Journal Entry 1691

An Epistle of Dear George Fox’s, which was writ with his own Hand, and left Sealed up with this Superscription, (viz. Not to be opened before the Time;) which after his Decease being opened was thought meet to be Printed, being as followeth: Viz.

For the Yearly and Second-Days-Meeting in London, and to all the Children of God in all Places in the World. By and from G.F.

This for all the Children of God every where, that are led by his Spirit, and do walk in his Light, in which they have Life, and Unity, and Fellowship with the Father, and the Son, and one with another.

Keep all your Meetings in the Name of the Lord Jesus, that be gathered in his Name by his Light, Grace, Truth, Power and Spirit; by which you will feel his blessed and refreshing Presence among you, and in you, to your Comfort and God’s Glory.

And now all Friends, all your Meetings, both Mens and Womens, Monthly and Quarterly, and Yearly, &c. were set up by the Power, and Spirit, and Wisdom of God; and in them you do know that you have felt both his Power, and Spirit, and Wisdom, and blessed refreshing Presence among you, and in you, to his Praise and Glory, and your Comfort: So that you have been a City set on a Hill, that cannot be hid.

And although many loose and unruly Spirits have risen betimes to oppose you and them, both in Print and other ways; but you have seen, how they have come to nought: and the Lord hath blasted them, and brought their Deeds to Light, and made them manifest to be the Trees without Fruit, and Wells without Water, and wandering Stars from the Firmament of God’s Power, and the raging Waves of the Sea, casting up their Mire and Dirt: And many of them are like the Dog turn’d to his old Vomit, and the Sow that was washed, turned again to the {Page 555} Mire. And this hath been the Condition of many, God knoweth, and his People!

And therefore all to stand steadfast in Christ Jesus, your Head, in whom you are all one, Male and Female, and know his Government, and of the Encrease of his Government and Peace there shall be no End, but there will be an End of the Devil’s, and all of them, that be out of Christ, and do oppose it and him, whose Judgement doth not linger, and their Damnation doth not slumber: And therefore in God and Christ’s Light, Life, Spirit and Power live and walk, that is over all, (and the Seed of it) in Love and in Innocency, and Simplicity; and in Righteousness and Holiness dwell, and in his Power and Holy Ghost, in which God’s Kingdom doth stand. All Children of New and Heavenly Jerusalem, that is from above, and is free, with all her Holy Spiritual Children, To her keep your Eyes.

And as for this Spirit of Rebellion and Opposition, that hath risen formerly and latterly, it is out of the Kingdom of God and heavenly Jerusalem; and is for judgment and Condemnation, with all its Books, Words and Works. And therefore Friends are to live and walk in the Power and Spirit of God, that is over it, and in the Seed, that will bruise and break it to pieces: In which Seed you have Joy and Peace with God, and Power and Authority to judge it; and your Unity is in the Power and Spirit of God, that doth judge it: and all God’s Witnesses in his Tabernacle go out against it, and always have and will.

And let no Man live to Self, but to the Lord, as they will die in him; and seek the Peace of the Church of Christ, and the Peace of all Men in him: for blessed are the Peace-makers. And dwell in the pure peaceable, heavenly Wisdom of God, that is gentle and easie to be entreated, that is full of Mercy; all striving to be of one Mind, Heart, Soul and Judgment in Christ, having his mind and Spirit dwelling {Page 556} in you, building up one another in the Love of God, which doth edifie the Body of Christ, his Church, who is the holy Head thereof. So glory to God through Christ, in this Age and all other Ages, who is the Rock and Foundation, and the Emmanuel, God with us, Amen over all, the Beginning and the Ending; in him live and walk, in whom you have Life eternal, in whom you will feel me, and I you.

All Children of New Jerusalem that descends from above, the Holy City, which the Lord and the Lamb is the Light thereof, and is the Temple; in it they are born again of the Spirit: So Jerusalem that is above, is the Mother of them, that are born of the Spirit. And so they that come, and are come to Heavenly Jerusalem, are them that receive Christ; and he giveth them Power to become the Sons of God, and are born again of the Spirit: So Jerusalem that is above, is their Mother. And such do come to Heavenly Mount Sion. And the innumerable Company of Angels, and to the Spirits of the just Men made perfect; and are come to the Church of the living God written in Heaven, and have the Name of God, and the City of God written upon them: So here is a New Mother, that bringeth forth a Heavenly and a Spiritual Generation.

There is no Schism, nor Division, nor Contention, nor Strife in Heavenly Jerusalem, nor in the Body of Christ, which is made up of living Stones, a Spiritual House. And Christ is not divided, for in him there is Peace. Christ saith, In me you have Peace. And he is from above, and not of this World; but in the World below, in the Spirit of it there is Trouble: therefore keep in Christ, and walk in him, Amen.

G.F.

And Jerusalem was the mother of all the true Christians before the Apostacy; and since the outward Christians are broken into many Sects, and they have gotten many Mothers: But all they, that are come out of the Apostasy by the Power and Spirit of Christ, {Page 557} Jerusalem that is above, is their Mother, (and none below her;) who doth nourish all her Spiritual Children.

Read at the Yearly-Meeting in London, 1691.

G.F.

[Source: A Journal or Historical Account of the Life, Travels, Sufferings, Christian Experiences and Labour of Love in the Work of Ministry, of that Ancient, Eminent and Faithful Servant of Jesus Christ, George Fox: Who departed this Life in great Peace with the Lord, the 13th of the 11th Month 1690, Vol. 2. 1709 edition pgs. 554-557]