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walk in the Gospel, the power of God which they are heirs of. I say, they are heirs of the comely order of the Gospel; and therefore, I say, take your possessions of it, and walk as bocomes the Gospel; and keep the comely order of it, and in it keep your meetings. And here is the ground and foundation of our women's meetings.

Now mothers of families, that have the ordering of children, maids, and servants, may do a great deal of good or harm in their families, to the making or spoiling of children, maids, and servants; and many things women may do and speak of amongst women, which are not men's business. So men and women become helps meet in the image of God.

And the elder women in the Truth were not only called elders, but mothers. Now a mother in the church of Christ, and a mother in Israel, is one that nourishes, and feeds, and washes, and rules, and is a teacher in the Church, and in the Israel of God, and an admonisher, an instructer, an exhorter. So the elder women and mothers are to be teachers of good things, and to be teachers of the younger and trainers up of them in virtue, in

holiness, in godliness and righteousness, in wisdom, and in the fear of the Lord, in the church of Christ. And if the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the believing wife, then who is the speaker, and who is the - hearer? Surely such a woman is permitted to speak, and to work the works of God, and to make a member in the church; and then as an elder, to oversee that they walk according to the order of the Gospel.

G. F.

NUMBER.

CCXCI I.

To Friends in New-England, Virginia, and

Dear Friends,

Barbadoes.

1672.

Be faithful in the power of the Lord God, in what you know, and then the Lord will preserve you; that you may answer the witness of God in every man, whether they are the heathen, that do not profess Christ; or whether they are such as do profess Christ, that have the form of godliness, and are out of the power. And keep your meetings, you that know the power of the Lord and

feel it, that in it you may have unity with God, and one with another. The Lord God hath a seed in those parts, who shall be heirs of his grace, that brings salvation, which grace is it that teacheth, in which grace they sing praises to the Lord. So, now you who are come to the dawning of the day, and to the ending of the night of the apostasy; happy and blessed are you, who are come to see the hidden mysteries of God revealed, and his glorious riches to the gentiles, through the power of an endless life.

And you that are and have been faithful, spread the Truth abroad; let not principalities and powers separate you from the love of God, which you have in Christ Jesus, who hath all power in heaven and earth given unto Him: mind his reign, his teaching, his kingdom, which hath no end; for God hath some to be brought out from amongst those heathens, if you be faithful among them, answering the witness of God in them; for, as the Lord saith, I will give Him for a covenant to the gentiles: who are called heathens. And as any are moved to go amongst the heathen, in the power and love of God, to preach the Gospel, which is the love of God to them,

bring them to the power of God; to that God who is the God of the stones, which they make idols of, and the God of the trees, earth, brass, silver, iron, and gold, which they make gods of; who is the living God; for those are dead gods that are made with men's hands.

He is the Living God who clothes the earth with grass and herbs, and causes the trees to grow, and bring forth food for you, and makes the fishes of the sea to breathe and live, and makes the fowls of the air to breed, and causes the roe and the hind, and the creatures and all the beasts of the earth to increase, whereby they may be food for you. He is the Living God, and causes the stars to arise in the night, to give you light, and the moon to arise to be a light in the night. He is the Living God, that causes the sun to give warmth unto nourish you, to you when you are cold. He is the Living God, that causes the snow and frost to melt, and causes the rain to water the plants. He is the Living God that made the heaven and the earth, and the clouds; and causes the springs to break out of the rocks, and who

divided the great sea from the earth, and the light from the darkness, and divided the great waters from the earth; and gathered them together; which great waters He called sea, and the dry land earth. He is to be worshiped that doth this: He is the Living God who gives unto you breath, and life, and strength, and gives unto you beasts and cattle, whereby you may be fed and clothed: He is the living God, and He is to be worshiped. And that which gives you to be sensible of Him, and to know Him, is that which convinceth you in your hearts of sin and unrighteousness.

So all gods that are made of stone, mortar, wood, silver, brass, iron, or gold, are not the Living God, but are made of men's hands; and the Living God is He who gives you life, and breath, and strength, and all things that are good; and would have you to feel after Him, with that which checks you for sin and evil; and would have you to worship Him in spirit, and serve Him who is holy and righteous, and to live in peace; He hath promised that He will give Christ Jesus for a covenant of light and peace, to you who are called gentiles and heathens. And now is the

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