Epistle 77

Friends, in the measure of the life of God wait, to guide your minds up to the Father of life, where there is no shadow nor changing [James 1:17]. As ye come hither, ye must know a removing and changing of that which will change, with that which doth not change; to that take heed to guide all your minds, that none be found naked [2 Cor 5:3]. For who are found naked, they are in that which hath an end, and doth change, and that causeth blindness [2 Cor 4:4]. And therefore to you all this is the word of the Lord: in the measure of the life wait, that it may join your hearts unto the Father of life, that clothing and righteousness ye all may come to receive [Isa 61:10], and come to feel your strength renewed [Isa 40:31] from the God of all strength, to every one of you according to your measure, and see him that shows mercy. And so live in peace, which comes from the God of all peace, who bruises satan under your feet [Rom 16:20], who hath ruled. So here the love of God will come to be shed abroad in your hearts [Rom 5:5], which love is one, and doth not change; in it dwell, and grow and abound, that over all that which is contrary to the Lord of life, who destroys death [1 Cor 15:26], <87> ye may reign every one over your own hearts, and lusts, and vile affections, and your former vile conversation, disposition, and nature, and wills. So that ye may come to know the saints' state, unto whom all things were become new, and the old things were passed away [2 Cor 5:17]; and that which doth not change, which is new, that mind, to guide all your minds up to the living God, from whence light, life, and power come. So in it the Lord God of life preserve you, that to him ye may be a sweet smelling savour [2 Cor 2:15]; for that which will corrupt, and doth corrupt, and will grow ragged, and come to be torn, and will die of itself [Lev 22:8], and will wither, fade, and stink in the nostrils of God, is that which is contrary to the measure of the life of God, and is with the light condemned. Therefore wait, (I do warn you all in the presence of the living God,) in the measure of the life of God, in it to grow up in love, in virtue, and in immortality, in that which doth not fade, which joins and unites your hearts together; and that all that may with the light be condemned, which is contrary to it. For that which doth defile, is out of God's kingdom [Rev 21:17] , and is with the light seen and condemned; in which light the children of the light walk [Eph 5:8], and have unity one with another [1 Jn 1:7], and with the son of God, from whence it comes.

And, my dear friends, keep your meetings, and ye will feel the seed of God among you all, though never a word be spoken among you. But be faithful, that ye may answer that of God in every one. And do not neglect your talents, but be faithful in the power and life of God, which ye have received [Mat 25:14-30]. And dwell in the life, and power, and love of God one with another.

G. F.