all the words,
descriptions, and testimonies concerning the thing in
the Scriptures ; yet, it is one thing to understand words,
testimonies, and descriptions ; and it is another matter
to understand, know, enjoy, possess, and live in that
which the words relate to, describe, and bear wit
ness of.
And, Friend, if thou wilt be an inward Jew, and
know and understand the laws of life, the laws of the
new covenant, thou must read them in those tables,
where God writes them in and by the new covenant
Indeed, by reading in the letter, thou mayst read testi
monies 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

penington's letters. 59
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 XVII.

On the Righteousness which is of Christ, on the Manhood 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 him, that he denies the "Trinity," redemp
tion by Christ's blood, and imputed righteousness, thou
mayst read his apology touching 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 Christ, 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 iniqui-

60 penington's letters.
ties 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 sub
stance of true religion ; the sum and substance whereof,
doth not stand in getting a notion of Christ's righteous
ness, 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 righteousness.
And where Christ is not, there is not his righteousness;
but only a notion thereof, from apprehensions formed
out of the Scriptures by man's wisdom, 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
destroy 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, and bringing the creature into sub
jection 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 power 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, salva-

penington's letters. 61
tion 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 right
eousness 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
disciples, " 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 righteousness 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 ofhis own life in the Son, and
the Son in his life ; and the Son justifies what is of the
Father in us, (what is of the Father's nature, the
Father's spirit, the Father's life,) and justifies us from
that, by his blood, from which we cannot otherwise
be justified. O how precious 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 ourselves
to perform ; but the 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 the faith
which is of him. And here, is free-will 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 Christ? or make a Christ, a righteous
ness, a Saviour of our conformity? Oh! how wilt
thou do, when God shall plead with thee for these
6

62 penington's letters.
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 sufferings and death, and his sit
ting at the Father's right hand in glory : but then, we
affirm, that there is no true knowledge of him, or union
with him, but in the seed or principle of his life in the
heart; and that therein he appears, subdues sin, and
reigns over it, in those that understand and submit to
the teaching and government of his Spirit.
But, we cannot set the manhood above the life, and
make lhat the main or chief in the work of redemp
tion, and the life and Spirit of his Godhead, but sup
porting, enabling, and carrying him up in that great
undertaking. Consider, I pray thee, if what thou sayst be not con
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? Was it not the Son ? " Lo!
I come," saith he, " a body hast thou prepared me."
And was it not he, that laid down his glory, and made
himself of no reputation, but came in the form of a
servant, (took upon him man's nature,) did not he do
the work in man's nature 1 Did not the eternal Spirit
sanctify the body in the womb ? Did not the eternal
Power act in 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, 0 Father ! glorify thou me with

penington's letters. 63
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 and 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 ; in which measure, we par
take of his death, and 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 reconciled 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 wis
dom of 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 wine of the kingdom 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
assertest; that is, attributing redemption properly to
the manhood, and consequently improperly, in the
second place, only as an assistant, to the Spirit and
life ofthe Godhead. But, if thou wouldst rightly dis
tinguish, it were more proper 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.

64 penington's letters.
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 beside me
there is no Saviour." The Word 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 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 sight : for, we own Christ to be a Saviour ; but
we lay the main stress upon the life, which took upon
it the manhood. 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 measure of this life, can
deny the appearance of the fulness of life in that body
of flesh, and what he did therein towards the redemp
tion and salvation of mankind.
Oh ! pure, spotless Lamb of God, how precious was
thy sacrifice in the eye of the Father ! how acceptable
a ransom for all mankind ! For, in the free, full, and
universal love of the Father, " he tasted death for
every man."
I. P.

penington's letters. 65

LETTER XVIII.
On the Religious 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 per
fectly, both in myself and others ; yet, the spirit of thy
letter doth so strongly draw, that I cannot be wholly
silent. This, therefore, in the uprightness, fear, and tender
ness of my heart, I say to thee.
There is a pure principle of life in the heart, 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 enabled by him to reach to, in thy children ;
that thou mayst 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
reaching 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 mayst judge us, our principles and practices, and
approve or disapprove, &c. But, wait to feel that
4#

66 penington's letters.
raised in thee, which judges righteous judgment in
every particular ; and wait the time of its judgment,
and be still and silent, further than manifestly thou
knowest that it, and not thou, judgeth.
And, as to thy children, daily feel the need of
instruction from the Almighty, to govern and direct
them, and wait daily to receive it from him ; and
what thou receivest, 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, that 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, ihey will not
need to be taught that outwardly ; "but, if a true sense
be kindled in them, though ever so young, from that
sense will arise breathings to Him that begat it, suita
ble 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.

penington's letters. 67
LETTER XIX.
A Day of Calamity.
To a Friend in London ; supposed to be written on
occasion of 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 him ? dost
thou desire strength from him, to trust thyself and
thy family with him ? 0 that thou mayst 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 thyself, but wait
ing for his appearance in thee, who 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 somewhat to travel out of, and somewhat to travel
into, and the Lord drawing and leading thee. And

68 penington's letters.
this stroke, which is so dreadful to others, nor alto
gether 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 know
ledge which will not now stand thee instead.
Thy Friend,
LP.
8th of Seventh Month, 1665.

LETTER XX.
The Spiritual Life is to be 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 are written on
my heart, and I cannot but desire your peace and
welfare, 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 ye will feel the
seed, lifting up its head over that which oppresseth it.
Why should the royal birth be a captive in any of you 1
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 ? 0
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 cry for my own soul, and I cry for yours

penington's letters. 59
also, that in one virtue and power of life, we may be
knit together, and serve the Lord our God in perfact
unity of spirit.
My Friends, what shall I say unto you? Oh ! the
Lord keep you living and sensible, and let your walk
ing and converse be with him, both in private and in
your assemblings ; 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 con
cerns, which eat like a canker, be kept out by the
power of that life, which is yours, as ye abide in cove
nant with him that hath gathered you, by his pure
light 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 my love and tender care of you in the quick
ening 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 evermore ; which is the blessed
end of the Lord's love to you, and all the faithful tra
vails which have been for you.
Your Friend and brother in the Truth, I. P.
From my place of confinement in Aylesbury,
20th of Fourth Month, 1666.
Even when ye were sitting together, waiting on the
Lord, (some of you, I doubt not,) did these things spring
up in my heart towards you; and, if ye taste any
sweetness or refreshment in them, bow to the Foun
tain, and be sensible of his praise springing in the midst
of you.

70 penington's letters.

LETTER XXI.
On True Judgdment, and on Prejudices ; also on the variety
of Gifts and Stations in the Church.
To Friends of Truth in and about the two Chalfonts.*
As a father watcheth 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 feel
ing sense. There is that near you which watcheth to
betray : 0 ! 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 hath sown in you, is pure
and precious. O that it may be found living in you
and ye abiding in it ! 0 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

* I. P. and his wife appear to have been instrumental in gath
ering the Friends of that neighbourhood to the knowledge ofthe
Truth, as held by the Society.

penington's letters. 71
therein stand, in the pure dominion, over all 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 thereof 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 conceitedness,
will get up in you, and lead you far out of the way
and spirit of Truth. 0 my dear Friends ! that that
may be kept down in you, which is forward to judge,
to approve or disapprove ; and may the weighty judg
ment 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 sense 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 exceed
ingly thirst after your preservation and growth in 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 hearls in the pure
and single watch ; that the enemy, by any subtle device

72 penington's letters.
of his, break not in upon you ; nor ye, by any tempta
tion, 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 tra
vailed for you in the Spirit of the Lord.
From your brother and companion in the faith,
patience, and afflictions of the seed, I. P.
Aylesbury Prison,
25th of Eleventh Month, 1666. postcript.
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 service
able in his hand and leadings, to build you up; and
then, that which is ready to hearken 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 have 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 with 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 Him that sent him ; and he
that undervalues any gift, office, 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, dif
ferent degrees, different growths, different places, &c?

penington's letters. 73
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 evange
lists, apostles, pastors, teachers, &c, and the other
members of the churches were not equal with them.
He hath given fathers and elders now, and the babes
and young men are not equal with them. Thus 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 no otherwise.
I. P.
26th of Eleventh Month, 1666.

LETTER XXII.
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 counsel
therein, that it may be done in the unity of his life ;
that so Friends in Truth may feel it to be of God, and
and find satisfaction therein.
Friends, the affectionate part will be forward in
things of this nature, unless it be yoked down ; and it
7

74 penington's letters.
will persuade 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 the 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 ufon your spirits afterwards,
and the fruits and effects of it will not be good, but
evil ; and then, perhaps, ye will 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 pro
vidence, hath given you a little time of respite. 0
retire unto him, and abase yourselves before him, and
pray him 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, and be orderly
brought before Friends, and their counsel and advice
sought in the fear of the Lord, they will have unity
with it, and with gladness express their unity ; which
may be a strength unto you, against the tempter after
wards. This is in true love to you, and in singleness of
heart, the Lord knoweth. From your Friend in the
Truth.
LP.
4th of Third Month, 1668.

penington's letters. 75

LETTER XXIII.
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 concern
ing it ? O prize this love of God to thee ! and watch
and pray, and come into the pure fear ; that thou
mayst 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 vir
tue upon thy heart day by day. For, after the Lord
hath been at work, the enemy will be at work also ;
and thou mayst both meet with him without, and within
too, in reasonings and questionings against the demon
strations of God's Spirit to thy heart and conscience.
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 experiences, 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

76 penington's letters.
and heights ; but the deep said, It is not in me, and the
highest mountain and hill 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. Now, if any among us are not thus
taught, but only own the doctrines of Truth published
among us, being thereunto overcome by the demon
stration 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 up 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 any thing
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 humility 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 conscience, by the holy,
eternal, ever-living power ; that so, thou mayest wit
ness, 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, the enemy is so resisted, that he
fleeth ; and the name of the Lord is, indeed, a strong

penington's letters. 77
tower to his children, to which his seed know how to
retire and feel safety.
O the conquering faith, the overcoming life and
power of the Spirit ! We cannot but speak of those
things; and cry up the perfect gift, and the power of Him,
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 per
fectly, 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
hast found the pearl ; the Lord, in mercy to thee, hath
discovered 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 any thing
else, be dearer to thee than him, he will look upon
thee as unworthy of him ; and cannot 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 salva
tion ; and be faithful in the little, in the day of small
things, if ever thou desire to enjoy and be ruler over
7*

78 penington's letters.
much. The Lord may exercise thee in, and require
of thee, little things ; as he hath done the rest of the
flock, whose footsteps thou art to follow to the Shep
herd'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 simple, like
a child, not taking care what to answer wise profes
sors, nor what to answer the reasoning of thy own
mind ; but, seeing thou hast felt the demonstration of
Truth from God's Holy Spirit, O ! breathe unto the
Lord, to preserve thee in the innocency and simplicity
thereof, that the Lord may still be with 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 ques
tionings and reasonings, which the enemy raiseth 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 sub
tle reasoner, the entangler of the soul ! take heed of
consulting there, where he lays his baits to entangle

penington's letters. 79
the mind, and undo the work of God's power in the
heart; and so, to make unwilling again, after the Loid
had made willing. The steps which the soul takes in
the power, even the inclining of the mind towards the
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 perdi
tion ; they 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 de
sire, that thou mayest feel the Lord's preservation of
thy sou], 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. I. P.
3d or 4th of Tenth Month, 1668.

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 every thing ;
that so, he may travel through all that is contrary to
the Lord, into that nature and spirit which is of Him.

80 penington's letters.
It is a wonderful thing, also, to witness God's pre
servation from backsliding, and^ from being entangled
by the subtlety of the enemy ; who hath many ways
and faking 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 Fa
ther? 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 ; keep
ing 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 exercises 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 be advancing
nearer and nearer towards the kingdom ; until thou
find the Lord God administer an entrance unto thee
thereinto, and give thee an inheritance of life, joy,
righteousness, 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 presence 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 feeling 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 reasonings of men, and
all the devices of the enemy of thy soul, shall not be

penington's letters. 81
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 exceedingly turn
to his praise ; and so, thou shalt experience, that whom
God preserves, all the gates of hell shall not be able to
prevail 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 fur
ther 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,
wherewith 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.
LP.
23d of Tenth Month, 1668.

LETTER XXV.
The Blessedness of Suffering for Christ's Sake.
To Elizabeth Walmsley.
Dear Friend*,
Who art lovely to me in that precious life, where
with the Lord hath visited thee, and wherein he hath
brought thee forth for his service, and to his praise.

82 penington's letters.
Our Father is wise and '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 can
not 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, whereby 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
and 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 re-
pineth not at the instruments which he permitteth to
afflict them ; but they love the Lord and love his Truth,
and are faithful in their testimony thereto, whatever
befals them. Yea, they rejoice that they are counted
worthy to suffer in any kind for his name's sake, and

penington's letters. 83
are like lambs before the shearers, not opening their
mouths in a way of murmuring or reviling ; But in
stead thereof, pitying them, praying for them, and
blessing; because God hath made them children of
love, children of peace, children 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 put 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 chil
dren and servants, which looks over this world, with
the affairs and concerns thereof, to that which is im
mortal and invisible ; where our life is hid from others,
though made manifest in and felt by us, from the liv
ing spring which quickens, nourisheth, and refresheth.
And as afflictions abound from men, so shall consola
tions, 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, (particu
larly M. 0.); 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 child, 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,
LP.
18th of Second Month, 1670.

84 penington's letters.

LETTER XXVL
Exhortation, chiefly, on Revelations, xiv. 7, " Fear God, give
Glory to Him," &c.
To Widow Hemmings.
Dear Friend,
Since 1 last saw thee, there have been many deep
and serious thoughts on my heart concerning 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, which 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
covenant, where Christ 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 faithful to God, to obey and follow him, in
whatever he teaches and requires of thee.
If thou wert but in this state, thou wouldst find
sweetness and rest, peace and power, the righteous
ness of our Lord Jesus Christ, and life eternal, revealed
in thy own heart ; and with joy draw water out of the
wells of salvation.

penington's letters. 85
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 in and by the gospel. The first is, to
fear God. This is the beginning of true heavenly
wisdom, and this is the perfection 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, " Per
fecting holiness in the fear of the Lord." Now, this
is not such 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 depart
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 flows from
the former, is, to give glory to God, in discerning his
life and power, and tne 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 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 themselves; 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,
8

86 penington's letters.
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 worship
pers which appear 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 find 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 profes
sion 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 mayst 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, bear
ing it till he finish it, and bring it forth unto victory.
For, this is the way whereby he purges and redeems
the 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 fhee ; that
he may raise up that good and tender plant of right
eousness, out of the dry and barren ground, to which
his mercy is.
If thou come to know God's Spirit, and to receive

penington's letters. 87
it, and feel it work in thee, and its pure light shine
from the fountain and spring of life, thou wilt have a
quicker sense and discerning therefrom, than 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 needful ; 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 uppermost, and reign over it.
Perhaps these words, at present, may be hard unto
thee : but, if thou 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 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 in spirit, to be very pro
perly 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 in the
heart, to resist or oppose his work.
The Lord so guide thee, manifest himself to thee,
help thee, and lead thee by his Holy Spirit and power,
as that thou mayst come undeniably to experience, and

88 penington's letters.
to be satisfied by him about these things. And mind
not so much to know, 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 dark
ness would fight against thy subjection thereto. The
Lord lead thee as he seeth good, and give thee faith
fully to follow ; for else, if the Lord should lead in any
thing, 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 mayst live and walk with him therein, who is,
and dwells, and walks with his, in the light. 0 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 may teach
us of his ways, and we may there learn of him to
walk in his paths ; 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 Eightli Month, 1670.

penington's letters. 89

LETTER XXVII.
Advice and Sympathy under Trial.
To Elizabeth Walmsley.
My very dear Friend,
Many are the trials, afflictions, and temptations,
which the Lord seeth good to exercise 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 his 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 sprang 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 innocency ; 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, and instructeth the bird to escape his snare.
My dear love is to thee, and to all faithful Friends.
The Lord keep you from hearkening to the enemy,
and make you faithful to him, in the pure innocency
and heavenly 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
8*

90 penington's letters.
us to overcome, through faith in his power, — and from
the overflowings of the conquering 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 in
the Truth which changes not, I. P.
Catsgrove,
14th of Tenth Month, 1670.

LETTER XXVIII.
Of Obedience in Confessing Christ; also on the Light of Christ.
To Elizabeth Stonar.
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 behoves 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
simplicity 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 1 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 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 wit-

penington's letters. 91
ness, whom I serve in my spirit, in the gospel of his
Son, that I have not sought myself, but your good ;
and that, not of myself 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 bitter enemy he might become
to me, for telling him the truth. I did it not unad
visedly, 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 question is, what this light is,
and where it is 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 Ihe 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 what
soever he learns, professeth, or practiseth, by imita
tion from the Scriptures. This is a weighty matter.
O come ! be not wedded to your own ways, nor
prejudiced against what God hath taught others ; bul,
let things be fairly scanned, that all things may be
proved, and that which is good held fast ; for, Truth

92 penington's letters.
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.
L P.
16th of Twelfth Month, 1670.

LETTER XXIX.

On the Life, inward Sense, and Power of the Spirit; also
Respecting the Scriptures, and the Church, &c.
To Nathaniel Stonar.
Dear Friend,
There is somewhat on my 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 inward light, the power of the pure light, and
art changed therebv, 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 light of the same

penington's letters. 93
nature from which they came ; and, when once a man
comes to the true understanding, he soon finds that the
understanding which he had of the same before, was
but after the flesh, even short of the nature of the true
understanding. And, Friend, consider, if thy know
ledge, 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,
notwithstanding all thy knowledge and practices in
religion? O do not dally in things of so great con
cernment, 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, I 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
outwardly, and a true church state, and right ordi
nances ? Did it not believe in Christ, and look up to
him for justification, &c. Nay, what did it want, as
to the outwardness of its state ? But, it wanted sense,
life, warmth, inwardly. So that, if ye had all ordi
nances and truths of the gospel light outwardly ; yet,
if ye wanted the inward power, ye could not but want
the tried gold, the white raiment, and eye-salve: 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, notwithstanding all the
religious covers they can put upon themselves. O that
thou hadst desires, living desires, after the nature of
Truth ! and wert acquainted with ihe new nature,
which can be satisfied with nothing but the virtue, life,
and power of Truth.
Come, Friend, wait on the Lord, to have the old
nature, the old spirit, mind, wisdom, understanding,

94 penington's letters.
and will, broken, — the old garment torn to pieces ; that
thou mayst come to experience 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 offence, to them that are out of the life ; and
who judge of things by their apprehensions of the let
ter, without the spirit of life and power. As the Scribes
and Pharisees formerly did, and so condemned Christ
in his appearance in the flesh ; those who judge after
that manner now, cannot but condemn his spiritual
appearance in the hearts of his 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
things, thou wilt bless his name, for engaging my heart
to write them to thee ; but, if thou read them, out of
that which 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 labour of love with my God,
who is my strength and joy ; in whom my soul rests
in peace, in the bosom of my Beloved. And, 0 ! that
thou also mightst feel quickenings of life and true

penington s letters. 95
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,
LP.
7th ofthe Fourth Month, 1671.
POSTCRIPT.
The apostle speaks ofthe 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 ofthe 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 with
out 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 Christian, 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 !
It is precious, to know the Spirit of the living God,
to be begotten by him 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

96 penington's letters.
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 from the strength
and dominion of them. And, it is precious, to walk
with the Lamb, and to follow the Lamb whithersoever
he goes ; who always leads out of sin and unrighteous
ness, into ways of purity and righteousness, 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 not 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 commandment 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 in the light and life of his pure Spirit, how glo
rious, how beautiful, how lovely is it, even in the eye
of God himself! " Thou art all fair, my love, there is
no spot in 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 in 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 not 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 peo
ple naked, and gather them out of the spirit of this
world, that they should be empty and desolate forever;
but, he gathers them 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 with peace and joy, in believing and obeying the
gospel ! And, in this Spirit, is the kingdom known,

penington's letters. 97
which is not of this world, — the inward kingdom, the
spiritual kingdom, the everlasting kingdom ! — where
the everlasting 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 Hemmings.
Dear Friend,
I think it long since I heard from thee. I remember
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 hope 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, accept
ance 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 acceptance ; for God never disowned it, nor
any that are in it. Here, the flesh and blood, which
give life, are fed on ; here, the bread which comes
down from heaven, and the water of life, are known ;
but, out of this, they are not, nor can they be known.
9

98 penington's letters.
O my Friend ! that thou mightst feel more and
more the Truth in the inward parts, and be more and
more established therein. What is the feeding out
ward, or supper outward ? It is but a shadow. The
feeding inward, or the supper inward, is the substance,
And, as the day dawns, and the day-star arises in thy
heart, the 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 minis
tration of life, the ministration of the substance, reaches
to the seed : and, thou must be more and more trans
planted 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. O ! 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 and blessing.
I 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
sincere Friend, 1. P.
4th of Ninth Month, 1673.

LETTER XXXI.

Deliverance from Spiritual Enemies by Christ, &c. ; also of
Offences.
Dear Friend, —
For, in those true desires, which I observe in thy

penington's letters. 99
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
in Egypt, in the wilderness, and in the good land also ?
And shall he not do so inwardly, 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, which is in some measure
renewed, and made good and honest. Now, all 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,
being received, subjected to, dwelt in, and obeyed,
brings deliverance and salvation from them all. And,
when salvation 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 spiritual enemies, by the holy, inward,
and spiritual covenant, is to serve God in the dominion
of his Son's life, in holiness and righteousness all its
days here upon the earth.

100 penington's letters.
O my Friend ! mind this precious Truth inwardly,
this precious grace inwardly, the precious life inwardly,
the precious light inwardly, the precious power in
wardly, the inward word of life, the inward voice of
the Shepherd in the heart, the inward seed, the inward
salt, the inward leaven, the inward pearl, (fee. whereby
Christ effects this. Distinguish between words without
concerning the thing, and the thing itself within ; and
wait and labour, then, to know, understand, and be
guided by, the motives, leadings, drawings, teachings,
quickenings, &c. of the thing itself within. And, take
heed of being offended, 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 pre
cious servant of the Lord, spake unadvisedly with his
lips ; how easy is it, then, for those* who come not near
Moses's state, so to do; but, wait on God, that thou
mayst 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 us, 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 performing of
these things, there is a living testimony. Now, take
heed of mistaking the testimony in any ; or of being
stumbled, if any go beyond their due bounds in their
testimony. 0 my Friend ! how precious is the thing, beyond
all words or testimonies ! O that thou mayst come to
know that in thyself, and to be sensible of God's minis
tering by it to thee, and increasing it in thee ! that thou

penington's letters. 101
mayst experimentally 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, the
righteousness itself! and, that thou mightst find the
Lord Jesus Christ both unclothing and clothing thee,
inwardly, sensibly, and experimentally ; — that thou
mightst find him taking away thy sin, thy iniquities,
thy unrighteousness, both within and without also, and
filling thee, and clothing thee with his righteousness ; —
that so, in God's sight, and by his putting on thee, and
forming in thee, thou mightst find thy heart filled and
covered with the nature, image and Spirit of his dear
Son ; — that thou mightst, 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 the spirit of thy mind ; — and so, have a cer
tain understanding of the Truth, as it 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 hin
drances 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, and gather both your minds thereunto, and
make you one therein.
Thy Friend in Truth, who heartily wisheth well to
thy soul.
LP.
Grove Place,
17th of Ninth Month, 1673.

9*

102 penington's letters.

LETTER XXXII.
Encouragement to Faithfulness under Apprehension of Suf
ferings.
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 mayst 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 my heart to thee, as God's
counsel, proper to thy state. Have no fellowship with
the unfruitful works of darkness, 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 suf
ferings as great as possible, yet he is faithful, 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 in thy place, and he will
stand by thee. Take heed of joining with dead wor
ships, which the seed of God in thee disowns, and can
not relish; but, meekly and in fear, testify against,
and abstain from, what thou feelest not to be of the
Lord. This was what was in my heart to thee at present,
in true and tender love, and in melting desires for thee,

penington's letters. 103
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, learn 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, sup
port, nor comfort.
Thy Friend, in the truest, sincerest, and most con
stant love, I. P.
London,
1st of Ninth Month, 1675.

LETTER XXXIII.
Exhortation Relative to the Christian Life and Travel.
To Dulcibella Laiton.
Dear Friend,
Concerning whom I feel a travail, — this is the sense
of my 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 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

104 penington's letters.
the reasonings of thy mind, but dwell in the feeling
sense of life ; and then, that will arise in thee more
and more, which maketh 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. 0
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 per
fect work in them. O desire to be good, upright, and
perfect in God's sight ! and wait to feel the life, Spirit,
and power, which makes so. Come out of the know
ledge and comprehension about things, into the feeling
life; and let that be thy knowledge and wisdom,
which thou receivest and retainest 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 every thing, wherein that wis
dom, will, and mind, which is to be crucified, would
be judge ; for, it will judge amiss, and lead aside, if it
be hearkened to by thee. The Lord show thee the
snares and dangers to which thou art liable, and lead
thee out of them ; that whatever hindereth may be dis
covered to thee, and thy mind singly joined to that
which discovereth, that so it may be removed 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 weak and foolish strong and wise,
and the wise and strong weak and foolish. 0! wait
to feel and understand my words, that thy conversa
tion may be ordered aright by the power and wisdom
of God ; and that thou mayst inwardly come to wit
ness the glorious coming of Him, who is the salvation
of God, and in whom thou shalt not fail to see the sal
vation of God.
Thou must be very low, weak, and foolish, that the

penington's letters. 105
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 mayst 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, temptations,
and dangers many ; and yet the mercy, relief, and
help, is great also.
0 ! that thou mayst 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 thou mayst 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,
LP.
11th of Fifth Month, 1677.

LETTER XXXIV.
On Decay of " First Love," and a Hardened State through the
Deceitfulness of Sin.
To George Winkfield.
Dear 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 mayst be
right in God's sight.
One is, that saying of thine about thy love to Truth
and Friends, as if it were as great as ever it was.

106 penington's letters.
Now, I entreat thee to weigh this thing, and to wait on
God to know, whether it be really so or no ; which
thou mayst understand by this : if thou be as really
desirous, and waitest, 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 commandments 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 commandments.
1 John, ii. 3.
The other is, that thou saidst, thy heart is not hard
ened. O ! consider this seriously ; for, if thy heart be
hardened, and thou not sensible of it, thy estate is ex
ceeding dangerous. 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 reason
ings into thy mind, against any thing 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 de
ceived 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
harken to it, and were not lulled asleep in the deceit.
And, there must be a daily watching against that
which deceives and hardens, as the apostle there ad-
viseth them to exhort one another unto, lest the enemy

penington's letters. 107
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 before the Lord, whether thy walking be
answerable to truth, so far as thou knowest Truth ;
and whether thou art willingly ignorant of any thing,
which the good God is willing and ready to give thee
the knowledge of, that thou mayst take the 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 Truth and Substance of Religion.
To Sir William Drake (so styled).
First. There is a God, a holy, righteous, living,
powerful 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
image, which was his glory, and became brutish in

108 penington's letters.
understanding, and an enemy to God in his mind, and
liable to the wrath of God's holy and righteous nature.
Thirdly. There is no reconciliation to be had be
tween 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 reconciled to, or have fellowship with dark
ness, 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
workmanship 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 righteous
ness of Truth, a son and servant to the living God;
— or he can never know what belongs to true recon
ciliation with God, and to fellowship with Llim 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 witnessed, nor power received to abstain
from what is evil, and to 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 with
out 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.
Sixthly. This religion and worship, which stands
in Spirit, life, and power, is the religion and worship,

penington's letters. 109
which Christ set up about sixteen hundred years ago.
John iv. 23, 24, 1 Cor. iv. 20. Rom. 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 power, which is both out
wardly testified of, and also inwardly 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
discourse 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 mistake or miscarry, by any means ; and,
if I might be helpful 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 advan
tageous, I have sent thee a few plain propositions 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 pro
fitable. 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 a safe and happy progress therein ; he daily
10

110 PENINGTON'S LETTERS.
waiting upon the Lord, to be taught and led by Him,
further and further, into the life, Spirit, and power of
Truth; so that, 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 wife,
and family, may be experiencers and happy partakers
of. O what a glorious state was man once in, before 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 lead
ings of God's blessed Spirit, into the glory of God
again ! Read 2 Cor. iii. 18 ; and, O that thou mayest
livingly and sensibly know what it means !
I remain an acknowledger of thy kindness, and a
desirer for thee, that thou mayest obtain from God the
knowlege 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 springings and openings
of his life in my heart.
19th of Fifth Month, 1678.

PENINGTON S LETTERS. Ill

LETTER XXXVI.
Concerning the Seed of the 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 Him. 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 honour to
his name, and good to thee. I have often inquired of
late concerning 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, and breathings to the Lord for
thee; and, 0 ! that thou mayst fully fee], and be joined
to the seed of life, the seed of the kingdom, which our
Lord Jesus Christ, in the days ofhis flesh, did not dis
dain 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, 0 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

1 12 penington's letters.
may be all in me : and, what I meet with and witness
here, what I feel the Lord Jesus Christ to be made to
me 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 righteousness 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 effectually
operating there, as ever the power of sin did. O ! that
thou mightst daily discern this, and feel this to grow
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.

penington's letters. 1 13

LETTER XXXVII.
Comfort and Counsel under Affliction.
To the Lady Conway.
Dear Friend,
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 in thy heart may
not be interrupted by any devices of the enemy ; but,
that it may go on and prosper in thee, in the springing
up of the pure seed of life in thy heart, and in the
powerful overturning, by the mighty arm ofthe Lord,
of all that is contrary thereto in thee. O that thou
mayst daily feel that holy birth of life, which is begot
ten by the Father, and lives by faith in him ! — I say,
O that thou mayst daily feel it living in thee, when
temptations and trials on every hand increase — feel the
birth of life, which will cry to the Father, " Lord, in
crease 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 re
proved in thee; nor the Comforter, in any respect
wherein thy soul wants comfort; noB-the holy Coun
sellor 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 wast
ing of sin and death, and the daily springing of life
and holiness in thy heart. The pearl is worth thou
sands of worlds, with the greatest earthly glory and
10*

114 penington's letters.
pleasure imaginable. O that thou mayst be taught of
God to discern it more and more, and to buy it, and to
come into the enjoyment and possession of it ! The
Lord manifest Zion more and more to thee, and show
thee the glory of it, and set thy feet towards it ; and
put into thy heart to seek of him the way to it, renew
ing thee more and more in the spirit of thy mind,
whereby the way comes clearly to be discerned, and
faithfully walked in ; that thou mayst 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.
POSTCRIPT.
My dear Friend,
Some time after writing the foregoing, this arose in
me to thee. If the Lord, in thy waiting 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
mayst receive from the Lord true judgment concern
ing 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

PENINGTON'S LETTERS. 115
and distressed, the more thou art fitted for, and the
more abundantly shalt thou partake of, his mercy and
strength ; waiting upon him in the meek, quiet, patient,
and resigned spirit, which he will not fail to work thy
mind into ; that, in the issue of all, thou mayst reap
the quiet fruits of righteousness and heavenly peace
from his hand. Amen, so be it from the Lord to thy
soul!

LETTER XXXVIII.
On the Benefit of Chastening by Afflictions.
To the Lady Conway.
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 Scripture
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 ten
der 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
us ; yet, notwithstanding this, there remains somewhat
at first, yea, and perhaps for a long time, which is to
be 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 mea
sure, 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 hid-

116 PENINGTON'S LETTERS.
den things, ofthe old nature and spirit, still remaining;
which, perhaps, appear not, but sink inward into their
root, that they may save their life ; which, man can
not possibly find out in his own heart, but as the Lord
reveals them to him. But, how doth the Lord find
them out ? 0 consider ! his -" fire is in Zion, and his
furnace in Jerusalem." By his casting into the fur
nace of affliction, the fire searcheth. The deep, sore,
distressing affliction, which rends and tears the very
inwards, finds out both the seed and the chaff, purify
ing the pure gold and consuming 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 operation of the fire. 0
that thy soul may be tried unto victory over all that
is not of the pure life in thee ! and, that thou mayst
wait to feel the pure seed, or measure of life in thee,
and die into the seed, feeling death unto all that is not
of the seed in thee ! and, that thou mayst 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 place
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 tender 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, meek
ness, (fee, which thou, or any else, otherwise can at
tain unto. O ! 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

PENINGTON'S LETTERS. 117
afflictions work out an exceeding weight of glory, O
what shall the inward do for those, who are humbly,
brokenly, and faithfully exercised before the Lord by
them ! 0 ! 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 mayst 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 ter
ribly 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, inwardly be forming the new hea
vens 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 keep thy mind stayed upon him, in whatever be-
fals 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 mayst go on
in the disciple's state, learning righteousness and holi
ness of Him, who teacheth to deny and put off unho-
liness and unrighteousness, and to know, embrace, and
put on newness of life, and the holiness and righteous
ness thereof.
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 and fitted by the
Lord for it, and will not tarry.
LP.

118 PENINGTON'S LETTERS.

LETTER XXXIX.
On being Ingrafted into Christ, being Preserved Alive in Him,
and Growing up in Him 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
mayst know the Lord in his own pure teachings, and
travel into, and dwell in, the fulness of the kingdom of
his dear Son ; and that thou mayst 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 mystery of godliness opened and established
in thy heart, in the room thereof; — Christ formed in
wardly ; 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 sweetness, 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, Spirit, and righteous
ness. Oh! this is indeed the pure, precious, living know
ledge of the Lord Jesus Christ ; which all the outward

PENINGTON'S LETTERS. 119
knowledge tends to lead to, and is comprehended and
ended in. This is the excellency of the knowledge of
Jesus Christ our Lord, which Paul was so ravished
with, and counted all things but dross and dung for.
Now, that thou mayst obtain this, mind the inward
appearance, the root, the fountain, the rock within, the
living stone within, — its openings, its springings, its
administering life to thee ; and take heed of running
into the outwardness of openings, concerning the
heavenly things ; but keep, 0 learn to keep, O mind
to keep in the inwardness of life within ! This is the
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 that 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 chil
dren 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 pos
sessing 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 righteous judgments and
do them : and He is able to do this work in the 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

120 penington's letters.
Lord in his ways, as some were taught and enabled
to do in former times, Isai. lxiv. 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
undefiled therein ; and, they that are kept undefiled
therein, taste the sweetness, blessedness, purity, and
holy pleasure thereof.
I would 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 which, 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 departed from my God. For all
his judgments were before 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 down and sub
dued. Certainly, 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 himself, 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 off, 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 possession 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 grow up in life and
virtue, and in a sensible understanding and experience
of the name of the Lord Jesus ! Is there not, in this

penington's letters. 121
state, a feeling of remission of sins, a feeling of redemp
tion, a feeling of reconciliation, a feeling of oneness
with God in Christ, a feeling of God being the salva
tion, strength, and song, and a trusting in him, and not
being afraid ? Isai. xii. 2. Is there not a being care
ful in nothing, but in every thing making the requests
to God, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving,
in that Spirit and holy breath of life, which the Father
cannot 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 mayst thou experi
ence all these things ! and, that thou mayst 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 nothing 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 by 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 in
thee more and more, and thou mayst daily feel thy
heart as a garden, more and more enclosed, watered,
dressed, and delighted in by him.
This is -a salutation of love from thy Friend in the
Truth, which lives and changes not.
I. P.
27th of Twelfth Month, 1678.

11

122 penington's letters.
LETTER XL.
Counsel to One Tossed as with Tempests.
Dear Friend,
Thy condition cannot but be weak and dark, until
the light of life arise in thee, and the power of the Lord
overcome aud 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 thy 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 uninterruptedly 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 con
cerning 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 redemption or the Redeemer left, but the
soul in a worse condition than 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,

penington's letters. 123
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 path.
How shall I speak to thee, how shall I mourn over
thee? O that thou mayst 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
mayst know the difference, between living upon some
what received from God, and, having God live with
thee, and administer life to thee at his pleasure; thou
being kept in the nothingness, emptiness, poverty, and
perfect resignation of spirit.
This counsel is to thee, through a poor, weak vessel,
I. P.

LETTER XLI.

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 him, and cause thee to
stand thy ground ; that thou give not advantage to that
spirit, which hereby would draw from the Lord, and

124 penington's letters.
from the way of life and happiness. O that thou
couldst dwell in the knowledge and sense of this ! even,
that the Lord beholds thy sufferings with an eye of
pity ; and is able, not only to uphold 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. Therefore, 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 com
plain, but to bless his name. He is exceedingly good,
and gracious, and tender-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 more because of it.
From thy truly loving Friend in the Truth, and for
the Truth's sake, I. P.

LETTER XLII.
On being Offended with those who fall into Temptation.
It is of the infinite mercy and compassion of the
Lord, that his pure love visiteth any of us ; and, it is

penington's letters. 125
by the preservation thereof alone, that we stand. If
He leave us at any time, but one moment, what are
we? and who 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 per
fectly redeemed, hath still matter for the temptation
to work upon, and may be taken in the snare. Let
him that stands, take heed lest he fall; and, in the
bowels of pity, mourn over and wait for the restoring
of him that is fallen. That which is so apt to be
offended, is the same with that which falls. O ! do
not reason in the high-mindedness, 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 withdraw-
ings of the life ! and the strength of the enemy in that
hour ! and the free grace and mercy which alone can
preserve ! and thou wilt rather wonder that any stand,
than that some fall.
When the pure springs of life open in the heart,
immediately the enemy watcheth his opportunity to
get entrance; 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 anytime ; 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 of this, in some mea
sure ? and what hinders, that he taste not of it in a
greater measure? 11*

126 penington's letters.
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.

LETTER XL1II.

The Mind may be stayed in Peace amidst the Enemy's
Accusations.
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 precious Truth ; of which he
hath not only given thee a taste, but, many times, a
full sense and experience.
0 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

penington's letters. 127
down thy head quietly in the bosom of Him, who
loves thee, 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, troubles, temptations, and accusa
tions, &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 conso
lation in the Son of his love, through the measure of
his grace 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.
Thv Friend, in the truest and most sincere love,
LP.

128 penington's letters.

LETTER XLIV.
On Resisting, and on Receiving God's Spirit; also on Redemp
tion by Christ 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 hath 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 resisteth, when he quencheth, or
when he grieveth the Spirit of the Lord; but, he tha,t
is not truly enlightened, nor in the true sense, cannot
do so. The Scribes and Pharisees, who were inter
preters of the law, and very strict in outward obser
vations 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 as 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 cannot
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 which 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 redeem-

penington's letters. 129
ing arm, to Christ the power of God, and gathered
into the power, and dwelleth in the Spirit and power
of the Lord Jesus, and is taught 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 quickens, 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 can
not but resist God's Spirit. He knoweth not, he
heedeth 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
rebelling against and resisting Him, who is the only
Saviour and Redeemer 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 mayst come into a right sense
and judgment, concerning the state of thine own soul ;
and mayst experience the Lord manifesting things to
thee, as indeed they are.
I. P.
15th of the Fifth Month, 1671.

POSTSCRIPT.
O Friend !
Wait to receive an understanding from the Lord,
that thou mayst 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.
I would not have thee deceived about that virtue,

130 penington's letters.
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 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, i. 7. " If we walk in the light, as
He is in the light, we have fellowship one with ano
ther, and the blood 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 out
ward things ; but, under the gospel, the blood of the
Lamb is sprinkled inwardly, upon inward and heaven
ly things. See Heb. ix. 13, 14, and 22, 23, and ch. x.
22, and xii. 24. O that thou didst truly and understand
ing^ know the difference, between thy own apply
ing Christ's blood to thyself, and the Lamb's sprink
ling it upon thee, and washing thy soul therein! Rev.
i. 5, and also, between thy own believing, according to
thy own apprehension 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 know
ledge 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 cove
nant, of all the true disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ ;
and, 0 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 understand
ing ; 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 ; that thou
mayst 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 !

penington's letters. 131
This, in very dear, true, and tender love, from
him, who most sincerely and heartily wisheth well to
thee.

17th of Fifth Month, 1671.

LP.

LETTER XLV.
Respecting some Snares of the 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 — whence 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 accu
sations 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

132 penington's letters.
distressed 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,
when the Lord is kind and tender to thee. When the
enemy entered thy habitation again, and broke thy
rest, peace, 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 opera
tion cleanseth the heart ; and here, thou wouldst be
limiting the Lord in his dealings, who worketh accord
ing 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, van-
isheth ; and there is no help for thee, by any thing thou
canst do or think. But, be patient, till the Lord's ten
der 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 mayst 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 wis
dom ; 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 wise ordering and
tender mercy I commit thee, remaining
Thy faithful Friend,
LP.

penington's letters. 133

LETTER XL VI.
Weighty Counsel.
To Sir William Armorer (so styled.)
Friend, The weighty sense of an eternal condition after this
life, hath been upon my heart from my childhood ; and
it is often with me, that I must give an account 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 Son, 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 preserved in love and inno
cency towards those, who most injuriously, and with
out 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 werl hanged.
God, who knows my heart, is witness, that I wish thee
no evil, neither to thee nor thy family ; but wish, thou
mayst avoid all such things, as may bring his wrath
and curse upon thee, either in this world or the world
to come. 12

134 penington's letters.
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
acceptable 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 endea
vour 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 truth, which
comes from the Christian 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, swear
ing ; 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 satisfaction, 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 some
what, which is pure, of God, appointed by him to
exercise the conscience towards him. Thou hast such

penington's letters. 135
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, mayst spend thy time
here in a vain show, and at last be judged ana con
demned 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, who never gave thee
the least cause or provocation so to deal with me.
I. P.

LETTER XL VII.
On an Unfaithful Profession of the Truth.
To Abraham 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 blesseth
them both inwardly 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,

136 penington's letters.
many times, miss of that also of the world, which they
seek and labour for.
Truth is honourable. O ! take heed of bringing a
reproach 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 convinced 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 them, in the day that
the Lord shall visit them with his righteous judgments.
O 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, after 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 which 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
profession. The Lord, who searcheth the heart, knows
how it is with 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 !
I 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.
L P.

peninoton's letters. 137

LETTER XL VIII.

Christ the Resurrection 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
Abraham, and, in due time, took up that body prepared
by the Father,) is the resurrection and 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 cir
cumcision is in him, the baptism in him, and the right
eousness, rest, and peace also ; yea, in him are all the
treasures of wisdom and knowledge ; and, he is made
of God, unto them that believe in him, wisdom, right
eousness, sanctification, and redemption, 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 apprehensions 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 spirit is alive in
many that profess Truth now, who, by their under
standing of Scripture words, are kept from the thing
which the Scriptures testify of. What did Christ corne
in the flesh and 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
12*

138 penington's letters.
in the flesh, his sufferings, resurrection, ascension, &c,
in that spirit, wherein the true union and reconciliation
is not witnessed ? If we receive the light, and wall-
in the light, as God is in the light, then have we a
share in his Son's death and atonement, and his blood
cleanseth from unrighteousness ; but not otherwise.
O that all who truly desire salvation, might kuow
the way hither, and receive that from God, which
cleanseth and keepeth clean. Amen.
LP.

LETTER XLIX.
To one who sent a Paper of Richard Baxter's.
Dear Friend,
Whom I often remember with love and meltings of
heart ; desiring of God, that thou mayst enjoy, in this
world, what ofhis 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 exhorteth them to do.
For, how can they come to a true sensibility or repent
ance, or join in covenant with God through Christ,
until they, know and receive somewhat 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

penington's letters. 139
wherein he is known, loved, and joined with in cove
nant ; 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 putrefy and defile ; but, pure life, felt and
enjoyed in the heart, which is undefiled, and never
saw nor shall see corruption; 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, a clearer leading into and guidance by that prin
ciple of life, in and through which, it pleased the Lord
then to quicken me. And this is it, which I have daily
experience of in my 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, 1665.

140 penington's letters

LETTER K
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 wor
ship 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 my heart at this time to thee, con
cerning 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
redemption and deliverance from the soul's enemies;
of which redemption every soul partakes, according 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 children, 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 knowledge of Him, who is from
the beginning.
Now, there are some things which belong to all in
genera], 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 partaketh of them, hath also a
share in, and benefit by, all the rest. First, he saith,

penington's letters. 141 '
" 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 nourishment 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
inheritance of light, and life everlasting. Fourthly,
There is " one Lord," who hath power over, and the
rule and dominion 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 virtue 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 the one Spirit ;
whereby, all the true members are baptized into the one
living body, and come to partake of the virtue, bene
fits, 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 which 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
everyone" in particular "is given grace, according to
the measure of the gift of Christ." Grace and truth
comes by Jesus Christ ; for the fulness is his, yea, he
is the fulness ; and of his fulness doth he give a mea
sure to each member in particular. Not to all a like
proportion, but to every one some ; as he pleaseth to
distribute and proportion out the gift of his grace to

142 penington's letters.
them. For, it is his own, and he may dispense his
gifts and heavenly talents as he pleaseth ; and, accord
ing 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,
in all he is and does.
Now, shall 1 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,
in resisting his Holy Spirit, and slighting the grace
and truth which is by Jesus Christ, which is now
powerfully revealed in many hearts : — blessed be he,
who hath visited his people with the horn of sal
vation.
LP.

LETTER LI.
On Shunning the Cross.
To Catharine Pordage.

Ah ! my poor, distressed, entangled Friend,
While thou seekest to avoid the snare, thou deeply
runnest into it : for, thou art feeding on the tree of
knowledge, in giving way to these thoughts, reason
ings, and suggestions, which keep thee from obedience
to that, which hath been made manifest to thy under
standing. And thou mayst well be feeble in thy mind,

penington's letters. 143
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 pities, nor the
right way of waiting to receive strength. Why
shouldst not thou act, so far as God gives thee 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
eyes of others, as this practice would make thee
appear ?
Thy Friend in the Truth, and in sincere love,
LP.
Amersham,
25th of Ninth Month, 1675.

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
praying one for another, and helping one another up
with a tender hand, if there has been any slip or fall ;
and waiting 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,

144 penington's letters.
that ye may enjoy the Lord in sweetness, and walk
sweetly, meekly, tenderly, 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 tender, 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, tender, righteous life reigning in you,
governing over you, and shining through you, in the
eyes of all with whom ye converse.
Your Friend in the Truth, and a desirer of your
welfare and prosperity therein. I. P.
Aylesbury,
4th of Third Month, 1667.

LETTER LIU.
On the Spiritual Appearance of Christ.
0 ! Friend,
That thou hadst the true sense of the drift of my
heart in writing and sending things to thee ! — which is
and hath been this — that thou mightst be acquainted
with that of God in the heart, which quickens to him ;

penington's letters. 145
and, in the light of that, mightst try thy heart and
ways, and so, only justify in thyself what God justifies,
and let all else go.
Shall the Lord appear mightily on the earth, and
Israel not know him ? Shall the professors of this age
understand 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 stumb
ling, but by coming out of that wisdom into babe-like
simplicity, which gives entrance into pure, heavenly
wisdom. And this I dare affirm, 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 Scriptures new. (they are so, indeed,
when God opens them,) duties new, ordinances new,
graces new, experiences new; a new church of the
Spirit's building, wherein He and thy soul may dwell
together ; and thou mayst be able to say, in the pre
sence of the Lord, This is a city of God's own build
ing, the foundation whereof is laid with sapphires,
whose walls are salvation, and its gates praise ! I. P.
12th of Third Month, 1669.

13

146 penington's letters.

LETTER 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 spring
ing up of hope, in the seasons the Father sees neces
sary ; that thou mayst not faint under his hand, but be
supported by his secret power, until his work be
finished. The great thing necessary for thee at pre
sent to know, is, the drawings of his Spirit; that thou
mayst not ignorantly 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, proportionable to thy distress, according to
thy eye. Nay, thou must become a child, thou must
lose thy own will quite by degrees. Thou must wait
for life to be measured out by the Father, and be con
tent 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 mayst feel it so ; and by degrees
come to the knowledge of thy Guide, who will lead

penington's letters. 147
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 com
prehend 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 the New Covenant. Profes
sors of the Day. Trial of spirits. Exhortation to wait for,
and walk in the Spirit
Dear Friend,
I received thy letter kindly, and in the tenderness
of love, which desires thy enjoyment of the Lord in
this world, and the eternal welfare 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 concerning such an one ? "I will pour out
my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto
you." Prov. i. 23.
Thou hast read, in the Scriptures, of the kingdom
of God, which,_Christ told the Pharisees, was within
them. 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

148 penington's letters.
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 ? 0 that it were thus with
thee !
Whereas thou sayest, The covenant, the new cove
nant, 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 cove
nant with you, even the sure mercies of David."
Isaiah, lv. 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 Spi
rit, 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 outward 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 to
wards any. If, therefore, any such thing was, be
assured it was in faithfulness to the Lord. All sorts
of Christians own Christ in words, but all do not dis
tinguish, discern, [nor are] subject to the appearances
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 rejected Christ's
appearance in flesh, in the days of his flesh ; and the
builders again refuse his appearance in spirit, in this

penington's letters. 149
day ofhis Spirit. O that any who are tender among
them might be sensible of it, that they might not 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, which then was in them, is not now to be found
among them. Truly, I speak not otherwise concern
ing them, but as I feel the Spirit of the Lord testifying
in me ; neither would I have mentioned 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 sayst, The spirits are to be tried
by the Scriptures ; I have found it otherwise in my
experience. The Scriptures may try words ; but,
nothing can try spirits, but the Spirit. " I will know,"
said the apostle, " not the words of them that are puffed
up, but the power." Deceivers may come with Scrip
ture words ; but they cannot come with the true
power. Therefore, the apostle John, who bade the
believers try the spirits, told them, they had an unction
from the Holy One, and pointed them to the anoint
ing. 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,
discerns all things, discovers all things, — every snare,
13*

150 penington's letters.
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 experi
enced, was hid from me ; and I cried out, " I 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, sanctification, and re
demption 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 compassions
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 that 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
abundance 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 discour
aged because of any weakness, or because of thy age.
What knowest 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, distinguished and
have scope in thee ; that it may spring up in thy heart
and live in thee, and gather thee into itself, and lea
ven thee all over with its nature ; that thou mayst be
a new lump, and mayst walk before God, not in the

penington's LETTERS. 151
oldness 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 demon
stration of his spirit in thy heart and conscience, —
touch thee, quicken thee, lead thee, — guide and make
thee sensible of every appearance of his ; that no mo
tion or drawing of his Spirit may be quenched in thee,
nor any motion of the contrary spirit, under any
deceivableness, hearkened to ; that thou mayst 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 an
hearty well-wisher to thee and thine.
LP.

LETTER LVI.

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 beea; the Lord having given thee a better sight
both of thy enemies, and of that wherein his strength
against them is revealed-
Now, what remains ? but that thou hope in him,
and breathe unto him, and hang upon him ; that his
virtue may flow into thee, and the mountains and
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 on him in

152 penington's letters.
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 entan
gle thee. 0 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 afflictions ; but, did he ever take away his loving
kindness from thee ? or did his faithfulness ever fail in
the sorest, blackest, thickest, darkest night that ever
befell thee ? And breathe to him, for the carrying on
of his work; that thou mayst feel his presence 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 in thee. I. P.
8th ofthe Eighth Month, 1666.

POSTCRIPT.
The enemy will be laying snares, and forging sub
tle 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 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 which
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 towards 'the enemy, towards the oppressor, not
towards thee. Nor doth He judge and smite the mind,

penington's letters. 153
after that manner that the enemy doth accuse ; but,
according to his own nature, sweetness, and tender
love. And, His judgments and smitings have other
effects, than the serpent's accusings 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 mayst discern
and distinguish these things; and, take heed of letting
in one bowing-down thought, (how manifest or demon
strative soever,) but look up 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 mayst be found always waiting upon him,
in the several exercises, wherewith he shall daily see
good to exercise thee ; till he bring forth his seed in
dominion in thee, and thereby give thee thy desired
and expected end.
LP.
9th ofthe Eighth Month, 1666.

LETTER LVII.
Of the Gospel Dispensation, and of the States of its Professors.
To Colonel Kenrick.
The gospel dispensation consists in spirit 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 word, but in power. Now, there are four sorts
of professors of the Christian religion in this our day,
one sort whereof only, are acquainted with the gospel
dispensation. First, There is one sort, which have been nurtured

154 penington's letters.
in a profession of Christianity by education, and have
improved it by study, but have never known the power,
virtue, and inward life thereof; but, as men, with the
man's part, wisdom, understanding, and seriousness of
mind, have considered of the truth and weight of
things contained in the Scriptures, and so have re
ceived somewhat of the holy doctrine into their natu
ral understanding, and given themselves up to the
observation and practice thereof, according 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 Chris
tianity ; yea, the strictest among these, many times,
become the greatest opposers and persecutors of true
Christianity. Secondly, There are some who have had a taste of
the true power, and have had living desires and breath
ings after it, and a sense of the preciousness and excel
lency of it ; who have also felt the quickening Spirit,
and began therein ; and yet, have afterwards lost that
sense, and centered 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 sea
soned again ; and from among these, do rise the great
est persecutors and bitterest persecution against the
life, Truth, and power.
Thirdly, There are some, who, though they never
came to the distinct knowledge of the power, yet have
had a great sense of their want of it, and have abode
in that sense ; and, in all the ways and forms of reli
gion 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 the cry of their souls is
daily after it, and their waiting is for it. These, where-
ever they are, are of the true seed ; these are the birth
of the heavenly Spirit and wisdom ; these are sheep of
the true Shepherd's fold, though not yet gathered home
to the fold to which they properly belong. These are

penington's letters. 155
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, salva
tion, and redemption 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 holi
ness, and are come to the commandment which is
exceeding broad, and, wherein is life everlasting.
Now, these experience somewhat of the gospel dispen
sation, and know the difference between being under
the law and under grace ; and can tell, what the king
dom 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 justification is, and what sanctification, rege
neration, and redemption 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, which is written in the new heart and mind,
by the finger of God's pure and living power. Now,
the knowledge of these, the faith of these, the peace,
the joy, the justification, and sanctification, and re
demption 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 true Shepherd have somewhat of

156 penington's letters.
the true knowledge, somewhat of the true faith, some
what 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 sup
plications 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, under
standing, mind, and judgment, between the precious
and the vile. So that, when they speak of the hea
venly 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 delivered and redeemed from. But, it is other
wise with those, who are turned to the light and power
of our Lord Jesus Christ, and have known 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 understanding and language is given,
whereby they know and understand, not only words
concerning Him, but Him himself who is true, and are
in him that is true, even in Him, who is the very God
and life eternal.
Yet, there are different states among those, who are
thus effectually called and gathered home, according
to their growth in the Truth, and faithfulness to it.
For, if there be not a great care and watchfulness,
there may be a neglecting to hear the voice of the
Shepherd, and to walk with him : and then, such miss
of the pastures of life, and of the pure rest, joy, and
peace, which he administers to others ; and of the gar
ment or covering of the Spirit, which they, who live
and walk in, the Spirit, (in every thing giving up to
the Spirit, and denying all the lusts and fruits of the
flesh,) daily find themselves covered with. Nor doth

penington's letters. 157
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
separates,) and touch no unclean thing. Yea, they
who grieve Christ's Spirit, and do not heed his call
and knocks, 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 kingdom, as those whose ear is open
to him, and who are always ready to obey and follow
him " whithersoever he goeth."
S LP.
19th of Fourth Month, 1673.

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, receiving 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
outward 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 mayst 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,
14

158 penington's letters.
and of wines on the lees well refined. Christ said,
Henceforth I will drink no more of this fruit ofthe vine,
till I drink it new with 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 to
gether, when he sups with them ? O ! the Lord gives
thee an understanding, that thou mayst come to the
substance, feel substance, and inherit substance for
ever. " 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 communion 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, are
one bread and one body; for we are all partakers of
that ohe 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, ofthe one body of the living bread.
My dear Friend, the Lord give thee an understand
ing, and open thy heart, and cause thee to grow into
union and into sense of his Truth ; that by growing up
in the Truth, thou mayst come more and more to un
derstand it, and be acquainted with it.
Thy unfeigned Friend in the Truth, which is pure,
I. P.
Reading Gaol,
3d of Sixth Month, 1670.

penington's letters. 159

LETTER LIX.
Respecting the Payment of Tithes.
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 in
all true love, courtesy, and righteousness, in my deal
ings towards all men ; and that I would by no means
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 incurring
his wrath upon my soul ; which I have formerly found
very dreadful, and 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

160 penington's letters.
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 ; and, 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 mayst see how weighty the thing
is with me, and 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 dishon- '
our 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 ever so great,
(either from thee, or any thou shalt make use of,) than
expose my soul to so great inward misery and suffer
ings, for disobedience to the Lord in this particular.
Consider Ralph Trumper,* a just, tender, honest-
hearted man, — how much he hath suffered in this re
spect, 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, I must be sub
ject 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 allowed by Christ ; but, the
maintenance of the ministry Rome's power set up,
both which ministry, and its maintenance, is to be de
nied 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,
* See Besse's Sufferings of Friends, vol.. 1st, page 78,. 79.

penington's LETTERS. 161
ready to do thee any good, though I should suffer 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 mayst
purchase and possess the pearl of price ; and so know
and enjoy Christ Jesus, the Lord, as that thou mayst
witness him to be eternal life to thy soul.
I received a letter from thee, which occasions this
my writing to thee. It is precious, indeed, to have
the Spirit of God witness to us, that our sins are par
doned. And they who are truly pardoned, to whom
the Spirit so witnesseth, 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 love the world,
nor the things of the world, nor fashion 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
14*

162 penington's letters.
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
through 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 hath prepared 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 eleetion can
not perish, nay, the elect Seed cannot be deceived.
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 ; " To-day," said the apostle, " if ye will
hear his voiee;" and so, there must be a coming to
Christ, and an abiding- in him, and a walking in the
strait way ; for, it is the way God chooseth. God
hath chosen Christ, and the soul- in him ; and the mes
sage is, to invite to come to him, and abide in him to
the end. And the condemnation is, upon rejecting him,

PENINGTON'S LETTERSi 163
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
aboundings 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 faith*
ful, 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, this 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 cast
away." Thou sayst, Whom God once- loves-, he loves to the
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 alb the fami
lies of the earth be blessed-;" and, in- that seed, they

164 penington's letters.
are loved, and continuing there, they continue 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 are restored.
But, if any be hardened by " the deceitfulness 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 expres
sed, Rom. xi. 19, 20, 21, 22. Read, and consider.
And the apostle, in the sense of things, cries, " 0 the
depth !" (fee. 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 manage 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 hath appointed, (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 our best righteousness is as filthy rags, it is true;
but, the gift of God is not as filthy rags, the righteous
ness 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. 1 1 ; and consider, whether he
that offers up to God the male, offers up a corrupt
thing, a filthy rag, or no, ver. 14. 0 what a state of
blindness are many in, that they cannot distinguish
between what is of themselves, and 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

penington's letters. 165
sacrifice, with the holy fire, upon the altar of God !
Consider 3rd ch. 3rd verse of Malachi ; and tell me,
if thou knowest, what an offering 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
and pure? And is any thing wrought in him, but
what is holy and pure ? And mind that place, where
the prophet speaks, " All our righteousnesses are as
filthy rags," &c. Mind ver. 5, and ver. 6, of Isai.
Ixiv., and see if they be not two different states 1 None
of those, whose righteousness was as filthy rags, called
upon the name of the Lord, ver. 7. Did not the pro
phet call on the name of the Lord ? The prophet there
represents the state of backsliding Israel, that did not
remember God in his ways, nor, through faith, work
righteousness, as some others did, ver. 5; all their
offerings, 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 wis
dom teacheth. Indeed, when I speak of the light, and
the life, and the power, I do mean Christ Jesus, who is
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 mayst so do ! which

166 penington's letters.
is the hearty desire of thy soul's true and faithful
Friend,
LP.

LETTER LXI.
To his Brother Arthur, who became a Roman Catholic.
Dear Brother,
I have been a traveller after the Lord from my
childhood, and great misery have I undergone for
want of him. That which I wanted, was his Spirit,
life, virtue, and redeeming power to be revealed in my
own heart. 0 blessed be the Lord ! beyond my expecta
tion, 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 in 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 pos
sessed 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 in his goodness hath made me a partaker? 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 welfare of thy soul,
which I would not, by any means or device of the
enemy, have eternally deceived.
All sides may agree in notions about the regene
rating power ; but all do not receive the regenerating

penington's letters. 167
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 translated out of the kingdom of
darkness, into the kingdom of the dear Son. There
is a kingdom of darkness inwardly, which the unbe
lieving and disobedient to God's Spirit and power,
dwell in ; and 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 light.
But, that the work of regeneration is only begun in
this life, and not finished till the other life, that is a
great mistake. For, the Scriptures testify, that salva
tion 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 perfecting 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, but 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 ofthe
wicked one ; for, greater is He, in the saints, that pre
serves from sin, than he that tempts to sin. O ! how
precious is it, to war with the enemy in this conquer
ing faith, and to resist him therein ; that 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, but 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 moun
tain whereupon his house is built, which the wing of

168 penington's letters.
the Almighty overshadows; 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
be 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 king
dom, and the power and the victory, and the domin
ion is.
And, this is true blessedness begun, carried on, and
upheld, 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 wilderness ; 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 lifel 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 temple, — the man-
child having been caught up to God, and the true
church in the wilderness ; and men have generally put
darkness for light, and light for darknes. But, blessed
be the Lord ! the true light which shone in the apos
tles' days, now shines again ; and discovers the mys
tery 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 church leaned, when she came out of
the wilderness, — and still leans, and will lean upon
forever ; and the gates of hell shall not be able to pre
vail against her.

penington's letters. 169
And blessed be the Lord ! who hath brought many
wanderers and distressed 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 Son, and
with the saints who dwell in the light. These are
clothed with the Lamb's innocency and righteousness,
and do not dwell in darkness, nor in sin ; having cru
cified the old man with his affections and lusts, and
put off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circum
cision of Christ, and put on the new man which is
created, in Christ Jesus, in the righteousness and holi
ness of Truth. They that are here, dwell not in fan
cies, 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, 0 dear Brother ! 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 that which is the true church
indeed, which hath been persecuted by the dragon and
false church, and the blood of her seed made drunk
by the bloody dragonish 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,
which lives and abides forever ! O that thou knew
the church of the first-born, which are written in hea
ven, the Jerusalem which is above, which is free,
which is the mother of all who are born of the regene
rating virtue and power !
LP.
20th of Seventh Month, 1676.

15

170 penington's letters.

LETTER LXII.
Respecting his Brother, a Roman Catholic.
To Joseph Wright.
I entreat thy Son to acquaint my Brother Arthur,
that I took very kindly, and was very glad of his
affectionate expressions towards me ; having been
somewhat jealous, that though my religion had en
larged my love towards, him, yet, his religion might
have diminished his to me. I bless the Lord on his
behalf that he 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
pleaseth to administer to me, increaseth the health and
strength of my natural man, beyond my expectation ;
blessed be my tender and merciful Father, who hath
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 religion doth not lie 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 hand, which my soul wanted, I had never
meddled with 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 separa
ted me from that within, which separated me from

penington's letters. 171
him before ; and, thus being separated, truly, I feel
union with him, and his blessed presence every
day, — which, what it is unto me, my tongue cannot
utter. I could be glad, if the Lord 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 him 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 somewhat of my religion, which
teacheth to order the conversation 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 member
ship in this church ! where the true " gold," the " white
raiment," the pure " eye-salve" (with which the eye,
being anointed, sees aright) is received and enjoyed
inwardly, by such as the world knows not, but despi
seth : blessed be the name of the Lord !
I desire my sincere, entire affection, as in God's
sight, may be remembered to my dear Brother.
I. P.

172 penington's letters.

LETTER LXIII.
On Baptism by Water.
To William Rolls.
Friend, David saw through sacrifices and burnt offerings in
his time ; and the spiritual eye sees through all sha
dows 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 more 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 let
ter ; 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
mayst receive it from him, and thereby discern the
nature of that wisdom, from which God hath hid the
mystery in all ages and generations, and from which
he hides it still; that so thou mayst experimentally
know, what it is to become a fool in thyself for Christ's
sake, that thou mayst be wise in him ; concerning
which, 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 flowings of my love ; who desire, that thou mayst
not seek after the knowledge of the Scriptures in that,
which cannot understand them ; but, mayst meet with
the right key and the right understanding, wherein thy

penington's letters. 173
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.
LP.

LETTER LXIV.
On Unreserved Obedience.
To Bridget Atley.

Dear Friend,
I know thy soul desires to live ; and my soul desir-
eth, that thou mightst live. 0 ! why art thou so back
ward 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,
unless 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 foot
steps 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 ?
0 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
inclined thy heart, there is Truth, there were the begin
nings of salvation; but in that, which draws thee out,
15*

1 74 penington's letters.
to expect some great matters, and dries up thy present
sense, and hinders thy present subjection, therein is
deceit and the destruction of thy soul. Therefore,if thou
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, ways, thoughts, customs thereof,)
hasten out of. 0 turn thy back upon the world with
speed, and turn thy face towards the heavenly wisdom
and light eternal ! 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
proportion out daily to thee what light, what power,
what exercises, what straits, what fears, what troubles,
he sees fit for thee ; and do thou bow before him con
tinually, in humility of heart, who hath the disposal of
thee, whether to life or death forever. Ah ! that wis
dom, which would be choosing, must be confounded,
and the low humble thing raised, which submits, and
cries to the Father in every condition. And, in wait
ing to feel this, and, in joining to this, thou mayst meet
with life ; but death, destruction, and separation from
God, is the portion of the other forever ! O ! that thou
mayst 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 the traveller
begin and travel ; and in his faithful travels, (in much
fear and trembling, lest he should err,) the light will
break in upon him more and more.

penington's letters. 175
This have I written in tenderness to thee, that thou
mightest not miss of the path of the living, which is
appointed of the Father to lead, and alone can lead
the soul to life. O ! that thou mightest 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 cru
cify 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.
LP.
1665.

LETTER LXV.

To the poor among Friends, who are relieved by the
charity and bowels of love, which God opens in
other Friends towards them.
O Friends,
Ye ought deeply and often to consider of God's
visiting you with 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
provision, 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

176 penington's letters.
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 niur-
murings 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 repin
ing 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 com
plaint ; let it, in tenderness, meekness, and the fear of
the Lord, be laid before us ; and we will wait upon
him 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 eye 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 give an account to him ; and, if ye
in any thing judge us, wherein our God justifies us, cer
tainly the Lord will therein condemn you. Therefore,
be wary and watchful in this matter.
LP.

penington's letters. 177

LETTER LXVI.
Afflictions may work out a Weight of Glory.
To my dear suffering Friends in Scotland.
Dear Friends and Brethren,
Who have partaken of the tender mercy and blessed
visitation ofthe Lord.
O ! 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 us 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 in-
creaseth upon his heritage, blessed 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 in
terest and kingdom, through the Lord's blessed order
ing 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 Lord only, whose life,
Spirit, and power is above them, and bears up all over
them, who are in spirit joined to him, faithfully wait
ing upon him ; which God daily teaches and enables
his to do. Thus, my dear Friends, feel the Lord's pre
sence and power among you, who is always near his,
but especially in the time of their straits, trials, adn
sufferings : and wait to feel the life springing, and do-

178 penington's letters.
ing its proper work in each of you day by day ; work
ing out what is to be wrought out in any, and work
ing more and more into the glory of the heavenly
image ; that, through the sufferings, ye may come into
the glory, and be crowned with the glory, virtue, holi
ness, righteousness, and dominion of life over all; and
thus, 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 emp
tied and made weak ; for the trials, temptations, and
afflictions, prepare for, and (as I may say) lead into
the possession of the desired inheritance ; where, all
that the soul hath breathed and waited for, is bestowed
upon it, by the bountiful hand of the Father of mer
cies, who keeps covenant and mercy forever, and
renews covenant and mercy day by day.
So, the tender God of my life, and Father of the
blessings and mercies of my once greatly distressed
and miserable 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 liv
ing 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 those things ye may be exposed
to suffer, either outwardly or inwardly ; but trust the
Lord over all, and your life will spring, and grow, and
refresh you, and the love and power will purge out, and
keep out, what would hinder its growth ; and ye will
learn obedience 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

penington's letters. 179
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, upholding and preserving you in the midst of
your sore trials and afflictions. I. P.
London,
5th of Fifth Month, 1676.

LETTER LXVII.
Against Earthly Reasonings and Expectations.
To Sarah Bond.
Dear Sarah,
I have had many thoughts of thee in this my im
prisonment ; wherein, I have seen in spirit thy error
and miscarriage, and a hope and expectation in thy
heart, which will deceive thee.
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

180 penington's letters.
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-deny
ing 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 ! 0 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 breaking 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 tra
velling out of the earthly nature, spirit, wisdom, and
practices ; and come out of the spirit and way of this
world, that thou mayst 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 de
sires or expectations, but thankfully receive the small
est 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 visita
tion and mercy from on high ; but to have received
the visitation, 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 com
fortable, 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

penington's letters. 181
thy wisdom) draws and leads thee out of any earthly
thought, word, custom, or practice, follow diligently ;
not reasoning against it, but, waiting to have thy rea
sonings 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 effectually redeem thee ;
but, it is bowed down and held captive under the do
minion 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
manifests in thee ; but, the darkness puts off the pre
sent manifestation 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 manifestation 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 my own. O
that thou mayst be led out of that wisdom which
destroys, into that which saves! and mayst there, in
humility of heart, receive instruction daily, according
to thy need. 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 wis
dom, who answers the desires of his own Spirit in the
heart, but regards not the flesh,) mayst thou meet with
life and power, but no where else.
16

182 penington's letters.
I am thy Friend, and a dear lover of that in thee,
which desires the Lord ; and, O that that might come
up in thee, and be severed from the earth, that thy soul
may live !
' I. P.

LETTER LXVIII.
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 thing of this, feels
somewhat of Christ ; and being joined to, and partak
ing of it, partakes somewhat of his redemption : for, it
is not by an outward knowledge, but, by an inward
virtue and spiritual life, received from Christ, and held
in Christ, that those who are saved, are saved. This
is the thing 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 in which he is, and
appears, is the desire of my soul, in uprightness of
heart before the Lord, for thee: and, if he please, I
am willing to be instrumental in his hand, towards the
bringing forth of this in thee. It is not my desire, to
bring forth new notions in thee ; but rather, that thou
mightst wait on the Lord, for him to bring up his

penington's letters. 183
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
nothing, 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 mayst be led by him,
out of that wisdom which entangles, into tlfat inno
cency, 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 Month, 1666.

184 penington's letters.
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 nourish
ment from the Lord, that it may be brought forth in
you. And, that which the Lord hath made barren
(in you, who have experienced his righteous judg
ments,) let it be kept so, by the 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.
O my dear Friends ! know, and every day expe
rience Enoch's life, — a being translated out of the
kingdom of darkness, into the kingdom of the dear
Son, and of walking 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.
I 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

penington's letters. 185
need of, praying for the peace and prosperity of Jeru
salem, unto the God and Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ, who hears our prayers ; that we may daily see
and feel the going on of the work of our God, in 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.
LP.

LETTER LXX.
Consolation for a Mother on the death of her Child.
To Sarah Elgar.
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 pre
serve thee in a right frame of spirit. The Lord will
not condemn thy love and tenderness to thy child, or
thy tender remembrance of him ; but still, in it, be
subject to the Lord, and let his will and disposal be
16*

186 penington's letters.
bowed unto by thee, and not the will of thy nature set
above it. Retire out of the natural, into the spiritual,
where thou mayst feel the Lord thy portion ; so that
now, in the needful time, thou mayst day by day
receive 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 !
LP.
Nunnington,
Sixth Month, 1679.
Now let the world see, how thou prizest Truth, and
what Truth can do for thee. Feed on it ; do not feed
on 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.

LETTER LXXI.
Advice respecting Church Discipline.
To the Women's Meeting of Friends in 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 Lord, who hath thus gathered you !
and given you hearts to meet together, to feel his pre
cious presence 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

penington's letters. 187
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.
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 in 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 Lord sees good to bestow on any member of it ;
every member of the body having life given it, not
only 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 ! therefore, eye life, eye the power, eye
the presence of the Lord with your spirits ! that he may
go along with you, and guide you in every 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 reasonings, your wisdom, your apprehen
sions, have more advantage to get up in you, and to
put themselves forth. O! therefore, watch narrowly,
and diligently against the forward 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

188 penington's letters.
own hearts ; that, what ariseth in you, may be judged
and nothing may pass from you publicly, but what
hath first passed the pure judgment inyour 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 talka
tiveness have place in any of you ! but, abide in such
gravity, modesty, and weightiness 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
aet 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 in a wise, tender, and healing spirit. Ye must dis
tinguish in judgment, 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
blinded 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 hand of
the Lord, for their good. And, if ye find them, at
length, bowing to the Lord, O let tender compassion
help them forwards ! that what hath been so trouble
some and groundedly dissatisfactory 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, and make your meetings as serviceable to

penington's letters. 189
the honour of his name, as he himself would have
them, and as you yourselves can desire them to be.
Your Friend and brother in the tender Truth, and
in the pure love and precious life.
I. P.
19th of Fifth Month, 1678.

LETTER LXXII.

On Prayer in Families, &c. Also on the state of Professors of
the day.
Because my not praying in my family, according
to the custom of professors, seemed to be such a great
stumbling-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,
morning and evening, (besides other times,) believing
in 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 under-

190 penington's letters.
standing, or affectionate part of the creature, but in his
own begetting, which he first breathes upon, and then
it breathes again towards him ; — and that he worketh
this at his own pleasure, and no time can be set him
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 following
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, pre
serves, and increases 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 return
ing 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 any thing, no refresh
ment in any thing, but as I find his living breath
beginning, his living breath continuing, 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 any thing ofthe 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 simplicity, 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 praying,
reading, meditating, or any other such like thing, feed
ing the carnal part with such a kind of knowledge
from Scriptures, as the natural understanding may
gather and grow rich by ; this, in love and faithfulness
to the Lord and to souls, I cannot but testify against,

penington's letters. 191
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 departed from them, and they are joined to another
spirit, as deeply and as generally as ever the Jews
were ; and that their prayers and reading of the Scrip
tures, and preaching, 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 word 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 and
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.

192 penington's letters.

LETTER LXXIII.
Of Preservation and a Growth in the Heavenly Life ; its Power
over the Earthly Nature.
To the single, upright-hearted, and faithful Friends of
Truth, 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 sensi
ble of what he already is to you, and of what he hath
already done for you ; that he would 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
miserable 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 and
mercy ofthe Lord? How did ye mourn, how did ye
cry out, and pine away in your iniquities day and

penington's letters. 193
night ! and knew not which way to look, nor what to
wait for ! Are there not among you, who have known
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,) who cannot in truth wit
ness, as in God's presence, concerning the arm and
power of hrs salvation, which ye have often felt? in
somuch, that ye can sing that song, " He hath raised
up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his ser
vant 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 comfort ? Yea,
do ye not daily feel the Lord, ministering out salvation
to you from it? Are not your enemies daily over
come 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 do
minion of his life manifested in you, ye can say, though
as yet somewhat tremblingly, Where are those temp
tations, 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
17

194 penington's letters.
soul joined to it, faith in it and from it given to the
soul. Then, it becomes the Leader, the mighty under
taker for the soul, and overcomes its snares and ene
mies 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 nourish
ment, 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 there, streteheth out
his wings there, is a pillar of cloud by day, and a pil
lar of fire by night there ! He hath raised up his
glorious life in that heart, whereof he is very choice ;
and he 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 for
ever. Therefore, wait in the seed of this life ; wait to
feel yet a further gathering into it, and a growing up
in it ; .and give yourselves up to it, that it may over
spread 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 be 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 after, 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 ye eat freely of
the tree of life, which is in the midst ofthe paradise of

penington's letters. 195
God, and draw water with joy out of the wells of sal
vation !
Therefore feel, 0 ! feel in spirit, 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 negligent, 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 every thing, 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
passeth man's understanding, and only flows from
him ? hath he given you any proportion of this pre
cious peace ? O ! may he watch over you, and pre
serve you in that wisdom, in those heavenly instruc
tions, in that heavenly life, divine power, and holy con
versation, wherein ye met with that peace, and
wherein alone ye can enjoy and possess it ! and keep
you out of all manner of sin, lust, and foolishness of
the fleshly mind and spirit; — for* the peace is not

196 penington's letters.
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 understanding,) 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 at 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 life, 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 thanksgivings to him.
May the God of tender mercies and everlasting com<-
passions, cause the bowels of his love to be daily yearn
ing 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 hath perfected it. And thus, whatsoever ye
have hitherto witnessed in measure, ye shall then wit
ness in fulness ; and see, that all the promises of God
are of a precious nature, and are, " yea and amen"
from God to the seed.
May the life, presence, and power ofthe Lord be with
you in this seed ; in your breathings after it, in your 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

penington's letters. 197
in it, and never to hearken to and go out after a con
trary spirit and wisdom ; but keep you in the simpli
city, lowliness, humility, and tender spirit which is in
Christ Jesus, to the praise of his own name, and pre
servation and joy of your hearts before him forever,
amen !
Written, in the tender bowels and motion of the
pure life, from the place of my confinement in Ayles
bury.
LP.
1st of Third Month, 1667.

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 upright
ness to express to thee, as the Lord knoweth.
There is a great dispute between us and professors,
concerning the rule; which they hold forth the Scrip
tures 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 apprehendings 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 words, or outwat'd relations concerning those
things in the Scriptures. There is a measure of life
17*

198 penington's letters.
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 ivalk in them. Yea,
if they be tempted and in 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 Scriptures? Nay, is not this a more-full
direction to the heart, in that state, than it can pick to
itself out of the Scriptures ? Truly, this ensuing tes
timony is true, which now springs up in my heart
unto thee, which is this ; — the Lord hath poured out
his spirit upon his sons and daughters, 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 and thoughts, than the words which tes
tify of Him, though they also are very sweet and pre
cious to our taste.
There was a measure and rule, whereunto the true
minister 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 Phillippians, 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. J 5, 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, con
sider what that rule was. O ! that thou mayst know
it and walk thereby, as they that had received God's
Spirit did. For, I am assured in my heart, that, if
thou receive God's Spirit, and live and walk therein,

199
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.* These things are of great weight and concernment :
the Lord open and guide thy heart into true satisfac
tion in this and other things also, from the demonstra
tion of his own Spirit ; that thou mayst be able truly

*It will scarcely be supposed I. P. meant, without qualifica
tion, that we must be saints, or be brought into such a degree of
religious experience as that to which the holy penman had
arrived, before we can be benefited by perusing the sacred wri
tings. His meaning appears rather to be this, — that, in order to
receive instruction hereby, we must let into the mind somewhat
which can discover to us good and evil, which inclines us to the
one, and reproves fop- the other.. These are the earliest opera
tions of the Spirit of God and of Christ, the same Spirit which
so eminently ruled in the prophets, apostles, and saints, and now
worketh in the children of obedience. Undoubtedly, when any
have been reached or impressed in reading the Holy Scriptures,
it has been, because divine light beamed [however feebly] upon
their souls, whereby 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,
" The things 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 ofhis 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 him- as the Truth is in Jesus, that they can,
through patience and comfort of the Scriptures, have hope ;
those precious testimonies having been given forth 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.

200 penington's letters.
to say, as in his sight, Now I believe and understand
things; not because this 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
deceived about any thing that concerns it.
LP.
Reading Gaol,
24th of Seventh Month, 1670.

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 mayst live and
walk in it, reaping the sweet comfort, support and
satisfaction, which God daily ministers in and through
it, to his gathered and preserved ones. I am satisfied
thou hast need of comforts and support ; 0 ! that thou
mayst be led thither, and be daily found by the Lord
there, where the Comforter doth daily delight to sup
ply the afflicted and suffering ones, whether inwardly
or outwardly, with comfort.

penington's letters* 201
And, my dear Friend, take heed of that wisdom
and knowledge which is not of the seed, and which
can be held in the mind, 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 the Lord was, that I might faithfully
travel, through all the sufferings 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 exer
cised and taught since, is hard for me to utter. What
poverty, what weakness, what foolishness 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 prepare the heart for its springing. 0
feel that which limits 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 there 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

202 penington's letters.
God, to distinguish between the outwardness of know
ledge, — the notional part of the thing known, 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 mayst enter
into it, and keep thee so low and poor, that thou mayst
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 mayst know him daily dwelling and walking
therein. Thus, mayst thou be married to the Lord,
and become one spirit with him ; finding that daily
removing from thee, [which is to be removed, even]
by the mighty arm and pure operation 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,
LP.
17th of Third Month, 1677.

Note. — Respecting the interesting character addressed in this
and two other letters, (see pages 113 and 115,) the editor regrets
he has not been able to procure information, beyond what follows.
George Fox, in his Journal, about the year 1677, writes, " I had
meetings at Pershore and Evesham ; then struck to Ragley 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 than I had freedom to
stay." It is also stated, in an authentic manuscript respecting
Robert Barclay, the Apologist; that the meeting-house, belong
ing to Friends at Aberdeen, was " mostly bought with hiB own
money, and some by his means obtained from the Countess of
Conway, one of the same persuasion in England," &c.

penington's letters. 203

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 disparaged in my thoughts by what thou
hast written, but it is in my heart as nothing, and my
love flows to thee ; for, 1 take notice of thy serious
ness, 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, some
times a necessity is laid upon me, for the sake of
others. And truly, when I do feel a necessity, I do it
in great fear ; not trusting 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 conversion 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.

204 penington's letters.
Christians that truly fear the Lord, have a propor
tion of the primitive Spirit ; and, if they could learn to
watch and wait there, where God works the fear, they
would daily receive more and more of it, and, in it,
understand more and more the true intent and pre-
ciousness 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 preciousness of this lesson, till they are
taught it ofthe Lord.
There is one thing more on my heart to express,
occasioned 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 tenderness, that unity upon Truth's ac
count, 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 seri
ousness, into a way of congregational worship, and
thereby came to a great loss ; and at length, for want
of the Lord's presence, power, 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, discovered to me by the
holy anointing, which appears and teaches in that prin
ciple. And, Friend, it is not a notion of light, which
my heart is engaged to testify to ; but, that which en-

penington's letters. 205
livens, that which opens, that which gives to see, that
wherein the power of life is felt. For truly, in the
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
principle and seed of Christ's life and Spirit, nor dis
cern his appearance therein ; yet take heed of fighting
against it ; for indeed, if thou dost, thou tightest against
no less than the Lord Jesus Christ himself.
I. P.

LETTER LXXVII.
Advice as to Self-deceit. On the Unity of the Spirit. The
Younger are to submit to the 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 preserva
tion of whatever is good in thee, for the clear discovery
to thee of what is not of his pure life, and for the sepa
ration 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
prevailed ; but, the Lord is gathering out of it, and
preparing such, by the power of his life, against future
18

206 penington's letters.
snares. . O dear Friend r take heed of thy own wisdom,
thy own sense, thy own judgment, which thou mayst
easily, through mistake, call the Lord's: but, to have
all that is of self searched out and brought under, and
the mind made truly sensible of, and fully subject to
the life in every 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 mayst 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,
LP.
16th of Third Month, 1668.

penington's letters. 207
LETTER LXXVIII.
The Loving-Kindness of the Lord.
To Elizabeth Walmsley, of Giles Chalfont.
Dear Friend,
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 issuings
forth of his loving-kindness and mercies ? O his pity,
his compassion ! — (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,
my desire for thee is, that the power and blessings of
life may descend upon thee, and that thou mayst 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 mayst know that death passing upon thee,
and perfected in thee, which prepares for, and lets
into, the fulness of his pure, unspotted life.
Thou mayst 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.

208 penington's letters.
1 am thy Friend, in the affection which is of the
Truth, I. P.
Aylesbury,
20th of Fourth Month, 1666.

LETTER LXXIX.
On Confessing Christ before Men, &c.
To Elizabeth Stonar.
Dear Friend,
Whose life in the Lord, and prosperity in the Truth,
my heart greatly desireth; even, that thou mayst
come to the perfect service, and free and full enjoy
ment of thy soul's Beloved ; in which, if I could be in
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 con
cerning 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 my heart 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
satisfied, and thy soul blessed, in believing and obeying
the Truth 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
mistake 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 blessedness flowing with it upon thy soul.

penington's letters. 209
After this, several Scriptures, sweet and precious to
my taste, sprang up in my heart to lay before thy view ;
that thou also mightst 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 mani
fest to thee thereby.
The first Scripture that sprang up in me to thee,
was that of Rom. xii. 2, not to be conformed to this
world, but to be transformed by the renewing of thy
mind, that thou mayst prove that good, that accepta
ble, 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 ofthe son of man which shall be made as grass ;
and forgettest the Lord thy Maker, that hath stretched
forth the heavens, 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,
18*

210 penington's letters.
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 conse
quence 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, his power, his good
ness, his faithfulness to, and tender care over his
children in ' 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 in his Spirit, and walk in his
Spirit, 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 in 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." Now, I beseech thee, consi
der ; dost thou take up the daily cross, and bear it
faithfully for Christ's sake ? Dost thou stand a faithful
witness against the spirit of darkness, and works of
darkness, where thou livest ? Dost thou not comply
with any worship there, which thy heart knoweth to
be out of the Truth and Spirit 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 wis
dom, thoughts, reasonings, and judgment, which are

penington's LETTERS. 211
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 salvation, to all that abide
under it, and daily bear it.
The last Scripture, which at this time sprang up in
me to thee, was that very sweet one in Solomon's
Song of Songs, chap. i. ver. 7, 8, " Tell me, O thou
whom my 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 com
panions ? If thou know not, O thou fairest among
women, go thy way forth by the footsteps ofthe flock,
and feed thy kids beside the shepherd's tents." If thou
wouldst come to the feeding-place of the flock, and to
rest in the pure life, power, and righteousness of the
Lord with them ; thou must mind their footsteps, 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 for
saking 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 pre
served them ; see Isai. iv. 5. And this will lead thee
out of the same Egypt and Sodom, and all the remain
ders of Babylon, wherein as yet thou mayst be held
captive ; and this alone must break the oppressing
spirit and power which stands in thy way, through
thy faithful sufferings under it. And, through the
same wilderness and righteous judgments of the Lord,
must thou pass, that they have passed. For, Zion and
her converts must be redeemed with judgment 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

212 penington's letters.
fully after the Lord, in the same Spirit, and power,
and banner of the cross, under which his called, cho
sen, and faithful ones have followed him; he will lead
thee into the same land of life, rest, peace, and holy
dominion over sin and Satan, into which he hath led
those, who have faithfully followed the Lamb, whither
soever he hath pleased to go before, and lead them.
So, thou must wait to have thy heart daily more and
more opened, and guided purely, and livingly, 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 in his
people ; and what his seed denies, what the life of the
Son denies, what Truth in the heart denies, all that
are of the Truth and in the Truth, will be taught by
it, and learn of it, to deny also.
Thus, my dear Friend, in the most dear, tender, and
true love, have I opened my heart to thee, as things
sprang in me for thy sake : and the desire of my soul
to the Lord is, that they may be serviceable to thee,
and that thou mayst be led by the holy leading Spirit
more and more into Truth, and live in Truth, and feel
the life of Truth living and reigning in thee ; being
delivered from the enemy's temptations, and the subtle
twinings of the serpent, which thy condition will often
meet with : the Lord discover them to thee, and pre
serve thee from being ensnared with them.
Thy constant Friend, in the dear love and service
of the Truth,
LP.
Amersham, Bury End.
20th of First Month, 1675.

penington's letters. 213

LETTER LXXX.
Observations on the Ministry.
To a near Relative.
Dear  ,
The gospel is the power of God unto salvation ; it
is the glad tidings of freedom from sin, of putting off
the body of sin by the circumcision and baptism of the
Spirit, of being delivered out of the hands of our
spiritual enemies, that we may serve God, (without
fear of them any more,) in holiness and righteousness
all the days of our life.
The ministers 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 cap
tives, 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 I have not heard man,
but the voice of my Beloved ; whose voice is welcome
to me, though in the meanest boy, or most contempti
ble female. For, in Christ, there is neither male nor
female ; nor should his Spirit, which is not limited to
males, be quenched in any. And though thou, through
prejudice, call this speaking of the Spirit through ser
vants and handmaids, prating, yet the Lord can forgive
thee ; for surely, if thou knew what thou didst herein,
thou wouldst not thus offend the Lord ; — extolling
preaching by man's wisdom, from a minister made by
man, for gospel-preaching, and condemning the preach
ing of persons sent by God, in the immediate inspira
tion of his Spirit. I am confident, if, without prejudice,
and in the fear of God, thou didst once hear such, thou

214 penington's letters.
wouldst not be able to forbear saying in thy heart, It
is the voice of God, of a truth ; — but, that which hath
not the sheep's ear, can never own the voice of the
true Shepherd.
As for those whom thou callest ministers, if I should
speak concerning them, the very truth from the mouth
of the Lord, thou couldst not, in that state wherein
thou standest, receive it ; yet, am I far from account
ing them the cffscouring 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 weary ;" nay, they are men
unlearned in this kind of learning, and such as toss,
and tear, and wrest the Scripture, in their uncertain
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 differ
ence 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 stand
ing and power of government one ; which is not by
the power and presence of the Spirit, but by ihe
strength of the magistrate. But, the true gospel and
ministry is spiritual, and cannot stand, nor be upheld
by that which is carnal, neither in its call, mainte-
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 appeared 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 re
formation, (inasmuch as relates to men,) so overturned

penington's letters. 215
as at this day. O  ! there was once a good thing
in divers of them, which my 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 breakings 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 Relative.

Ah ! Dear  ,
Why dost thou so often give me occasion of mourn
ing before the Lord, on account of hard and unrigh
teous charges from thee ! How often have I solemnly
professed, that there was never any desire in me, or
endeavour used by me, to draw thee to this way [of
religious profession]. All that is in my soul is this, —
that thou mightst have the true knowledge of Christ,
that thou mightst indeed hear his sayings and do them,
and not set up thy own or other men's imaginations
and invented reasonings, 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 stumblest 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,

216 penington's letters.
— in love and pity to thy soul, I cannot but say some
what ; — for, who knows, but God may at length give
thee repentance to the acknowledgment of the Truth,
and to the disclaiming of the way of error.
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
unity. Answer. If thou hadst that eye which can see the
things of God, and didst apply thyself to look there
with, 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 any thing but unrighteous
ness, 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 Pharisees. 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 their 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 flesh and
blood, fights with the creature, 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

penington's letters. 217
the body, or these that use the sword of the Spirit to
wound the conscience ?
And this peace, this love, this unity they attain, not
by their own strivings, but by receiving it from above.
Indeed, all our religion lies in 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 in themselves,
more foolish, more ridiculous to the fleshy wisdom,
more exposed to sufferings from the world and worldly
professors; yet, being kept faithful to Him that hath
called us, we sometimes feel strength and wisdom,
even such, as the most zealous in the worldly ways
of religion, have not an ear lo hear the relation of. .
Secondly. Thou sayst, that God's way is a way of
humility. Answer. 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 voluntary humility, but a humility which crosseth
and breaketh the will all the day long. Thou judgest
at a distance, and with that which is not to judge, but
to be judged.
Thirdly. That God is a God of order, and not of
confusion. Answer. Blessed be the Lord, who hath recovered
somewhat of the true church's order for us, and deli
vered 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 calls
order, is but antichrist's order, which with God is con
fusion. To have man's spirit speak, and God's Spirit
stopped, this is the order of all the antichristian con
gregations, and churches; but to have man's spirit
stopped, and God's Spirit speak, this is the order of
Christ's church. It is this order we know, and rejoice
19

218 penington's letters.
in, finding that raised in us, which teaches us to " cease
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 quickened in us, and make to live to himself. The
Lord is judging that which loved man's meanings and
inventions, all that the human part in us could gather
from the Scriptures, 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 man, 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 per
sons will not acknowledge that they persecute for con
science, but accuse those whom they persecute for
evil-doers, and say, they suffer as evil-doers. Canst
not thou see the narrowness of this covering ? Would
the Scribes and Pharisees, 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, wherewith thou judgest of
things. The Scribes and Pharisees were as confident
that Christ and his disciples were deceivers, and that
they brought up a new way of religion contrary to
Moses, as any can be that these people 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 blind now, as it was then ; it cannot
see its own deceit.
0 pierce into the nature of things 1 set not up sha
dows 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

penington's letters. 219
destroys it ; — then, we shall soon know one another,
and have comfort one in another. I. P.
14th of Twelfth Month, 1658.

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 chief passages in thy let
ter, 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 spo
ken most gloriously and ravishingly, as to the Scrip
tures, opening 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 willing 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

220 penington's letters.
not willing to be impoverished, and I cannot say con
cerning thee, as in God's sight, that thou art yet sepa
rated from it. Now, while it is in thee, it will be
working 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 mayst easily think better of thyself than indeed
it is with thee ; but, it is hard for thee, in this thy pre
sent state, to know what and how thou art in the sight
of the Lord.
Thou shalt know the tenderness and melting com
passion 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.
Thus, in great plainness, have I written to thee, and
beseech thee to be willing, or rather, to look up to the
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 everlastingly saved by the everlasting Physi
cian, who is wise and skilful in ministering both judg
ment and mercy to every one, according to their
need. Thy Friend in true, faithful, and unfeigned love and
cenderness,
LP.
25th of First Month, 1671.

penington's letters. 221

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 light 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 with
out ; 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, understand, 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 with the seed ! Ah !
how low it lies, and how weighty its sense and opera
tions 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 he hath for
merly 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
19*

222 penington's letters.
one that was " perfect in wisdom and beauty." In
what wisdom, in what beauty? Let thy soul, if it
hath understanding, answer. For, he had " been in
Eden, the garden of God," (what, had any been so
since Adam ?) " and had every precious stone for his
covering." What a glorious temple then was he ! yea,
and he was created (by what creation ?) unto this state.
Yea, he was " the anointed cherub that covereth," 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 him, " Thou
wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast"
created. Yet, after all this, " iniquity was found in"
him, and the hand of the Lord turned against him.
Answer me, now ; was this a state of mixture, or no ?
And if so perfect a state was liable to this, what is a
state of mixture liable to ?
Ah ! many have had some touches of the light, some
true appearances thereof, and tastes of the glory ; but,
who hath been so united to the light, as to keep out of
all that corrupteth ! There is somewhat still lives
near, that would fain be mixing with it, and drawing
higher than the pure light of life and truth: but this
leads out of the way, above the pure, the true, the inno
cent, 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 preservation. 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 vic
tory 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
themselves to be new made, who, when the Spirit of

penington's letters. 223
the Lord hath come to search them by his pure, eter
nal light, have been found and are found in the old
nature and spirit !
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 creat
ing 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 com
prehensive 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 discern 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 considera
tion of things, into the 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 discovereth.
That is not the state, which the mind out of the light
apprehendeth 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 advan
tage ; but, if thou then prove mistaken, and the judg
ment 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

224 penington's letters.
deeper sight of thee and sense concerning thee, than
thou art aware of- I. P.
26th of Third Month, 1671.

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 con
cern.
Some queries propounded to your consideration, in the
tender melting love of my heart towards your ever
lasting welfare.
First query. Is not the great God, who created
heaven and earth, light, pure light, spiritual light, eter
nal light, in whom is no darkness at all ? 1 John, i. 5.
Second query. Is not man, in his natural, unregene-
rate, 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 corrupt
state ? 2 Cor. 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 might be turned from darkness, and
from the power of Satan, which keeps him in dark
ness, to the light which God causeth to shine in him,

penington's letters. 225
and to God from whom this light comes ? Acts, xxvi.
18 ; that so, following Christ, and not walking in dark
ness, he might obtain the light of life ? John, viii. 12.
Fifth query. Doth man, in his natural corrupt state,
love this light, when it shines in him ; or rather hate
it? 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 fare with those, who
receive the shinings of this light of God and Christ in
their consciences, 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, 13.
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 pleaseth 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 souls' eternal good ! that ye 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

226 penington's letters.
love, by his inward " light of life," effectually to save
your souls. I. P.
Astrop,
20th of Sixth Month, 1678.

LETTER LXXXV.
To one who sent a Message to him 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
particular, which thy courteous message drew from
me. It contains, in a few words, the true path-way of
salvation ; which, though thou mayst know already,
yet the reading and serious consideration thereof, may
not be unserviceable to thee.
I am thy Friend, in true love and desires for thee,
LP.
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

penington's letters. 227
it is the Truth, as it is in Jesus, which makes free
indeed. He, therefore, that would be saved from sin and
condemnation, must wait for the inward manifesting
and revealing 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 whatever 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 sons to 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 sub
ject 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

228 penington's letters.
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 salvation of his soul,
notwithstanding whatsoever he may profess or believe
concerning him. I. P.
Astrop,
28th of Sixth Month, 1678.

LETTER LXXXVI.
Acknowledgment of Christ's Manhood.
To Richard Roberts.
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 Jeru
salem. And the Lord, who knoweth my heart, know
eth, 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 the soul's food which gives life to the soul, even
the living bread and the living water. For, there is

penington's letters. 229
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 ye not your own selves, how that
Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates ?" 2
Cor. xiii. 5. " And if Christ be in you, the body is
dead because of sin," &c. Rom. 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 and
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 in travail, full of sorrow for the loss of
my outward, bodily presence ; but I will come to you
again in spirit; see John, xvi.; and, John, xiv. 17,
" He," that " dwelleth with you, shall be in you :" and
then, when 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 and primitive Christians did
" rejoice with joy unspeakable, and full of glory," 1
Peter, i. 8, because of the spiritual appearance and
presence of the Bridegroom. And yet, there is no
other bridegroom, who now appears in spirit, or spiri
tually in the hearts of his, than He that once appeared
fn the prepared body, and did the Father's will therein.

20

230 penington's letters.
LETTER LXXXVII.
Postcript to some Considerations respecting the 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
understanding; and, at last, sat down in that way,
which is called Independency, believing it to be the
way ofthe gospel, and entering into it with much fear
and seeking of God. In which way, the Lord had
regard to the uprightness and tenderness of heart,
which he had formed in me.
But, at length, the Lord's hand fell upon me, break
ing me 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, and
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 and tenderness ; they expect
ing 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 ofhis holy
seed in my heart thereby ; insomuch, that I cried out
inwardly before him, " This is He, this is He whom I

penington's letters. 231
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 under
standing was from that day anointed, and I saw and
felt the pure life of the Son made manifest in 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 and make
glad the holy city, and all the tabernacles that are
built on God's holy hill. And indeed, from this holy
hill and city, the law and word of life doth issue, and
the inhabitants of the rock of life hear it, and are
friends to the Bridegroom, and glad of the Bride
groom's voice, and follow the Lamb, the Shepherd
and Bishop 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 and patience to possess their souls in.
O ye Independents ! whom I have loved above all
eople, and never had thoughts of rending from you,
ut 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 profes
sions the one most dearly beloved by me ! — O that ye
could hear the sensible, experienced testimony, that is
on my heart to you concerning my Beloved, concern
ing his appearance, concerning his church, concern
ing his way, his Truth, his kingdom. It is nigher
than ye are aware, and above all that ye can compre
hend 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

E

232 penington's letters.
of this, and come to a true, inward silence, and wait
ing, and turning at the reproofs 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
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 sub
dues 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.

penington's letters. 233

LETTER LXXXVIII.

The Way to Life Narrow ; Hard Things Made Easy to the 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^e 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 whieh 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 disciples, 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 tempt
ations, both on the right hand, and 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 gene
rations, 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
20*

234 penington's letters.
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 and way
of God then. Indeed, I make little of the illumination
of the understanding, without subjection to him that
illuminateth, in 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
and spirit are not separated ; but, the exceptions I
have against the prayers of professors is, that they
are sp much out of the true illumination, in a light of
their own apprehending, forming, and 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 forbear
ance 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 apos
tle, " that ye may obtain ;" did he not forbid all run
ning, but the right running? The praying of the
fleshly birth, or in the will, and according to the wis
dom of the flesh, is not the means or way to obtain
the everlasting kingdom ; but the prayers of the true
birth are. And, if I should say thus again and again
to thee, So pray, as that thou mayst 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 ena
bled by him rightly to judge and distinguish between
flesh and spirit, but are many times willingly ignorant
in this particular, — it will cost so dear to come to a
true understanding therein.

penington's letters. 235
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? and 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
required 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, and receive 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, and desires ! that thou mayst 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 stir it up ; but, he
that hath not a true understanding, may stir up some
what 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 stir
ring 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

236 penington's letters.
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 strength there?
But, life and virtue may be felt, and that which trou-
bleth 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 con
sidered in themselves, nor take off from the inward.
Ah ! consider what spirit this charge comes from; and
if thou discern it, take heed of joining to it, and bring
ing 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 weight thereupon, than God layeth?
And what, if God hath thrown by all preachings,
prayings, singings, (yea, inward,) which are not in his
Spirit, but from the transforming spirit and birth. Do
we herein debase, or testify against, any thing that is
inwardly of God ? The outward 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 appearance of
things. There is one thing hath been with me all along,
still, throughout thy letter, even a cry to thee for obe
dience, obedience to the Spirit and power of the Lord ;
and to consider, whether disobedience hath not drawn
this darkness 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

penington's letters. 237
be travelling in faithfulness, as thou art drawn and
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
knowledge of his good, and acceptable, and perfect
will. Take heed of being exalted above measure, or
desiring to know the things of the kingdom after the
flesh ; for, it is better to lie low, and as a child to enter
the kingdom, and to receive the knowledge of the
things of God there, than to be feeding that knowing
mind, which is to be kept out and famished.
Ah! watch, that thou mayst 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 strength
ening of thy mind towards returning back to that,
from which the Lord in his mercy hath been redeem
ing 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, in love and grief, from thy soul's
true Friend,
LP.
21st of Sixth Month, 1671.

238 penington's letters.

LETTER LXXXIX.
The Scriptures Exceedingly Precious. The Gospel a Minis
tration 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, 0 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 Son, hath not the life of the
Son, nor the liberty of the Son, but it is in the death of
sin, and in service unto sin.
The directions from God's Holy Spirit in the Scrip
tures, are exceedingly weighty and precious in them
selves, 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 with the
Lord, according to what is there taught and pre
scribed to the children of God, in the several 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 understand
ing of them.
But, though this was my desire, yet, in my way to
attain this, I missed ; for, I thought, that by getting the
directions of Scripture into my mind, and applying

penington's letters. 239
myself to the strict observation 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 measure, to walk uprightly
and lowlily with him, and inoffensively 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 preparing
for me that day of mercy, which since, in his tender
goodness, is broken in upon me. And now, the eye
which he hath opened in me seeth, that the gospel is a
ministration of the Spirit and power of the Lord Jesus
Christ ; and that he who would be his disciple indeed,
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
covenant, not comprehended outwardly in his mind,
but written 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 abun
dance 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

240 penington's letters.
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 performance 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 forever ! 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 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 some
what 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, different there
from, and indeed contrary thereto. Now, it behoveth
thee exceedingly to watch, and to pray to the Lord
for help; for, the life of thy soul depends upon the
one 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

penington's letters. 241
Lord ? And, they are only preserved in the Lord's
way, and in subjection to his Spirit. 0 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 is become 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 mention
this to thee, that thou mayst watch and pray ; that
thou thyself do not lose thy savour, and sense, and
tenderness, which the Lord at some times kindleth in
thee, by hearkening to the subtle reasonings and sug
gestions 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.
27th of Ninth Month, 1670.

LETTER XC.
On Abiding in the Root of Life.
For my dear Friends, Brethren, and Sisters in the
Truth, in and about the two Chalfonts.
Friends, The Lord will wonderfully teach 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. There
fore, let us lift up our heads, and " fear the Lord, and
21

242 penington's letters.
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, pre-
serveth, and causeth to flourish. So, my dear Friends,
let us all dwell in our everlasting habitation, and no
more go forth, but sink into the kingdom, 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 true life and power in any vessel upon the earth,
besides that which springs therefrom. Therefore feel,
O ! feel that which establisheth, 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 Fourth Month, 1667.

penington's letters. 243

LETTER XCI.
The Unsearchable Riches of Christ. 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 faithfully to the law of his life, —
whose delight it is, to be found in subjection and obe
dience to the light and requirings of his Spirit.
Feel, my Friends, O ! feel your portion, and abide
in that wherein the inheritance is known, received and
enjoyed. For, there is no knowing Christ truly and
sensibly, but by a measure of his life felt in the heart,
whereby it is made capable of understanding the things
of the kingdom. The soul without him is dead : by
the quickenings of his Spirit, it comes to a sense and
capacity of understanding the things Of God. Life
gives it a feeling, a sight, a tasting, a hearing, a smell
ing 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 increaseth,
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 settle
ment 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

244 penington's letters.
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 converse with it
in spirit. What heart can conceive the righteousness,
the holiness, the peace, the joy, the strength "of life that
is felt here !
For, Friends, there is no straitness 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, according as he makes way in them, and as
they are able to drink in of his living virtue. There
fore, 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, con
cerning what it cannot utter ! saying, O the fulness, 0
the depth, height, breadth, and length of the love ! 0
the compassion, the mercy, the tenderness of our
Father ! How hath he pitied, how hath he pardoned,
beyond what 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 overwhelmed 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 de
lighted ! and sings praise to the Lamb, and Him that
sits on the throne, saying, Glory, glory ! life, power,

penington's letters. 245
dominion, and majesty, over all the powers of dark
ness, 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 mea
sure 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 Lord 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 good
ness of our God, manifested richly in Jesus Christ !
0 ! 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 encou
raged to wait upon the Lord in the pure fear, in the
precious faith and hope which is of him ; and ye will
see and feel, he will exalt the horn of his Anointed in
you, over the horn of that which is unanointed, 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, not
withstanding all its enemies, what it hath travelled
21*

246 penington's letters.
into, and may also daily, further and further, travel
into what is yet before.
LP.
Aylesbury Gaol,
2nd & 3rd of Sixth Month, 1667.

POSTCRIPT.
Friends, Be not discouraged because of your soul's enemies.
Are ye troubled with thoughts, fears, doubts, imagina
tions, 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
look to 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 somewhat 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 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 trampelled upon and rode over the Just
in you, into that sea ; and ye shall 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

penington's letters. 247
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 tongue nor words can utter. And, may the
Lord God breathe upon you, preserve and fill you
with his life and holy Spirit; to the growth and rejoic
ing 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 evermore !
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 thing 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 car
ried into the midst of the sea ; what, though the waters
thereof roar and be troubled, and the mountains 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 inward 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 satisfaction,

248 penington's letters.
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 out
ward condition ?
The seed, the godliness, the uprightness, the true
nature and birth, hath not only the promise of eternal
life; but, also whatever is necessary for the vessel,
wherein 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 presence 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 ; who nourishes, clothes, pre
serves, and causes the lilies of the field to grow and
flourish in 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 manner 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

penington's letters. 249
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 preserv
ation 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 whatso
ever ; — 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 XCII.
On the Fear of God.

To those Persons that Drink of the Waters at Astrop
Wells.
There 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 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

250 penington's letters.
fear God, or to do good, but to please themselves in
doing evil, both in thought, word, and deed. 0 !
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! 0!
why do men forget God their Creator, days without
number, 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 !
0 ! hearken to wisdom's counsel, when she cries in
the secret of your hearts against that which is evil,
and contrary to the nature, life, and will of God ; lest
a day of calamity from God come upon you, and then
ye cry 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.
LP.
Astrop,
15th of Sixth Month, 1678.

penington's letters. 251
LETTER XCIII.
Some Doubts Answered Respecting 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 lead
ing 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 mani
fest 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 quickenings and
motions of his own Spirit. For, the dead cannot
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 crea^
ture ; for, it is a gift of God, and the ability lodges in
his Spirit, it is not ours, but as given of his Spirit, —

252 penington's letters.
which, therefore, is to be waited upon, when it will
move and breathe in us, and so give us the ability of
calling upon the Father, and the power of prevailing
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 breath
ings 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 condition, 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 appearance 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
wrong birth also desires the kingdom, and would have
the kingdom, and prays for the kingdom, and strives
for the kingdom ; 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 Sprit, yet feeling their want
thereof, and true desires after it, ought to offer up
those desires to God ; and keeping 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 cause to question

penington's letters. 253
the nature and ground of their prayers ; since God is
so ready to give the Spirit 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 children to perform every thing 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 this little which ariseth from God,
from [amidst] the multitude of his thoughts, words,
and desires, which are from another root, — even from
the flesh, and are of a fleshly nature, neither are of
value, nor avail with the Lord ; 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 after that manner that the
Lord requires, which is in the true sense, and within
the limits of the true Spirit and power— praying
22

254 penington's letters.
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 prescribed. There
fore, 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
spiritual 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 breath
ings, that spring from that nature in the vessel. And,
as thou comest into that nature, and into that Spirit
from which the nature proceeds, thou wilt truly dis
tinguish concerning prayer, concerning faith, concern
ing 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 seemest, 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 subject to him therein, and cease from
thine own willings and workings, and wait on 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 follow him, thou wilt have cause to
bless his name, as many others have, whom in this
day he hath thus led. Indeed, 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 ? Happy 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.

penington's letters. 255
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.
28th of Ninth Month, 1670.

LETTER 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 mayst so know the Lord, and so receive his Son,
as that thou mayst experience them.
The first is in Prov. v. 1 5, " 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 signi
fies, that whosoever drinketh of the water which he
giveth, shall never thirst more after water from with
out, 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 state of the gospel, Isai. xii. 3, " Therefore, with
joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation :"
the outward Jew drew the outward water from the
outward wells ; they had the upper springs, and the
nether springs outwardly ; but the inward Jew, in the

256 penington's letters.
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 received — 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 manifesta
tions, but as a fountain of life and heavenly virtue
dwelling within them. Rom. 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 was 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 preach
ing of the same everlasting gospel, by the same eternal
Spirit 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 excellency of the glory, and not
of us, who are but instruments and vessels in his hand.
Now, seeing the Lord hath 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

penington's letters. 257
proclaim the day of the Lord, the day of the gospel,
even the everlasting 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 there
from ; 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 lan
guished 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 the bride also saith, Coma ; 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. 0 ! 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 the heart, and into his Son's life and Spirit,
which he manifesteth and revealeth 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 his gospel day, doth
make to his children a feast of fat things, and of wines
on the lees well refined, on his holy mountain, even in
22*

258 penington's letters.
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 Church ; with some Cautions to
Christian Professors.
To my Friends at Horton and 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 purpose)
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 breath
ings and 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

penington's letters. 259
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
scattered, 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 buildings, 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 men
tion 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 outward time and outward
things, and their expectations are too much that way.
0 let it not be so with you ! but wait for the inward
day, wherein, the things of God are wrought in the
heart. And take heed to your steps, thoughts, and
ways :. for, the Lord, who hath 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 ful-

260 penington's letters.
filled, even among them, " He taketh the wise in their
own craftiness." But, wo unto him 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 1 have truly sought in the Lord,
and still seek,) ever prove sad examples and spectacles
of what I now write, in a living, feeling sense ! 0
that that, which hath mourned and is oppressed 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. 0 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 mis
take, 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, thai
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 in the
motion of the Spirit, and in the power and virtue of
the Son's life, he prayeth in 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 relative to the Son.
Another thing, wherein professors exceedingly err

penington's letters. 261
and mistake, is, about the applying of Christ's right
eousness, which is only rightly done in the Spirit,
where the application 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 (hen, 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, forever ; if we
daily mourn after, and faithfully wait upon, the true
Guide and leader thereunto.
I remain your imprisoned Friend, according to the
wisdom of God, and in his pure content and fear ;
though the wisdom of man might easily have avoided
these bonds. I. P.
Aylesbury Gaol,
22d of Eighth Month, 1665.

262 penington's letters.

LETTER XCVI.
Hints on Steadfastness in the Truth and its Testimony; on
Forsaking 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 Rickmansworth, 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 my own soul.
Your days here cannot be long ; and what ye sow
here, ye must reap, when ye go out of this world. 0
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 read
ing of it, I had many thoughts respecting 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 testi
mony of Truth, which was given forth among us at
the beginning. For, this Truth is the same, and the
testimony of it doth not vary or pass away, but shall

penington's letters. 263
last throughout ages and generations, to redeem all
that receive it and are faithful to it. The testimony
was, to draw from outward dead knowledge, and out
of dead practices and worships, after men's own con
ceivings, into an inward principle, and into worship
in spirit and truth, both inwardly in the heart, and out
wardly 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 exceptions against him ;) nor when they
despised the prophets, whom God sent afterwards,
(though they were often prejudiced against them also ;)
nor was it well with any of the churches, when, by
the subtlety and seeming simplicity of those that en
deavoured to betray them, or by any other means,
they were drawn to think meanly of any of the apos
tles or ministers of Christ, in their day. And the
Lord, who preserved Moses in his day, and the pro
phets 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 scat
tered sheep into holy gatherings and assemblies.
The third was, that ye be daily exercised, guided,
and your hearts opened and quickened, by the princi
ple and Spirit of Truth ; that so, ye may know what
it is, to walk with the Lord, and to feel the power of
the Lord, and enjoy the presence ofthe Lord; and be
led by him out of, and away from, the mysterious
workings ofthe 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 error, and error truth ; and so will err from that,
which is indeed the way, into somewhat, which m

264 penington's letters.
God's sight is not so. For, there is a spirit of delu
sion, 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 wor
ships 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.
0 my Friends ! the Lord give you the true discern
ing 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 disjoined 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 ever
lasting happiness.
I. P.
19th ofthe Twelfth Month, 1672.

penington's letters. 265

LETTER XCVII.
On hating Reproof.
To Catherine Pordage and another.
Friends, Take heed of that spirit, which will be stirring 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 your
selves 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 reproves you,
and be afraid of that which comforts you in your
present state ; for, ye are to come through the trouble,
23

266 penington's letters.
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
there, and spring up thence, confounded and destroyed,
before ye can possibly 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 the wisdom of
God. Yea, ye must die to that part, that is so active
from and in that wisdom, and which would be labour
ing 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 ofhis 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 Spirit 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 you, 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, nigh 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 ! O wait for the Reprover !
and turn the ear to him, letting in his reproofs, and
turning from what he reproves for, without murmuring,
without disputing ; and the exercise of that ear, will
open it more and more : so that, ye will come to know

penington's letters. 267
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, 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 inwardly against, and makes you so apt to cry
out [because] 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 salvation 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.
LP.
7th of Seventh Month, 1671.

268 penington's letters.

LETTER XCVIII.
Of "Fleshly Wisdom."
To Francis Pordage.
Friend, There 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, but could never 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 some
what 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 pru
dent." 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 know
ledge worth, that he learns of himself without God's

penington's letters. 269
teaching ; and which he receives into that understand
ing, which is to perish and be destroyed ? In the new
understanding, 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 compre
hension 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, livingly 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 in this light, we found, that that which we
had called good, according to our former apprehen
sion of things, was not so in the true balance ; and
what we thought had pleased 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 dan
gerous 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 com
prehends and receives, which can neither know nor
receive what is spiritual.
Truly, the Lord hath led us a great way in our
journey, and 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.
LP.
23*

e>

270 penington's letters.

LETTER XCIX.
Advice on Church Discipline.
To the Women Friends that meet at Armscot in
Worcestershire.
Dear Friends,
In your meetings together to do service 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
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 forward
ness 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
meetings, 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 trans
gress, easy 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 oppose it, but

penington's letters. 271
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 sea
son 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 hath let it in,
sought, that, if possible, it may be restored ; and then,
ye will know the joy of seeking out and bringing back
the lost sheep. And, be tender to others, in true com
passion, 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 acknowledge, that your meet
ings 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 speaking
it forth, or in any thing ye are to do; but, feel him
by his Spirit and life going along with you, and lead
ing 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

272 penington's letters.
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 upon me yesterday to you, but my
weakness was great. This morning, this lay as a
weight upon my 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 the 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 come up in you,
and ye act only in it, not exceeding the limits of it.
I. P.
Written at John Hawford's,
7th of Seventh Month, 1678.

LETTER C.
An Expostulation and Warning.
To the Earl of Bridgewater.*
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, con-
* See the Life of Isaac Penington, by J. G. Bevan.

penington's letters. 273
cerning 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 knowest better, show me,
in love, meekness, and tenderness ; as I would be wil
ling 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 mayst give a comfortable account to
him, when he shall call thereunto. That which thou hast
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 mayst so carry thyself in thy place, and actions,
as that thou mayst 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 out
ward titles and honours, might I not do thee hurt?
0 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 wis
dom, 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, which testifies for God and against the thoughts,
ways, and works of corrupt man ; that thou mightst

274 penington's letters.
feel a principle of life from God, and good fruit
brought borth from that principle to him ; and that the
evil nature, with 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 heal
ing 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 suffer
ings from thee, whereunto I have given thee no provo
cation, neither for the beginning nor continuance 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 justifying
what he justifieth. And, though the Lord beholdeth,
and will plead the cause of his innocent ones,B(who,
the more helpless they are, the more they are consi
dered 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 pre
served 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 form
ing 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 bless
ing, and find the earthly nature consumed, and brought
to naught in thee. For, to [this nature] is the curse,

penington's letters. 275
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 mayst not be irrecoverably
and eternally miserable ; but, mayst be transformed by
his life and nature, and sow to him the fruits thereof,
that thou mayst reap, and receive of him that which
is the soul's joy.
And, Friend, know this assured truth, — it is not a
religion of man's making or choosing, (neither the
Pope's, nor any other man's,) but only that which 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 appears be
fore 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 mayst 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.
LP.
From Aylesbury Gaol,
24th of Sixth Month, 1666.

276 penington's letters.
LETTER CI.
Faithful dealing between Brethren Recommended.
Dear Friend,
I have heard that thou hast somewhat against
W. R., whereupon thou forbearest coming to meetings
at his house : this thou oughtst seriously to weigh and
consider; that thy path and walking herein, maybe
right and straight before the Lord. Is the thing, or
are the things, which thou hast against him, fully so,
as thou apprehendest ? 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 the thing before him ? And,
if he hath refused to hear thee, hast thou tenderly men
tioned it to others, and desired them to go with thee
to him ? 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 proceeded thus, thou hast proceeded tenderly and
orderly, 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 spirit, or hard
reasonings against him, or hard resolutions as relating
to him, the witness of God will not justify thee in that.
And if, at any time hereafter, thou hast any thing
against others, O learn, from that of God in thee, to
show compassion 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 mayst abide in the peace and rest thereof,

penington's letters. 277
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 fender 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.

LETTER CH.
On Dwelling with the Lowly Seed of Life in all Conditions.
To M. Hiorns.
Dear Friend,
I received two letters from thee lately, whereby the
sense is revived in me of thy great love to me, and the
Lord's great goodness to thee, in administering that
which rejoiceth and refresheth thee.
Now, this advice ariseth in my heart. 0 ! 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
24

278 penington's letters.
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 my Friend ! I have a sense, that this hath been
the error of that people, thou hast formerly walked
with : and I observe in thy spirit yet a liability thereto ;
which the Lord give thee to watch against, that thou
mayst come to a pure observation and discerning of
the everlasting, unchangeable seed in thy own heart,
and mayst daily feel thy mind bowed down and wor
ship in it, becoming wholly leavened into it, and per
fectly 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 his ordering of us, to fit us for the crown of glory,
which he will give us fully to wear in the other wrorld,
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 sufficiency of God's
grace shine, but by, in, and through the many exer
cises 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

penington's letters. 279
and benefit of others, and to the great honour and
glory of the Lord. O ! at all times, and in all condi
tions, 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 mys
tery 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 mightst
read the same things, written inwardly in thy own
heart ; which that thou mayst do, become as a weaned
child, not exercising thyself in things, too high or too
wonderful for 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, still, in the comprehending, knowing mind,
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 thv Friend,
LP.
Amersham, Woodside,
4th of Fifth Month, 1679.

280 penington's letters.

LETTER CIII.
On Prejudices against Anointed Ministers.
To his Brother.
Dear Brother,
This morning, as I was going out to walk, some
what sprang up in my heart freshly and livingly to
thee; whereupon, I consulted not, but immediately
turned back so to do. Now, if the Lord make it use
ful 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 avoid
ing all such snares as the enemy lays to betray, 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 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 Him; and it cannot be despised, but God is de
spised ; nor can it be neglected, without loss and dan
ger to the soul that neglects it. For God is wise, and

penington's letters. 281
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
ministry which hath gathered? Mark, Brother, in
every age, God's ministers have been despised. Moses
and all the prophets were despised in their day.
What ! [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 ofthe
anointing. " He that despiseth you," said Christ,
" despiseth me." He that despiseth them in their
gathering, or in their building up, despiseth Him that
sent them. They were earthen vessels, in presence
contemptible, and very liable to be despised. 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 of
.life, that he may be taught of God so to do. It is an
easy matter to have objections enough against them ;
but, to see through all prejudices and objections, 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 pure
sense before the Lord, and my spirit opened by him,'
and thou presented before me ; I could even beg most
24*

282 penington's letters.
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 hin
dered 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 ofthe faithful ones
of the Lord's servants, and open thy heart to them, as,
in the leadings ofthe Lord and waiting upon him, thou
findest 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 destroy 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 sense of them living, and thy life
refreshed therein. For, God is with his people, of a
truth, and they meet not without 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 sug
gests, where he gets an ear open ; but, life grows more
and more in freshness and into dominion in them. 0
Brother ! the Lord fully gather thee into arid preserve
thee in that, wherein thou mayst feel this in thy own
particular, — wherein thou mayst 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

penington's letters. 283
life and power among his people, 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 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.
0 Brother! there is an high-minded ness 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 pure 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 witnesseth 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 halh 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

284 penington's letters.
(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 mayst not
perish, but feel the carrying on of the work of salva
tion in thee ; travel on in the pure, holy, living, power
ful 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 thyself, thou art not able to see. Re
member this counsel ; thy life is wrapped up in it ; for
thou hast need of the helps, which the Lord in his
tender mercy hath provided, and canst not be safe
without them.
Thy dear Brother, in the unity of nature, longing
after perfect sense of thee, and unity with thee, in the
pure life. I. P.
Aylesbury Gaol,
7th of Eighth Month, 1667.

penington's letters. 285

LETTER CIV.
Of the Church and Ministry.
In reply to an answer of I. H. to somewhat written
on behalf of Truth.
 Indeed, to speak properly, the church of the
gospel, or new testament church, is invisible. The
persons in whom the church is, are visible : yet, the
new testament 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,
John, 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, and the fellowship a mystery, which is
hid from every eye but the eye of life ; and there is
no having fellowship 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 his life and presence
to manifest itself in, — even a church for the living
God. This 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 is
married to him, and so one with him. 1 Tim. iii. 15.
Consider the place well, and see whether it relate to

286 penington's letters.
that, which thou callest the invisible, or to that, which
thou callest the visible church.
It is the candlestick in persons, that is the church ;
not any outward meeting of persons, or joining toge
ther by covenant, or receiving or practising of ordi
nances, 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 candle
stick, continually refreshed by this oil, — here is a flour
ishing temple, wherever it is found; here is the
church of the living God, here is the spouse married
to the Lamb, her Husband. But, grieve the Spirit,
quench the Spirit, despise the prophesyings thereof,
(and light up a candle of the fleshly wisdom and know
ledge 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 candle
stick being once removed, the very same persons may
meet together often, and hold up the form, (perform
ing 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,
Eph. ii. 22. And, after he hath built, He can pull
down again, and bring into a wilderness state : for,
there is a wilderness 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 wilder
ness 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

penington's letters. 287
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 converted.
Acts, ii. 47.
The church is a body gathered in the Spirit, and
watching 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, accord
ing to the order of the gospel ;) no, not one counter
feit Jew, no, nor so much as one false apostle, though
they clothe themselves 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.

SOME ACCOUNT OF THE LADY CONWAY;
Forming a Supplementary Note to Page 202 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
ofthe 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
to the religious principles ofthe 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 imperfect exhi
bition of this lady's views and motives, in the humiliating pre
ference, which she gave to "Quakerism." With this proviso, a
faithful abstract shall be given ofthe particulars recorded of her
by Henry More and his biographers.
She was sister to " Sir John Finch," some time Ambassador
from the English Court to that of the Ottoman Empire. Her
understanding was singularly quick and apprehensive, her judg
ment 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 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 mistress of the
highest theories, whether of philosophy 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 acquirements ; 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, notwithstanding the distressing impedi
ment, under which they were usually engaged in. For she had
the affliction to be exercised, from her very youth, with extreme

* See several of bis publications.
25

290 SOME ACCOUNT OP
and continued pains in her head, 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,
ofhis power, life, and Spirit) in us, the hope of glory." It was
by virtue of this, as her learned friend justly remarks, — in com
parison 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 agoniz
ing conflicts of the flesh. And, it seemed to him to be not with
out providential wisdom, that all means of mitigation proved so
ineffectual ; in order that this glorious power of God, in its opera
tion on an obedient soul, might the more fully appear. Thus it
was, that, in a close pursuit after Truth and knowledge, the
Christian graces so eminently shone forth in her, as even to ob
scure the lustre of other accomplishments, at least, with those
who could behold and appreciate them.
Something ofthe 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 great
pains, increase of weakness, with new additional distempers, I
might fancy my release not far off, from those weighty suffer
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 knows, what measure of suffering 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, disinterested
ness, uniform kindness to all around, condescension and forbear
ance towards the failings of others, together with a provident
aolicitude 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 her intellect was not in any
wise impaired, nor the tranquillity of her soul molested ; for, at
the last, she went off »s one asleep, drawing her breath shorter

THE LADY CONWAY. 291
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
Ragley 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 experience
should have been printed, by way of Remains or Pious Frag
ments ; and, with this view, her valued friend essayed an account
of her, by way of preface, from which, some parts ofthe present
brief memorial are taken. This document winds up with the
succeeding reflection.
" These 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 mayst 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 regeneration ; 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 herself
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 profess, that my con
verse with them is, to receive health and refreshment from
them." And, towards the close of the same letter, she further
adds, " I pray God, give us all a clear discerning between melan
choly, enthusiasm, and true inspiration; that we may not be
imposed upon, to believe a lie. The great difference of opinion
in thi3 point, amongst the learned and experienced, occasions
much perplexity in minds less exercised, and thus not so well

292 some account or the lady conway.
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 upon some pretensions of the Quakers to be very excel
lent, all the external considerations of her quality and of the
world, availed nothing with her, for the hindering of those re
gards 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 melan
choly circumstances, 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 ofthe Quakers' Meet
ings." 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 ofthe pressures
and sufferings they had lain under, and that she was much re
freshed 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 mat
ters. But, when he saw, that he could not sufficiently prevail,
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.

YALE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY

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