Epistle 242

We are not against any man, but desire that the blessing of the Lord may come upon all men, and that which brings the curse may be destroyed; and in patience do we wait for that, and with spiritual weapons against it do we wrestle [Eph 6:12f], and not against any man or woman's person. For amongst us Christ is King, who bringeth the blessing, and destroyeth that which brought the curse. And whoever dwells in righteousness, (man or woman,) and loves mercy, and doth justly, and walks humbly with God [Mic 6:8], and hath the humility, which goes before the honour [Prov 15:33,18:12], we are not against. But whosoever doth unrighteously, or doth not justly, nor righteously, nor walk humbly before God, and will have honour before humility, God will overturn such by his power. And in that let your faith be; for we look not at persons, but at the power of God; and know the reign of Christ amongst us. And as it is said, 'God save the king,' or 'God bless the king;' we would not have him nor any man destroyed, but saved; and so blessed.

And the saved man will not suffer any thing to rule that destroys; and so our mind is, and we would that all men were saved, and come to the knowledge of the truth [1 Tim 2:4], which the persecutors are out of.

And all Friends, dwell in the endless power of the Lord, in which the supremacy is known, and the power which hath no end; whose dominion is over all dominions, and will stand when all other have an <273> end [Dan 4:34]; and in that is the patience felt, which runneth the race, and obtaineth the crown [Heb 12:1/1 Cor 9:24f]; and that hath the wisdom, which is sweet, and cool, and pure [James 3:17], whereby the living truth hath the supremacy and dominion [1 Esd 4:35-41], and in that keep your meetings.

G. F.