And the righteous shall shine forth, as the sun, in the kingdom of their Father,' ver. 43. Christ said unto his disciples, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God,' Mark iv. 11. And Christ lifted up his eyes upon his disciples, and said, 'Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God,' Luke vi. 20. And the apostles preached the kingdom of God. These were born again; that saw and knew the kingdom of God, and preached it.

"Christ said to his disciples, 'Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom,' Luke xii. 32. And, 'I appoint unto you a kingdom,' said Christ, as my Father hath appointed unto me,' chap. xxii. 29. The Lord said, 'He that overcometh, shall inherit all things: and I will be his God, and he shall be my son,' Rev. xxi. 7. And John saith, I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the Word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one,' 1 John ii. 14. And Christ, by whom are all things, is said to bring many sons to glory,' Heb. ii. 10.

'

"Christ said, 'Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites; for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer them that are entering, to go in,' Matt. xxiii. 13. He also said, 'Woe unto you, lawyers; for you have taken away the key of knowledge; ye enter not in yourselves; and them that were entering in ye hindered,' Luke xi. 52. Christ gives unto his children the key of the kingdom, his Spirit; but the scribes, and the Pharisees, and the lawyers, great professors, who were erred from the Spirit, like the great professors in our age that scoff at the Spirit, and draw people from the Spirit of God within, these shut up the kingdom from men, and draw people from the key of knowledge, and the key of the kingdom. For no man knows the things of God, but by the Spirit of God; for the things of God are spiritually discerned.' So the Spirit is the key, by which the kingdom of God, and the things of God, are revealed and discerned, and known, according to 1 Cor. ii. 10, 11, 13, 14. The apostle names some in his epistle to the Colossians, and says, 'These are my fellow-workers unto the kingdom of God,' Col. iv. 11. And he tells that church, that God hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son,' chap. i. 13. So ye may see these were born again, that were translated into the kingdom of Christ, and were fellow-workers unto the kingdom of God.

6

"Christ exhorts his disciples to love and to do good, that they might be the children of their Father, which is in heaven, Matt. v. 45. He bids them be perfect, even as their Father which is in heaven, is perfect; ver. 48. The apostle saith to the church at Philippi, That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, amongst whom ye shine as lights in the world, holding forth the word of life,' &c. Phil. ii. 15, 16. And writing to the church of the Thessalonians, he puts them in mind how he had exhorted them that they would walk worthy of God, who had called them into his kingdom and glory,' 1 Thess. ii. 12.

"The Lord had promised by the prophet Joel, that he would 'pour

out his Spirit upon all flesh,' and that 'sons and daughters should prophesy, old men should dream dreams, and young men see visions,' Joel ii. 28. Now the cause that sons and daughters, handmaids, servants, young men, and old men, have not these heavenly visions, dreams, and prophecies, is, because they are erred from the Spirit of God, which he poureth upon them: but as many as are led by the Spirit of God, are the sons of God.

"John saith, Christ was the true light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world,' John i. 9; and that 'As many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God;' ver 12, 'which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God,' ver. 13. Now, the reason why people do not become the sons of God, is because they do not receive Christ. The Jews, the great professors, who had the promises, prophecies, figures, and shadows of him, would not receive him when he came. And now the priests and high professors of Christ, are so far from receiving the light of Christ, and believing in it, that they hate the light, and scoff at it, calling it a natural conscience; and some, Jack-in-the-lantern. Such are not like to become the sons of God, nor to see the glorious kingdom of Christ, which stands in righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. For the light that shines in the heart, gives the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ Jesus.' They that do not receive Christ Jesus, but hate his light (which is the life in him) and yet profess him in words, neither know the children of the light, nor true fellowship in the light, nor the kingdom of God, that stands in righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost; but by the light they are condemned. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men love darkness rather than light, because their deeds are evil. For every one that doeth evil, hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved,' John iii. 19, 20. But the children of the light, that walk in the light, come to heavenly Jerusalem, and to the city of the living God, to the innumerable company of angels, and to the general assembly and church of the firstborn, that are written in heaven, and can sing Hallelujah!"

Gooses, the 2nd of the 7th Month, 1687.

G. F.

Having been more than a quarter of a year in the country, I returned to LONDON, Somewhat better in health than formerly, having received much benefit by the country air. And it being now a time of general liberty, and great openness amongst the people, I had much service for the Lord in the city; being almost daily at public meetings, and frequently taken up in visiting Friends that were sick, and in other services of the church. I continued at London about three months; and then finding my strength much spent, with continual labouring in the work of the Lord, and my body much stopped for want of fresh air, I went down to my son Rous's, by KINGSTON, where I abode some time, and visited Friends at Kingston. While was there, it came upon me to write a paper concerning the Jews, showing "how by their disobedience and rebellion, they lost the holy city and land." By which example the professed Christians may see what they

are to expect, if they continue to disobey and provoke the Lord. The copy here follows:

"THE Lord gave the Jews in the Old Testament the land of Canaan, and they built the temple at Jerusalem to worship in. It was called 'the holy temple;' and Jerusalem was called 'the holy city;' and Canaan 'the holy land.' But when the Jews rebelled against the good Spirit, which God gave to instruct them, rebelled against his law, set up idols and images, and defiled the land and the city, the Lord sent his prophets to cry against them, to bring them back again to his Spirit, and to his law, and so to God, to serve and worship him, that they might not worship images and idols, the works of their own hands. But instead of hearkening to God's prophets, they persecuted them, and at last killed his Son Christ Jesus, and persecuted his apostles. But Christ told the Jews, that both their city and temple should be laid waste, and they should be scattered over all nations: and it was so. Titus the Roman emperor came and took Jerusalem, and destroyed the city and temple; which was a day of vengeance upon the Jews for all their idolatries and their wickedness, and for the innocent blood they had shed, both in the city and country; and they were driven out of their own city and land, and scattered over all nations. The Jews have never had power to obtain the land since, nor to build Jerusalem, nor the temple; but the Turk hath both the land of Canaan, and that which is called 'the city of Jerusalem.' Now, the Turk neither makes images, nor worships images; and so it is a just hand of the Lord, that he should be over the persecuting, idolatrous Jews, so that they cannot defile the land of Canaan now with images and idols, for the Turk hath it, who neither makes images, nor idols, nor worships them. The Jews must never hope, believe, nor expect, that ever they shall go again into the land of Canaan, to set up an outward worship at Jerusalem, and there for their priests to offer outward sacrifices of rams, sheep, and heifers, &c., for burnt-offerings; for Christ, the one offering, hath offered himself once for all, and by this one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. And Christ hath changed the priesthood of Aaron, that offered sacrifices, that was made after the power of a carnal commandment; but Christ was made after the power of an endless life, a Priest for ever, who is holy, harmless, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens. This is the Priest that gives power to all that receive him, to become the sons and daughters of God; and Jerusalem that is above, is the mother of all the sons and daughters of God, and is free; but Jerusalem that is below, is in bondage with her children. They that are the children of Jerusalem that is above, do not look down at Jerusalem that is below; but they look at Jerusalem that is above, which is their mother. Christ said, Neither at outward Jerusalem, nor in the mountain of Samaria, should God be worshipped; but God should be worshipped in Spirit and in truth; for he is a Spirit, and such he seeks to worship him,' John iv. This is the worship that Christ set up above sixteen hundred years ago; and therefore the idolatrous Jews must never think to offer their outward offerings and sacrifices, nor set up their outward worship at Jerusalem, in the holy land of Canaan more. For Christ, by the offering up of himself once for all,

for the sins of the whole world, hath ended all the Jews' offerings, and changed the priesthood, and the law by which it was made; and hath blotted out the haud-writing of ordinances, which commanded both priests and offerings; and triumphed over them. So he is the offering and sacrifice of all the children of the New Testament, and New Covenant, and heavenly New Jerusalem, that is above. He is their Prophet that openeth to them; their Shepherd that feeds them; their Bishop that oversees them; and Priest that died for their sins, and is risen for their justification; who sanctifies and presents them to God. He is the one Mediator between God and man, even the Man Christ Jesus."

Kingston, the 9th of the 10th Month, 1687.

G. F.

After this I went to GUILDFORD to visit Friends there, and stayed three days with them; having a large and very good meeting there on Firstday. After which I came back to KINGSTON again, and tarried about two weeks longer, visiting Friends, and having meetings amongst them, both at their public meeting-house and in their families. Many things I wrote while I was at Kingston; among which was the following:

"God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him, shall not perish (mark, not perish), but have everlasting life,' John iii. 16. Again, he saith, He that believeth on the Son of God, hath (mark, hath) everlasting life,' ver. 36. So these believers have everlasting life while they are upon the earth. And 'He that believeth on Christ is not condemned; but he that believeth not, is condemned already, and the wrath of God abideth on him.' And, He that heareth Christ's word, and believeth on God that sent him, hath (mark, hath) everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation, but is passed from death,’ the death in the first Adam, 'unto life,' the life in Christ, the second Adam, John v. 24. And that meat which Christ doth give, endureth unto everlasting life, as in John vi. 27. And the water that Christ doth give, shall be in him that drinks it, a well of water springing up into everlasting life,' John iv. 14. Christ said to the Jews, 'Search the Scriptures, for in them ye think ye have eternal life; and they are they which testify of me; and ye will not come to me, that ye might have life,' John v. 39, 40. Here ye may see eternal life is to be found in Christ, and not in the Scriptures, which testify of Him, the Life. Christ's sheep that hear his voice, know and follow him; he gives them eternal life, and they shall not perish, neither shall any pluck them out of his hand. They shall not pluck Christ's sheep, to whom he hath given eternal life, out of his hand. Christ said to Martha, I am the resurrection and the life; he that believeth in me, though he were dead (mark, though he were dead) yet shall he live; (mark, live, though he were dead); and whosoever liveth, and believeth in me, shall never die. Believest thou this? Martha said, Yea, Lord,' John xxv. 26. This is the true and substantial belief, which they that believe, shall not perish, but have everlasting life. John saith, 'This is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life; and this life is in his Son,' 1 John v. 11. 'The life was manifested, and we have seen it and bear witness, and show unto you that eternal life, which was with the

Father, and was manifested unto us,' 1 John i. 2. So these were the believers, that had eternal life in the Son of God, and showed it unto others. 'He that hath the Son hath life,' says John, and he that hath not the Son of God, hath not life,' 1 John v. 12. Christ says, 'Every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundred fold, and shall inherit everlasting life,' Matt. xix. 29. The wicked that do not receive Christ, shall go into everlasting punishment; but the righteous into eternal life. The true servants of God have their fruits unto holiness, and their end is everlasting life; for the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord.' Such have a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. Therefore I desire, that God's people may endure all things, that they may obtain this salvation, which is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory. For Christ being made perfect, became the Author of eternal salvation to all them that obey him. This eternal salvation is above an external salvation; for they come to receive an eternal inheritance, and live in the possession of the everlasting gospel of joy, comfort, peace, and salvation, having everlasting life in Christ Jesus." G. F.

Kingston, the 6th of the 11th Month, 1687.

Another paper I wrote there, concerning the Stone spoken of by Daniel, chap. ii., which became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth; showing, "that thereby was set forth the kingdom and power of Christ:"

"WHEN Christ, the Stone, that became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth, had broken to pieces the head of gold, and the breast of silver, and the belly of brass, and the legs of iron, and the feet part iron part clay (which were the four monarchies, to wit, the Babylonian and Mede, the Persian, the Grecian, and the Roman), and had ended the outward Jews' typical kingdom; Daniel saith, In the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed,' Dan. ii. 44. Christ saith, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth,' Matt. xxviii. 18. And, 'My kingdom is not of this world,' John xviii. 36. 'Christ is the image of the invisible God, the Firstborn of every creature. For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers; all things were created by him, and for him; and he is before all things, and by him all things consist,' Col. i. 15–17. Here ye may see, all things consist by Jesus Christ, and all things were created by Christ, and for him, whether they be things in heaven, or things in earth, visible or invisible, they were created by him and for him; yea, thrones, dominions, principalities, and powers, these were all created by him and for him. So Christ is King of kings and Lord of lords,' Rev. xix. 16. And the Prince of the kings of the earth,' chap. i. 5. Out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, with which he shall smite the nations, and he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessel of a potter, shall they be dashed in pieces, who do not obey Him, the King of kings and Lord of