Dear friends and brethren, see that all live in the peaceable and blessed truth, into which no enmity can come; for the blessed seed, Christ Jesus, takes away the curse; of the increase of whose government there is no end [Isa 9:7]; who rules in righteousness [Isa 32:1] among the righteous for ever. And see that this righteousness, (in which you all have peace,) run down and flow as a stream [Amos 5:24] among you, who are begotten again into a lively hope [1 Pet 1:3], and born again by the immortal seed of the word of God, which lives and abides for ever [1 Pet 1:23]. And you who have received Christ, have received power to become the sons of God [John 1:12], and to believe in the light [John 12:36], in obedience to Christ's command; by which you become children of the light, and children of the day [1 Th 5:5]. Therefore this I say unto you, let no man abuse this power [1 Cor 9:18], that is everlasting [1 Tim 6:16]; and keep the gospel order, which was before any impurity was, and will be when it is gone. So that in all your men and women's meetings, see that virtue flow, and see that all your words be gracious [Eccl 10:12], and see that love flows, which bears all things [1 Cor 13:7], that kindness, tenderness, and gentleness may be among you, and that the fruits of the good spirit may abound; for nothing that is unclean must enter into God's kingdom [Rev 21:27], which stands in righteousness, and in holiness, and in the power of God, and in the joy of the holy ghost [Rom 14:17]: for all joy that is out of the holy ghost, will have an end. And see in all your men and women's meetings, that God be no ways dishonoured [Rom 2:23], nor the pure and blessed name of Christ (in which you are gathered) [Mat 18:20] be blasphemed [Rom 2:24]; but in all things that God may be glorified [1 Pet 4:11], exalted, and honoured; for you have the light, to see all evil, and the power to withstand it, and to see that nothing be lacking, then all will be well among you, in all your men and women's meetings. And see that nothing be lacking, neither within nor without [1 Th 4:12], for God is rich in both, and abundance of his riches [Psa 52:7] you have received. And so this is a warning and a charge to you all, in the presence of the living God, that you keep up the testimony of Jesus, against all that which is contrary to Jesus the heavenly man, that your fruits may appear to his glory, and your works to his praise [Phil 1:11]; and that you may have water in your own cisterns [Prov 5:15], and know those clouds through which Christ gives you rain, having purchased the field wherein the pearl lies [Mat 13:44-46]. And now is the spring time that the lily and the rose begin to flourish [Song 2:1,11f], and the vine is putting forth [Song 2:13], and the apple tree [Song 2:3] to bring forth her fruit, by the <34> power of the Lord God, who is over all. And keep your testimony for your religion, that you have received from God, and for your worship in the spirit and in the truth [John 4:24], that Christ Jesus hath set up; and for your gospel fellowship, which is in the power of God before the devil was: and see that all live in peace and in the love of God, for love edifieth the body [Eph 4:16]; for he who is the head of it [Col 1:18], is the beloved of God, who is from everlasting to everlasting. And see that every one's affections be set on things above, and not upon things below [Col 3:2], that be earthly; for now is the time to contend for the faith, that gives victory [1 Jn 5:4], which was once delivered to the saints [Jude 1:3], in which you have unity [Eph 4:13]. And so the God of power preserve you all, and keep you in his blessed seed, to wit, Christ Jesus, that none of you may be without a minister, without a priest, or without a prophet, or without a shepherd, or without a bishop [1 Pet 2:25], but let every one receive him in his offices: then you all have one who will exercise his offices in you all, whom God hath given for a leader and a covenant; yea, an everlasting leader, who was the foundation of the prophets and apostles, and is to us this day. And so be valiant for the truth upon the earth [Jer 9:3], in the seed Christ Jesus, that through him who destroys death [1 Cor 15:26, Heb 2:14], you may have a crown of life [Jas 1:12/Rev 2:10]; and through him you may be one another's crown and joy [Phil 4:1] in the Lord; yea, I say, through Christ, who was glorified with the Father before the world began [John 17:5]. I am just now upon leaving this island, where I have had very great and blessed service; though I underwent very great weights, and burthens, and sufferings, and travels: but all is well, and the blessed seed and power is over all; to whom be glory for evermore. Amen, amen. G. F.