time salute you, and the rest of friends in all those parts, unto whom is the issuing forth of the light and love of God in an abundant manner, that you may all receive plentiful redemption, and be refreshed in him, who is an everlasting fountain, that can never be exhausted; and for the thirsty it is set open, that they who want inward consolation and satisfaction for their immortal souls, might be abundantly replenished with the living crystal streams thereof: blessed are they of the Father of all blessings and mercies, that have their eye turned unto him, that watch and wait upon him, who dare not to offend or grieve his good spirit, that stands ready not only to convince the world of sin, and turn many into the way of life; but seal all the faithful unto the inheritance of eternal life: that as you once bore the earthly image, and wore the beast's seal in your foreheads, so now you may daily witness the renewing of the heavenly image upon you, by the power of the Lord, inwardly felt, and a wearing of the Lamb's seal in your foreheads, by the Spirit of our God.

'Oh! be not scattered from this blessed hope, nor let the bawlings of some thick, carnal, head-wise opposers, who are more in word than in deed, and only skilled in science falsely so called (for it is filled with endless jangles and debates) any whit move you, my dear friends, from your holy standing; neither the reproaches of the profane, nor cruel sufferings of some persecuting Pharisees, nor, finally, the falling-away, and treacherous apostasy, of any Judas, Demas, or Alexander the coppersmith; but as pilgrims, estranged from the life and spirit of this world, who are embarked for a more durable country and building that is eternal in the heavens, pass away your sojourning here below in fear and trembling, in diligence and godly conversation; that so the gospel may be adorned, the life and power of godliness shine brightly forth through those black clouds, with which envious men seek to obscure and eclipse the beauty of your principles and practice, and God shall have the glory, and you shall be preserved to his eternal kingdom and therefore, my dear friends, have a care of the snares the evil-one lays in the spirit of this world, whereby to draw out your minds from the heavenly watch, against that which makes not for God's honour and your own true peace: that no sluggish, negligent, or earthly spirit overtake you, since the fatherly visitation has reached unto you. Neither let vain thoughts or unnecessary disputations be cherished, for none of those things make for true comfort in the day of God. O that the cross of Christ may evermore be precious among you! And you whom the

Lord of late hath more particularly extended his loving kindness unto, leave the dead to bury the dead; part with all, that you may have eternal life: make no bargains of ease for your flesh and blood, which must never enter into the kingdom of God, and whose consultings, if you yield to them, will run you into eternal perdition.

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of God;" and a man is then so, when he hath parted with all for Christ's name sake. I mean not a comfortable livelihood, as popish friars do, that they may live on the hard labours of other men; that is, at best, but the outside of the platter; but those fashions, customs, pleasures, honours, lusts, &c. that are from below, and formed and brought forth by the spirit of this world, unto which the free-born children of God, by the eternal Spirit, have been made strangers, not touching therewith. O let not the foolishness of the cross be over-reasoned, cavilled, and disputed; a willing offering, resigned spirit, and contented bearer of the reproach of men for conscience-sake, such God loves, and hath in great regard: he is a sufficient recompence; and every light affliction he repays with a far more exceeding weight of glory, even that pure spiritual glory, that was with the Father ere this world began.

O prize your precious and high calling, and diligently seek to make your calling and election sure, by working out your so great salvation by the power and spirit of Jesus our Lord: and as many as are led by it, are children and heirs, yea, co-heirs, of that life and kingdom with him, which abideth for evermore. So the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, by his holy arm and power, compass you about, and have your souls and bodies in his keeping, that in his fear and love you may live towards him and one another the remainder of your days: so shall honour ascend to him, and his peace like a river flow amongst you to your unutterable rejoicing, world without end.

I am your sensible, tender, and sincere friend and brother in the everlasting truth, to serve you to the utmost of my ability therein,

From my house at Rickmersworth, in the nation of England,

the 4th of the 10th month S. V. 1673.'

To Friends in Maryland.

'Dear Friends,

W. P.'

THOUGH unknown to you in body, yet well known in spirit, by that eternal living union and fellowship that the light of the Lord Jesus Christ hath brought us into, which comprehends the world, the life, wisdom, and works of it, VOL. 1.

C

and reproves them all as degenerated from the life of God, and the commonwealth of his blessed spiritual Israel: and blessed will you be for ever, as you keep therein; for a growing up into immortality, and the life, peace, and joy that are eternal, you will witness more and more, which is the heavenly durable treasure in the earthen vessel. In the living sense of his precious truth, and glorious day of light, life, and love, that has dawned, and is breaking up clearer and clearer upon us, my soul salutes you, the honest and faithful-hearted friends of Maryland plantation, wishing you the increases of God day by day, to the building you more and more up into the image that is glorious, being the express representation of Him that hath called you to the hope that gives comfort in the day of the Lord: Oh, my dear friends, up and work for the Lord God, for the despised light and truth of Jesus, in your day; and let not us be less vigilant, in the tender, diligent, fervent spirit for God, than the world is for their mammon, that so we may appear men for God, not for ourselves, minding the things of Christ, and not our own, Phil. ii. 21. So shall God's truth spread to the utmost parts of the earth, and the heathen shall become the inheritance of that true light, that lighteth every man that cometh into the world.

'Dear friends, it fell to my lot to manage your concerns with the attorney-general of the colony, and the lord Baltimore, about oaths: I obtained to George Fox's paper the answer endorsed on the back-side: now my advice to you is to represent to them,

First, that oaths have risen from corruptions: that falseness, distrust, and jealousies brought them into the world, as say Polybius, Grotius, Bishop Gawden, and others; and God having redeemed you to truth-speaking, the cause is taken away, viz. falsehood; therefore the effect, by way of remedy, to wit, oaths, should cease.

Secondly, Christ expressly forbids swearing; inasmuch as he doth not only prohibit vain swearing, which was already forbidden under the law, but that swearing which the law allowed.

Thirdly, that it is not only our sense: Polycarpus, Ponticus, Blandina, Basilides, Primitive Martyrs were of this mind; and Justin Martyr, Cyprian, Origen, Lactantius, Clemens Alexandrinus, Basilius Magnus, Chrysostom, Theophylact, Oecumenius, Chromatius, Euthymius, (Fathers) so read the text, not to mention any of the Protestant Martyrs. Therefore should they be tender.

Fourthly, there is no injury done to the plantation to take your words; if any, to you that suffer the same penalty

for a lie, which is only due to, perjury, and which the law, without your consent, does not inflict; your caution and pledge for honesty is as large as he that swears; for, as truth-speaking fulfils the law, so equal punishment with perjured persons, satisfies it.

Lastly, that your coming thither as to a sanctuary, makes it reasonable that they should not drive you thence for mere conscience, so well grounded and confirmed by scripture, reason, and authorities. Let your yea and nay be all.

The lord Baltimore mentioned something about your allowing some small matter for not performing martial matters in that be wise, deliberate and passive; only if they press too hard, interpose. I suppose they will be moderate in that, and all other cases relating to you, at least I was told and assured so.

'I have no more, but that truth prospers, in meetings and out of them: our adversaries fall before us: and the sober people of these three nations are open to hear, and ready both to think and speak well of, the way of the Lord. I sent you one of Edward Burrough's books, and two small ones of my own, as a token of my love, which accept. So the Lord God of eternal strength preserve us all, living, fresh, zealous, and wise, in that which is pure of himself, which he hath shed abroad in our hearts, to his eternal praise, and our everlasting comfort. Amen, amen, saith my soul.

'Your friend and brother, in the truth and cause of Christ Jesus, the light of the world.

'Anno 1673.'

W. PENN.' To J. H. and his companions, Justices in Middlesex. 'Rickmersworth, the 31st of the 1st month,

'called March, 1674.

BECAUSE you are justices as well as neighbours, and reputed gentlemen, not only civility, but duty, engages me to govern myself with all due respect in this epistle: which, as it proceeds out of love to your persons, and that hearty desire I have your actions may not fall short of that courtesy, neighbourhood, conscience, and fundamental law that becomes every man, much more a gentleman, and he an Englishman and a justice too, but most of all a true Christian, to square himself by, rather than any sinister end; so, I beseech you, give it your perusal and serious consideration; and then, if you please, afford me your answer.

I offered, as you may remember, several things, to abate your proceedings with us at Ruslipe, which then it did not please you to hear enough to embrace. Perhaps a reitera

tion may conduce more to your satisfaction; at least, it will acquit my conscience; which, whatever you said, or think, is of great value with me. And those that have known me better than you do, are not ignorant how much I have been thought to stand in my own light, merely to preserve

that unblemished.

'I told you then, that since you affirmed the report of this meeting to have reached you a month since (which, I think, was at least a week before any such thing was intended) it had been handsome and neighbourly, indeed but natural and just, to give us notice of your intentions: for in a country so quiet as this (as where is there now any disquiet?) who could have expected such a sand or rock to strike upon? Men use to provide land-marks and such like tokens for caution, where danger is, to prevent it. We never heard you to be severe; on the contrary moderate; men of more candor than to express severity, or extend the letter of the law upon your neighbours.

For what else, I beseech you, can I call your sending for all that should meet there to appear before you, without any the least preceding information of your displeasure? Again, the constable could give no evidence of a meeting, who left the people, some in the house, some in the yard, some in the orchard, and several walking in the highway: no more preaching or praying, then, where no people were. When you came, those that the constable saw, were dispersed, and had been near an hour: which we thought the thing you only aimed at finding some five that remained, either at some repast, or discourse, very remote from a conventicle, in your own sense of the word, how fair an opportunity had you to clear your hands, as justices and friends, nothing offensive to the law in your hands being present to you. Perhaps we expected to hear that you were glad to find the people gone; and that the occasion of any rigour, to you unpleasant, was removed; with, it may be, some gentle caution for the future, that you might quit yourselves as well like men in power, as kind neighbours. But truly none of us, I dare say, so much as conceived one thought like your actions. Not that I think them the harshest that were ever shown; by no means; but exceeding our expectations, the circumstances considered, and the door that was thereby opened for you to get out at: especially when you would not take our words to be gone, but, after an untoward manner, compelled us out. I farther urged the general quiet of the season, the unpleasantness of these things to the king, his absolute renunciation of all such proceedings; that his declaration was a great instance; that though it be