Epistle 67

Whom God joineth together, are with the light (which is eternal) in the unity, in the covenant of life and of peace [Mal 2:5], and this marriage is honourable, and this bed is not defiled [Heb 13:4]. For the light leads from all whoredom and adultery, which God will judge. For there is no marriage honourable, but what is in the Lord, and that is in the light; with which light the covenant of life is known and seen, and the faith in Jesus (the gift of God) [Eph 2:8] is received: and they that forbid marriage, are out of the light, and in the doctrine of devils [1 Tim 4:1]. And they who are in the light, 'whom God doth join together, let no man put them asunder [Mat 19:6];' for they that seek to do so, are in that nature which acts contrary to the light.

And this marriage, which is honourable with the children of the light, is seen and known, who are in the covenant of light, and with the light are turned to the Lord Jesus Christ, who leads from all the works of darkness [Rom 13:12]. And none who are in the light, are afraid of their deeds being tried, but they bring them to the light, to be tried, whether their works be wrought in God [John 3:21]. Now who follow the motions of the flesh [Rom 7:5], fulfilling the desires of their will, and go into the lust of the flesh [Eph 2:3], such are adulterated from the light, and their marriage is not honourable, and the children of the light cannot approve of them.

But whom God doth join together, they are led from the evil motions of the <80> flesh; and the children of the light do approve of and justify them. And who follow the motions of the flesh, are in the eagerness, lust, extremes, excess, and the hastiness; and that mind is afraid to declare its work, though afterwards is forced by constraint [1 Cor 3:13]: and that the children of light cannot justify, which is done in that nature contrary to the light. Therefore the joining together in the light, the children of the light do honour and justify, and the light doth not hide from its own; but the darkness hides from the light, and is afraid to be reproved.

Therefore, all ye children of the light, let your light so shine before men [Mat 5:16], that the marriage which is honourable may be witnessed, and all that is contrary to the light, condemned. Therefore let all proceedings in such things, where they are intended, be declared to the children of light, that therewith they may have unity, and all the motions and works of the flesh may be condemned, and that the pretence of the spirit's moving may not be a cloak or cover for the beastly lust; but that all such proceedings may be searched into by the light, and tried whether they stand in or out of the covenant. . . .

G. F.