and bruise his head; and testified against the world, that their works were evil; and therefore he was not like to receive that which was not of his Father, (nor none of his works, for that he testified against,) but of the god of this world, which lies in wickedness, and of his works, that Christ came to destroy. And so he was not like to TAKE THAT which he was come to DESTROY, and which was not of his Father. Nor are his followers to receive that which is not of the Father, lest they worship the devil, and go from God's holy spirit and truth, and love that which will keep the love of the Father out of them. And they that walk in the truth, walk in Christ Jesus.

Now after the Lord Jesus had gone through all his temptings, and all the revilings and evil speeches from the Jews, priests, scribes, and Pharisees; and even his preaching and manifesting himself to be the son of God by his signs and miracles; and when they by their wicked tongues desired the murderer, and by wicked hands had crucified the Lord of life, (who were in the murdering spirit, and lusts and pomps of the world,) Joseph of Arimethea, a counsellor, (a good man, and just, who had not consented to the counsel and deeds of the Jews, who also himself waited for the kingdom of God,) went to Pilate, and begged the BODY OF JESUS, which they had crucified between Two THIEVES. AND Joseph TOOK IT DOWN, AND WRAPPed it in a linen cloth, and laid it in A SEPULCHRE, THAT WAS HEWN IN STONE, WHERE NEVER MAN LAY BEFORE. So you don't read here, that Christ had so much as a COFFIN, as Joseph, Jacob's son, had. Gen. 1. 26.

So you see what entertainment the Lord of glory had, when he came into the world, a MANGER instead of a CRADLE. And when he went out of the world, the seripture doth not say, he had so much as a coFFin. Joseph of Arimethea wrapped his body in linen, and laid it in a sepulchre in a garden. And you may see in John what outcries were among the Jews and the priests, crying, CRUCIFY HIM, CRUCIFY HIM.1 And though Nicodemus, and some of the women, did come, and brought their myrrh and other spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury; yet when out of the world, he was buried by Joseph of Arimethea, a counsellor, to fulfil the scripture, which says, HE made his grave WITH THE RICH; but doth not say, that he had so much as a COFFIN with a white and a BLACK cloth upon it.

So you may see here, our Lord and saviour, the son of God, the King of kings, and Lord of lords, who hath all power in heaven and earth given unto him, he was not carried to his sepulchre with a GILDED COFFIN, WITH A Great White AND BLACK CLOTH OVER IT, WITH ARMS OR SCUTCHEONS UPON IT, AND MANY PRIESTS AND PEOPLE FOLLOWING IN BLACK

John xviii. 19.

CLOTHES, AND BLACK SCARFS ON THEIR HATS, PRETENDING MOURNING, and have GOLDEN RINGS GIVEN TO THEM, and TWIGS OF ROSEMARY IN THEIR HANDS, and RINGING OF BELLS, which is more like going to a WEDDING than to a BURYING, in the pomp and glory of the world. But instead of that, Christ had a company of мOCKERS; yea, the chief priests, scribes, and elders mocked him, saying, 'If he be the son of God, let him come down from the cross, and we will believe him: he trusted in God, let him deliver him now, if he will have him; for he said, I am the son of God. He saved others, himself he cannot save." See what blasphemy is here against God and his son, by the Jews and the priests, who in words profess God, and the Messiah to come; but in life and works denied them both. 'For he that denieth the son, hath not the Father; but he that acknowledges the son, hath the Father also. Let that therefore abide in you, which you have heard from the beginning: if that which you have heard from the beginning, shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the son, and in the Father,' &c.'

And all you that say, THAT WE BURY LIKE DOGS, because that we have not superfluous and needless things upon our coffins, and a white and black cloth with scutcheons, and do not go in black, and hang scarfs upon our hats, and white scarfs over our shoulders, and give gold rings, and have sprigs of rosemary in our hands, and ring the bells; how dare you say that WE BURY OUR PEOPLE LIKE DOGS, because we cannot bury them after the vain pomps and glory of the world? Whereas, ye do not read, that Christ, the prince of life, our Lord and saviour, had any of these things, neither when he came into the world, nor when he went out of the world; and refused the pomp and glory of the world, when the devil tempted him with it.

Now, all people, come to learn of Christ, who hath enlightened you with the life in himself, and believe in it, that you may become children of the light for grace and truth is come by Jesus into your hearts and inward parts, that with his grace and truth you may learn of Christ, who is meek and low in the heart, and follow him, who is not of this world, and hear his voice, and he will lead you into the pastures of life. He that came into the world not with any pomp, nor lust, nor glory of the world, neither did he go out of the world with the glory, pomp, or lust of the world, (as is said before,) who was not of the world, who is the prince of life and peace. And therefore follow not the pomps or glory of the world at your children's coming into the world; nor breed them up in the pomps and glory of the world the time while they live, nor use them at going forth out of the world; but follow Christ Jesus, who is not of the world; who is your redeemer, your sa

viour, your way, your truth, and life, your bishop, your shepherd, your priest, your prophet; and let him rule in your hearts by faith, who will give you life abundantly, who is from above and not from below, that you may be built upon him the living rock, and foundation of God that stands sure. Amen, Amen, saith my soul. G. Fox.

An epistle to all Christians, Jews, and Gentiles, showing how that God dwells not in temples made with hands.

Thus saith the Lord, heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool where is the house that you will build unto me, and where is the place of my rest? This the Lord said unto the Jews that built the temple. Isaiah lxvi. 1.

And Solomon saith, The heaven of heavens cannot contain God,' how much less the house that he built? 1 Kings viii. 27. And the same in the 2d of Chronicles vi. 18.

And again, Steven saith to the Jews' high-priest, when he was examining him, Though Solomon built an house for the Lord; howbeit the Most High dwells not in temples made with hands; for heaven is God's throne, and earth is his footstool; what house will ye build me, saith the Lord, or where is the place of my rest? Hath not my hands made all these things? Ye stiff-necked and uncircumcised in hearts and ears, ye do always resist the holy ghost; as your forefathers did, so do ye.'

Now here all may see, that it was the stiff-necked and uncircumcised in hearts and ears, that were the persecutors, as in the next verse, that did resist the holy ghost; and therefore their bodies, in that state, were not like to be temples of the holy ghost; as in 1 Cor. vi. 19. And, therefore, these persecutors that did resist the holy ghost, which comes from the Father and the son, were the criers up of the outward temple; they were not like to see God, as Steven did, who dwells not in the temples made with hands, and heaven to be his throne, and earth his footstool, who resisteth his holy spirit that proceeds from him, by which God is seen and known.

And the apostle Paul saith, 'God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands, neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all, life, and breath, and all things, and hath made of one blood all nations of men, for to dwell on the face of the earth, &c. That they should seek the Lord, if happily they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from

every one of us; for in him we live, and move, and have our being,' &c. Acts xvii.

So you may see, here are many witnesses before-mentioned, that God that made the world, and all things therein, who is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands, but as the prophets, Christ, and the apostles say, 'heaven is God's throne, and the earth is his footstool.' Matt. v. 34, 35.

So, all come to know God, who hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on the face of the earth; he gives to you all life and breath, and all things; I say, all to know him by his spirit which he poureth upon all flesh, heaven to be his throne, and earth to be his footstool; yea, all that dwell upon the face of the earth, know the earth that you dwell upon, and walk upon, to be God's footstool, and heaven to be his throne, who is Lord of heaven and earth, whe gives you breath and life, and poureth his spirit upon you, or in you. Joel ii. and Acts ii. That with his spirit you may know the day is come that Joel spoke of; and that with his spirit you may all know, that God hath poured his spirit upon you, or in you, that with it you may live in God, and move in God, and have your being in God, who is Lord of heaven and earth; and heaven is his throne, and earth is his footstool, upon which face of the earth you dwell, and walk: and so all to see and know that ye are the temples of the living God, as God hath said, 'I will dwell in them, and walk in them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.' 2 Cor. vi. 16. and Levit. xxvi. 12.

6

And thus saith the Lord, who dwells not in temples made with hands, but the saints that are lead by the holy ghost are the temples of God and the holy ghost; for the Lord saith, the children of Israel and Judah had provoked him to anger with the works of their hands.' The Lord saith, For this city, (to wit Jerusalem, and the temple,) hath been to me a provocation of my anger, and of my fury, from the day that they built it, even unto this day, (to wit Jerusalem, and the temple,) that I should remove it from before my face, (saith the Lord,) and destroy it,' &c. Jer. 32.

So you may see here, that such as resisted the holy ghost, were crying up outward Jerusalem, and the outward temple, who were the stiffnecked persecutors, and uncircumcised in hearts and ears, as you may see in the prophet's time, and in Isaiah's time, and in Christ's, Steven's, and the apostle Paul's time; and such uncircumcised in hearts and ears, that are persecutors, that did and do resist the holy ghost now, are crying up outward temples, and imprisoning, and persecuting, and spoiling the goods of people now, because they will not give money to mend their temples or churches, though they make no use of them; and yet they say, the gates of hell shall not prevail against their church; and

yet daily want repairing, either by reason of weather, storms, or thunder! And though the Lord tells them by his prophet, and Steven, and his apostles, that God that made the world, and all things therein, dwells not in temples made with hands, but heaven is his throne, and earth is his footstool, and he is the Lord of heaven and earth.' And saith of his people in these words, What? know you not that your bodies are the temples of the holy ghost, which is in you, which you have of God.' And again, For ye are the temples of the living God, as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people, and I will be a Father to you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith God Almighty.' Jer. xxxi. 33. And, therefore, all that receive the holy ghost, know your bodies to be the temples of the living God, and this holy ghost, and heaven to be God's throne, and earth his footstool, and that you dwell and walk upon his footstool, and that you do live and move, and have your everlasting being in God, who dwells not in temples made with hands; but God dwells and walks in you his temple, and he is your God and Father, and you are his people, and the sons and daughters of God Almighty. So that every one may truly say, I live, and move, and have my being in God; heaven is his throne, and earth is his footstool, which I naturally dwell and walk upon, and, spiritually, in God I live, and move, and have my being, to his praise and glory, who is the Lord of all, both in heaven and earth, from everlasting to everlasting, blessed and praised for ever.

Amen.

One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. Ephes. iv. 6. All people know God the Father so to be.

The 4th of the 7th Month, 1682.

G. Fox.

Concerning Persecution in all ages to this day. How he that was born after the flesh, persecuted him that was born of the Spiril; and even so it is now: yea, and all that will live Godly in Christ Jesus, shall suffer Persecution. Mark, all them that will live Godly; not them that will live Ungodly, out of Christ Jesus. 2 Tim. iii. 12. For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake. By G. F.

THE spirit itself beareth witness with our spirits, that we are the children of God; if children, then heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ. And if so be that we suffer with Christ, that we may be also glorified together; for I reckon, that the present sufferings of this time,