can stand, but it is judged with the Light; and here all are in unity, and here no self-willcan arise, nor any mastery. And let there be no backbiting amongst you; but in love, ye that dwell in the Light, and see clear, speak to the others, whose minds are gone from the Light: else (as I said before) if ye do speak behind their backs, there will be the evil eye and filthy mind, which dare not speak to their faces. And so the same [mind] which doth condemn behind the back, is for condemnation; and so self should be judged first. Here ye will be kept watchful in the pure fear and love of God, and all self will be judged out from amongst you, which would be judging in secret; which is a work of darkness.

And take heed (I charge you all in the presence of the living God) of a feigned humility, and a feigned love, which is out of the Light, and then to use it as a customary salutation, or a formal gesture; which is all for condemnation, and to be kept out, being out of the Covenant. So see, that all your actings be in and from the Light; here ye will be kept clean and pure, and will come to be sealed in the everlasting Covenant of God with the Light which comes from Christ.

And again, I charge you all in the presence of the living God, not to suffer your minds to go out to contend with them who be not of the Truth, in that which is out of the Truth; both which are to be condemned with the Truth. For the same mind will boast and get up, which is out of the Truth, and reaches at things in the comprehension, though it lives not in it, but is excluded out of the Truth, and shall not enter; but is for condemnation.

Friends, I warn and charge you all, that there be no keeping of old things in store in the mind or memory, heart-rising one against another, or backbiting among you, or speaking evil one of another; but judge that out by the Light of Christ.

G. F.

NUMBER LI.

To Friends, concerning the Cross of Christ, the Power of God, that leads out of the world, to the world that is without end.

1653.

The Cross being minded, it makes a separation from all other lovers, and brings to God;

and the ground of evil thoughts comes to be opened; which cross overturns the world in the heart, and must be taken up by all who follow Jesus Christ, out of the world which hath an end, into the world which is without end. All the evil things of the world must be denied: for he who loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him; but where the world is standing, the cross is not lived in. But dwelling in the cross to the world, here the love of God is shed abroad in the heart, and the way is opened into the inheritance which fades not away; where nothing shall enter which is defiled. For God is not seen, but in the eternal Light, from whence all pure wisdom comes this treasure is not seen, but with the spiritual eye; nor received, but with the pure in heart, and by those who dwell and abide in the eternal Light. But the carnal heart may get the words from them who had received the wisdom, and who dwelt in the fear of the Lord; but they who live without the fear, may get their words, and yet know not wisdom's gate, from whence those words proceeded, having the old bottle. Watch all therefore, and see what ye do possess: for all who gave forth the Holy Scripture, who dwelt in the fear of God, they possessed the

life, which those words proceeded from; and the secrets of the Lord were with them. Therefore all in your measure, which is of God, wait that it may guide your minds up to God, and follow it and not your evil desires, nor the lusts of the world; for the fear of the Lord will keep your hearts clean, and the true wisdom will be with you in the pure heart.

G. F.

NUMBER L VI.

To call the minds out of the creatures.

1653.

All friends of the Lord every where, whose minds are turned within towards the Lord, take heed and hearken to the Light within you, which is the light of Christ and of God, that by it your minds may be renewed, and by it turned to God, with that which is pure, to worship the living God, the Lord of Hosts, over all the creatures. That which calls your minds out of the lusts of the world, it will call them out of the evil affections and desires, and turn you from them, and set your affections above. And the same Light, that calls your minds, which were abroad, out of

the world, the same turns them to God, the Father of light. Here the pure mind is known, and the pure God is waited upon for wisdom from above; and the pure God is served night and day, and the peace, which hath no end, is enjoyed. For ye may have openings; but your minds going into the lusts of the flesh, here the affections are not mortified. Therefore hearken to that, and take heed to that, which calls your minds out of the vile affections, and the world's lusts, to have them renewed: the same will turn your minds to God; the same light will set your affections above, and bring you to wait for the pure wisdom from God from on high, that it may be justified. Wait all in that which calls your minds inward, and turns them to God; and here is the cross witnessed, that the mind shall feed upon nothing, but the pure light of God, and on the living food, which comes from the living God.

So, the Lord God Almighty be with you all, and keep you all in his strength and power, to his glory, over all the world, whose minds are called out of it, and turned to God to worship the Creator, and serve Him, and not the creature. And the light of God, that