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NUMBER CCL.

A warning to all to keep out of the vain fashions of the world, which lead them below the serious life, &c.

Friends,

1667.

Keep out of the vain fashions of the world; let not your eyes, and minds, and spirits run after every fashion in apparel; for that will lead you from the solid life into unity with that spirit that leads to follow the fashions of the nations. But mind that which is sober and modest, and keep to your plain fashions, that therein you may judge the world, whose minds and eyes are in what they shall put on, and what they shall eat. But keep all in the modesty, and plainness, and fervency, and sincerity, and be circumspect; for they that follow those things that the world's spirit invents daily, cannot be solid. Therefore all keep down that spirit of the world that runs into so many fashions, to please the lust of the eye, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life. And fashion not yourselves according to your former lust of ignorance; and let the time past be sufficient, in which you have lived according to the lusts of men, and, the

course of the world; that the rest of your time you may live to the will of God; taking no thought what ye shall eat, what ye shall drink, or what ye shall put on. Therefore take heed of the world's vanity, and trust not in uncertain riches, neither covet the riches of this world; but seek the kingdom of God, and the righteousness thereof, and all other things will follow. And let your minds be above the cosily and vain fashions of attire, but mind the hidden man of the heart, which is a meek and a quiet spirit, which is of great price with the Lord. And keep to justice and truth in all your dealings and tradings, at a word, and to the form of sound words, in the power of the Lord and in equity, in yea and nay in all your dealings, that your lives and conversations may be in heaven, and above the earth; that they may preach to all that you have to deal with; so that you may be as a city set on a hill, that cannot be hid, and as lights of the world, answering the equal principle in all; that God in all things may be glorified. So that you may pass your time here with fear, as pilgrims, and strangers, and sojourners, having an eye over all things that are uncertain, as cities, house s lands, goods, and all things below; possessing

them as if ye did not; and as having a city whose maker and builder is God, and an inheritance that will never fade away, in which you have riches that will abide with you eternally.

NUMBER CCLI.

My dear Friends,

G. F.

1667.

Now that Friends are become a good savour in the hearts of all people, and God having given them his dominion and favour, lose it not, but rather increase it in the life; for at first ye know that many could not take so much money in your trade as to buy bread with; all people stood aloof from you, when you stood upright, and gave them the plain language, and were at a word; but now that, through the life, you come to answer that of God in all, they say that they will trust you before their own people, knowing that you will not cheat, nor wrong, nor cozen, nor oppress them. For the cry is now, where is there a Quaker of such and such a trade? so that they will deal with Friends before they will deal with their own. O! therefore,

Friends, who have purchased this through great sufferings, lose not this great favour which God hath given unto you, but that you may answer the witness of God in every man, which witnesseth to your faithfulness, that they may glorify your Father on your behalf.

And now, Friends, if there be any oppression, exaction, or defrauding by making a prize, through the freedom which God hath given you, the world will see such, and say, the Quakers are not as they were; therefore such should be exhorted to equity and truth. And also if any run into debt, and aim at great things, and make a great show in the world of others' goods, which come to burden others, and lift up themselves with that which is not their own, and are not able to satisfy them according to their time and word; such hurt themselves, burden others, and oppress them, and bring grief and cause heart-rising in them to see such grown up by oppression; therefore such must be exhorted to justice, equity, and righteousness, and an even measure, to do as they would be done by.

And also, such as go under the name of Quaker, that are gotten into the earth, and

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settle their nests then in ease; such come to cry against Quakers' meetings, saying, away with your forms; and will not come to our meetings, and hurt others, by which the world gets occasion against the truth. Therefore such must be exhorted, for such never knew the purchase of the Truth, or if they did they have sold it.

And they that do forsake the assembling of themselves together, as the manner of some was in the Apostles' days, and is the manner of some now, such grow more and more in the evil heart, departing from the living God. And this brought in the apostasy, and all the whole body of trifling traditions. Therefore such as be in the everlasting power of God, must exhort such to take heed and be wise.

And also, all such unruly spirits that have professed falsely, and got under the name of Quakers, whose evil words corrupt good manners, must be exhorted from house to house.

And also such young people, lasses and lads, that go in youthful ways, and take liberty to go into pleasure, and to play, and

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