A RELATION OF THE Labour Travail AND SUFFERING Of that faithful Servant of the Lord Alice Curwen Who departed this Life the 7th Day of the 6th Moneth 1679. and resteth in Peace with the LORD Here is the Patience of the Saints here are they that keep the Commandments of God and the Faith of Jesus Rev. 14.12 The Souls of the Righteous are precious in the Eyes of the Lord and they shall be had in Everlasting Remembrance Printed in the Year 1680. Something of Alice Curwen's Testimony which did lie upon her to declare some few dayes before she departed out of the Body she spoke for one to come to write and there was one that did come and did purpose to write but the Lord's Power and Presence was so with her that the Friends that were with her were so broken into Tenderness that there could nothing be written but there was one Friend which was present with her at that time which did remember something of what she did speak as followeth whose Name is Anne Martindall AND I can truly say my Heart was greatly affected and much broken in hearing of that powerful Testimony which dear Alice Curmen did bear for the Lord and for his Eternal Truth and in the Sense and Consideration of that blessed heavenly Power which did run thorow her at that time my Spirit is often tendred as before the Lord and truly many of her Words are past out of my Memory The first time I did see her she had been sick about five dayes and she seemed 〈…〉 but I went again 〈…〉 very sick that 〈…〉 continued that Night yet she was very sensible and desired me to sit up with her and so I did stay all that Night in which time she did utter many precious Words which I cannot call to mind she said That she felt nothing upon her but all was clear for she said I do not know that ever I did any thing that did offend the Lord if it was but a Hasty word or a Thought but I was reproved for it and I was willing to lie low and wait upon the Lord until he was pleased to arise again And she spoke much of the Goodness of the Lord towards her how that He had been with her at all times and in all places Some asked her If she did think that she should not get over it To which she answered I do not know what the Lord has to do but I am freely given up to do his will whatever it be Life or Death I am as clear as a Child this she spoke several times and desired that the will of the Lord might be done And after she had lain a while she said I have something in my Mind to speak if the Lord will enable me and she spoke forth with a Heavenly Melody and so spoke a long time but I do remember very few of her words but she said The Lord is on his way and he will go on Conquerings and to Conquer and he will carry on his great work which he hath begun And she often desired Friends to be faithful and follow the Lord fully and said That she would have none to go before nor none to stay behind nor to turn aside either to the Right Hand or to the Left but follows the Lord your Leader wheresoever he goes for she had 〈…〉 Sense upon her of the 〈◊〉 know the Truth 〈…〉 with us in a great 〈…〉 were sold it for the Preferment of this World which will perish and past away and yet they can come in with us and sit down in Meetings and have their Clothes made like the World's Fashions and like their order and speak their own Words but the Lord will blow such away with the Whirlewind of his Wrath but those that are faithful Travailers in the work of the Lord the Lord will preserve though they may meet with many Tryals and Besetments both inwardly and outwardly And she desired That all would let their Light shine and none to put it under a Bushel or under a Bed but all stand faithful for the Lord in your Day and then you need not be afraid of Death but it will be as easie to you as it is to me Truly she was so filled with the Lord's blessed Power and living Presence that the Sense of her Sickness was many times taken from her and she did often say Truly Friends I have little Pain upon me only weak and many a time she did lie singing and did make a sweet Melody to the Lord when she uttered very few words except on this wise Oh my Heavenly Father how hast thou filled my Cup and made it to overflow for I can do no less but even praise and magnifie they holy eternal Name and so she often desired That the Will of the Lord might be done whether it was Life or Death and said For to me to live is Christ and to dye is Gain and many such like precious words which she did speak which I cannot call to mind She spoke many very clear weighty things concerning the Virgins and their Lamps and exhorted all to be diligent and to know Life and Virtue in themselves to feed upon for she said The time will come that Words will cease and Life shall more arise and many more weighty things she did speak and said if she did live she must declare it and if she did dye she must leave it as a Testimony for the Lord she often desired Friends to be faithful to the Lord and follow the Lord fully as Deborah and Baruk did which if all had stood faithful what a blessed Day would it have been ere now So when she had declared and spoken what was upon her Spirit she had some ease and so continued about two hours and she spoke very much of her Off spring and said She desired nothing more concerning them then that they may Fear the Lord and then they will never Want And then towards the latter end of the Night she had an extream great Pain in her Head which was very hard to bear yet in all this time she did not utter one unpatient word but was like a patient Lamb and said Friends breathe to the Lord for me that he may lay no more upon me than I am able to bear that I may not offend this good God and immediately she did breathe forth in Prayer to the Lord then she had a little Ease and lay still as if she had been in a Slumber and a little after she said I have been in the Deep and I had something to speak but I could not So she did grow weaker and weaker but she was sweetly carryed through it to the End This was declared of this faithful Servant of the Lord who said She would have none to mourn for her when she was gone The Names of them that were with her Mary Nelson Marvell Fallbery Alice Cobb Rebecca Reckly Anne Martindall Thomas Curwen the elder Thomas
Exercise with the Priests of this Nation and other Nations and Islands beyond the Seas and did go in the Fear Dread of the Lord to several Priests Steeple-houses and the Lord was with her and gave her Dominion who went in the Name of the Lord and she did not matter how Great they were nor how High they had builded Babel for she was over them all in the Fear and Wisdom of God for she was a Dread and a Terror to the Wicked where-ever she came For the Wicked could not stand in Judgment nor Sinners in the Congregation of the Righteous She did discover the Seat of the Beast and the Whore who doth sit upon the Waters with a Golden Cup in her Hand full of Abomination which all the World wonder after who have the Mark of the Beast in their Hand and in their Fore head And she had a true Sense of the Priests spirit and did know and discover them let them come under what Pretence they would for she did esteem the Lords Truth above all would not have neglected any Opportunity whereby she might have been serviceable for the Lord for it was her Meat Drink to do the Will of God who did receive her Reward in a large measure for there are some that received thirty fold and some sixty but she did receive an hundred fold in this Life and in the World to come Life Everlasting for it was much Joy and Gladness of Heart to her in meeting to meet with the Lord and his People in the blessed Unity of the Spirit where the Lord is Worshipped and the Lord did fill her Cup to the overflowing to others who would never have eaten her Morsel alone but would have others to have eaten and drunk with her which was to the great Refreshment and Edifying and Building up of others in the Faith of the Elect for her Cry was to the Lord That all who were called might be elected and chosen Vessels of Honour for the Lord for her Joy was full in the Lord and she did sound forth Living Eternal Praises to the God of her Life and did Magnifie his great Name while she did live in her Earthly Tabernacle which she did give freely up to be laid in the Dust and the Heavenly Tabernacle of Grace was with her which God had pitched and not Man and the Lord put a New Song in her Mouth which none could sing but the Redeemed of the Lord wherein she did often in secret breathe forth Praises to the Lord for the Lord's Presence was with her wherein she could not contain her self but she breathed forth Praises to the Lord which did refresh the tender Plants of the Lord when she had no Words to speak But when she did speak she did speak from the Mouth of the Lord and did blow the Trumpet in Sion and did sound forth an Alarm in the Holy Mount which made the Inhabitants of the Earth to tremble for the Lion of the Tribe of Judah did roar out of Sion and the Trumpet did give a certain sound whereby many were awakened and their Minds turned from Darkness to the Light and the Day did spring from on High which did give Light to them that had long sitten in Darkness and under the Shadow of Death whose Feet were guided in the Way of Peace who was instrumental to bring many from under the Wo whose Feet were set upon the Rock and she did not despise the Day of small things but was alwayes bringing up the hindermost of the Flock as Jacob did and she would have stooped for the least Grain for the gathering of the Seed out of Egypt where it did not grow which was under Pharaoh's hard-hearted Task-masters and was opprest as a Cart was prest with Sheaves And her Conversation was as becometh the Gospel for her Children and many more were Convinced by her Wise Walking before them in the Wisdom of God for she had a great Care of her Off-spring to bring them up in the Fear of the Lord and did often breathe to the Lord for them and the Lord did hear her Cry and did answer her Desire and I can say to the Praise and Glory of our God that the Lord hath had Regard to them and hath done wonderfully for them who hath gathered them home unto himself out of the Vain Conversation of the World and hath placed his Fear in their Hearts For a Mother may forget her Sucking-Child but the Lord doth not forget them Oh! what Cause have we to return Praise Honour and Glory to the Lord forever who is worthy forever and for evermore And in all Places and Countries where-ever she came she exhorted Friends To have a Care of their Children to bring them up in the Fear of the Lord so that from one Generation to another the Lord's Truth may spread and cover the Earth as the Waters cover the Sea and that the Lord's Testimony may not fall and that his great Name may be exalted over all to the Praise and Glory of our God forever For she was singly given up to do whatever might be for the Prosperity of God's Eternal Truth Her Labour and Travail was very great wherein she did spend her self and was spent for the Seed's sake that did suffer under great Oppression And she did preach the Gospel freely without Money and without Price for the Gospel was to be preached freely Therefore away with all Hirelings who preach for Hire and divine for Money who keep People alwayes learning and never come to the Truth For she did desire no man's Gold or Silver or Apparel for she had the Lord for her Portion and she desired no more for her Habitation was in Heaven and her Dwelling was in Eternity where she did live and move and had her eternal Being For no other Foundation can any man lay than that which is already laid which is Christ Jesus the Rock of Ages the Foundation of many Generations which she did build upon not Hay nor Stubble nor Gold nor Silver nor Precious Stones for all these will burn when the heat of Persecution comes but she did witness a spiritual House made up of Living Stones and the Top-Stone was laid which is the Ground and Pillar of Truth for she had finished up her Testimony and laid down her Head in Rest and Peace with the Lord. And she did exhort Friends in her Travail in the Service of the Lord To Mind their Latter-End and be ready and prepared for Death for when Death comes you may have enough to do to dye that ye be not like the Foolish Virgins who had no Oyl in their Lamps against whom the Door was shut But now the Lambs War is accomplished and the Lamb hath got the Victory who hath made War in Righteousness and hath overcome and gotten the Victory over the Beast and the False Prophet the Lamb of God that taketh away the Sins of the World who was slain from
the Lord it was opened in my Heart by the invisible Power of the living God the vertue of which I felt and the Springs of Life being witnessed I was moved to write of the Dealings of the Lord with me and of my Travels and of my Testimony in writing since I went from my outward Being and what I had received from Friends in writing of the good Success and Blessing and Presence of the invisible God who moves in secret and is now come to reward his People openly Everlasting Holy Praises be breathed forth and sounded out unto the Lord our God for all his Mercies for they are manifold at this day therefore doth my Soul in secret bless his holy Name who alone is worthy And whilst I questioned in my Mind Why I should write fearing the Subtilty of the Enemy and also not minding to keep Copies of several Papers that had been written yet as I waited patiently to see my Clearness it was said in the secret of my Heart What thou hast kept write but I fearing said within my self Why should it be known and the Answer was For the Encouragement of them that hereafter may put their Trust in the Lord and then I was made willing to write as followeth IN the year 1660. I hearing of the great Tribulation that the Servants of the Lord did suffer in Boston in New-England of cruel Whippings of Bonds and Imprisonments yea to the laying down of their natural Lives four Friends being Hanged there for their Testimony to God's blessed weighty Truth against a Wicked Generation which remains there until this day I at the hearing of their Patient Sufferings my Heart was broken and my Spirit deeply affected with Admiration of the Goodness of the Lord who bears up the Spirits of them that truly fear him and are willing to give up all that is near and dear and to follow the Lamb whithersoever he leads and my Spirit was comforted in the blessed invisible Power but it was said in the secret of my Heart That I should travail in that Nation and see that Bloody Town of Boston at which my Heart was exceedingly broken and I cryed unto the Lord with many Tears and said O Lord what shall become of my little Children and of my poor Husband he being then in Prison for Tythe and I mourned many dayes in a sense of my Inability yet at that time I could truly say Thy blessed Will be done let me enjoy thy Presence and keep me in thy Heavenly Power and I desire no more so the thing was weighty upon me but I kept it unto my self not knowing how it would be brought to pass considering in my mind the Lord might try me whether I would give up or not and as I found a Willingness the thing was made easie and the Burden taken away whereupon I thought the Lord would accept my Willingness and it was hid from me for a season but I can truly say in my measure and that to the Praise of God that I hid the Word of the Lord in my Heart until it was as a Fire in me till I had declared it and I then told it to my Husband the Power being fresh in me and the Love of God filled my Heart in which I had true Unity with Friends in New-England and I told my Husband That the Lord would deliver him out of Prison and that we must travail in another Nation together and there bear a Testimony to God's blessed Truth which is broken forth in this Day of his Power wherein he is making his People willing And though we were then and are at this day the least of many of the Lord's People yet his Strength hath been manifested in Weakness for which we have cause to bless his holy Name whilst we have a day to live So the thing rested in my Heart many Moneths and Years and then the Lord delivered my Husband out of Prison in which time my little Children were grown up all except the youngest which the Lord took away from me then the Springs of Life opened in me and the time was come that I might no longer hide it in my Heart but make it known to Friends which after I had done so in opening my Heart a little to some Friends the thing seemed harder to me to get through than before in which time I was in a great strait but the Lord appeared and it was said secretly that If I did go I should feel my Reward from the Lord in my own Bosom then I having this Testimony sealed in my Heart I laboured with my Husband day and night to know his Mind because it was much with me that we were to Travail together but he did not yet see it to be required of him at that time but gave me Liberty in Obedience to the Invisible Power though the thing was hard because it was shewed me at first that we should Travail together but the Lord made me willing to leave all that was near and dear to me and I went on my Journey towards London and after some time had with Friends there I made Preparation to go to Sea and having got my Bed and Clothes on board the Ship it pleased the Lord in whom was and is my Trust to send my Husband to go along with me and so we took shipping together and were thirteen Weeks in our Passage from London to Road-Island belonging to New-England and I can truly say I did not know what I might do for all there were in an Uproar Killing and Burning and Murdering and great Distress was upon the Peoples Minds and I said in my Heart The Lord that hath brought me out of my Native Country lead me whither thou wilt let me but enjoy thy Power and feel thy Presence and I desire no more So we stayed a few dayes in that Island and were refreshed with Friends and we heard of a new Law that was made at Boston against the People of God called Quakers which Law was as followeth viz. It was ordered at their Court at Boston and the Authority thereof That every Person found at a Quakers Meeting shall be apprehended Ex Officio by the Constable c. by Warrant from a Magistrate or Commissioner and shall be committed to the House of Correction and there to have the Discipline of the House applyed unto them and to be kept to work with Bread and Water for Three Dayes and then released or else shall pay Five Pounds in Money as a Fine for such an Offence to the Collony and all Constables neglecting their Duty in not faithfully executing this Order shall incur the Penalty of Five Pounds upon Conviction And then it opened in us in the Springs of Life That We must travail thither and break in upon their new Law in which we were willing to bear our Testimony with the rest of Friends to God's blessed weighty Truth against this Generation that remain there unto this day that so with
Salutation of our Unfeigned Love reacheth dwell at Home keep in your Tents for they that dwell at Home they divide the Spoil their Enemies shall become subject unto them Truly dear Friends we should have been glad to have seen your Faces but in the Will of our Heavenly Father we stand and we do believe we should have been comforted together in the mean time let us all be diligent to stir up one the other and to provoke one the other to Love and Good Works So see that in Gods Vineyard ye may be all found for they that labour there they do receive their promise which is an earnest of that Inheritance that God hath prepared for all that love him So dear Friends there are but twelve Hours in the Day in which we may all work in the Night none can work therefore said Christ Jesus who is the true Light While ye have the Light walk in the Light that ye may be the Children of the Light lest Darkness come upon you So dear Friends in the unfeigned Love of our God that can never be seperated as we abide faithful do we write unto you in that Love which first begot us unto God and is as precious unto us as ever it was yea the desire of our Hearts is that in this feeling Life ye may all dwell which is nearer then what can be declared either by Word or Writing for blessed be the Lord God for evermore this great and marvellous Light shines through Darkness and shines in Peoples Hearts and the Lord is working secretly though they do little know it And therefore Friends in the Holy Invisible Power of the Immortal Living God all dwell Low and Humble in that quiet and meek Spirit that thinks no evil but in Lowliness of Mind esteeming each other in the Lord and truly denying self so will you dwell upon the Rock Christ Jesus who is become our hiding-place in this our Age and Generation as he was in Ages past unto whom we flee in time of Trouble and we are saved Everlasting Holy Praises be unto his blessed Name for evermore So in this weighty Power Christ Jesus dwell Low that you may spread at the Root as Lebanon and bring forth Fruit upward to the Praise and Glory of God unto whom be Everlasting Holy ' Praises forever and for evermore So dearly beloved Friends Brethren and Sisters in the true Fellowship of the Gospel which is the Power of God unto Salvation though this be the Day of Jacob's Troubles and the Afflictions of Joseph yet the Worm Jacob shall rejoyce and Israel shall dwell safely and the true Israelite in whose Heart is found no Guile the Seed Christ Jesus the Power of God which doth and shall reign over all the Dark Powers of the Earth who hath a Habitation in the Earth which the Wo from the Lord is to So in the Life and Power of God and in this blessed Seed which never sinned nor consented to Sin all dwell that the Blessing of God every one may receive be kept in true Peace with the Lord when Time shall be no more for the Blessing of God is to the Seed not unto Seeds many but unto the one seed Christ that all may witness the Promise of God fulfilled That the Seed of the Woman shall bruise the Serpents Head in every particular where the Blessing is received and where the Promise is Yea Amen forever for Caleb Joshua did enter into the Promised Land who were of a right Spirit So dear Friends keep your Dominion and be true to your Testimony that he may reign whose right it is for the Devil the Serpent hath no right to reign in the Hearts of People but Christ Jesus is come to destroy the Works of the Devil and to reign in Righteousness and to set up his Government and would have all People to come under his Government for the Increase of his Government hath no End that he may reign whose right it is And here we can say in the Truth of our Hearts That the Son of God is come and hath given us a good Understanding to understand and know the things of God for the Light is broken forth which comprehends all the Works of Darkness and shines in the Hearts of the Righteous and the Righteous do rejoyce in the Light which gives the Knowledge of the Glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ And so walk in the Light and be encouraged and you shall have the Light of Life and stand fast in your Liberty and Freedom wherein Christ Jesus hath made you Free and that none may be entangled with the Yoke of Bondage which may cause the Just to suffer For though Trouble and Sorrow may endure for a Night yet Joy comes in the Morning and ye shall come to sing the Song of Moses and the Lamb. So dearly Beloved Friends be encouraged to keep to the Word of Patience and the Lord God will keep you in the Day of Tryal and in the Hour of Temptation For the Rod of the Wicked will not alwayes lie on the Back of the Righteous for the Wicked and they that forget God who Repent not shall be turned into Hell Everlasting Holy Praises be unto the Lord our God forever and for evermore From us your Friends though unknown to you outwardly yet well-known in the Mystery of the Fellow ship the Power of God in which we dearly Salute you all and bid you all Farewel Barbadoes the 9th of the 12th Moneth 1676. Barbadoes the 4th of the 8th Moneth 1676. For the Friends of Road-Island DEar Friends in the openness of Gods blessed Life in which our Unity stands not only when we are together but when we are separated in this is the Salutation of our dear Love unto you for the Lord our God hath shed his Love abroad in our Hearts in which love we can truly say the Lord laid it upon us to visit his Seed amongst you though we be the least of many of the Lords People and our Testimony is but little yet we are sure it is true for the Lord. So in the feeling of God's blessed Life which cannot be limited but limits all under it and brings into true Subjection to do the Will of God This blessed Life and Love of God oh our dear Friends which reaches over Sea and Land this Love constrains us as it did to visit you so to write unto you Therefore Friends dwell together in Unity and in this precious Love that thinks no Evil nor is not easily provoked but endureth all things this Love seeketh not its own but every one anothers good Friends we desire you That you would bear with us a little for we do not write these things unto you because ye know not the Truth but because you know it and therefore a necessity is upon us to write unto you That no Prejudices nor Evil Surmisings nor Whisperings nor Back-bitings be or remain among you for
the Lord for I am perswaded that if they whom thou call'st thy Slaves be Upright-hearted to God the Lord God Almighty will set them Free in a way that thou knowest not for there is none set Free but in Christ Jesus for all other Freedom will prove but a Bondage From thy Friend Alice Curwen Something in Answer to Thomas White 's Paper which he did write against us and not only against us but against the whole Body of Friends who did profess himself to be a Friend but now joyns himself with the Ranters who did come to our Meeting in New-Jarsey at Eliakim Wardall's House who did give his Testimony for us in the Meeting and said That we were sent of God and told us where he would have had us to have pointed another Meeting amongst the Ranters in New-Jarsey at a place called Midletown he said He would come to our Meeting and came not We did write something to him and then he did write to us and then we wrote an Answer as followeth Thomas White VVE cannot pass by thee and thy muddy Stuff but warn thee because we know the Terrors of the Lord in our selves against Sin and also his Mercies though we be the least of many of the Lord's People which thou calls our Tribe And we finding thy Paper nothing worth but for the Fire therefore we write a few Lines unto thee to put thee in mind of thy own words in Eliakim Wardall's House which was more large than we shall here declare therefore call to mind and do not eat thy own words and say thou was not refreshed by T. C. A. C. We are Instruments in the hand of the Lord and thou mayst see thy own Folly and Madness twisting as the Serpent did and if not by T. C. A. C. why did thou desire of us to have a Meeting at Midletown Thou dark Sodomite out of thy own Mouth thou art judged and condemned with the Light of Christ Jesus for thou art turning backward from that of God in thy Conscience by which the Children of Light are led and guided into all Truth And like a Serpent thou art shooting out thy Venom and thy Sting the Foyson of Asps is under thy Tongue Thou mayst read thy Condition thou false Accuser for thou first desiredst a Meeting at Midletown to see if the Breaches can be made up and then thou condemnest us for meeting together with many Lyes and false Accusations which was like the rest of thy confused Stuff forged up in thy Paper And as for our visiting of Friends in New-England it is like the rest of thy Accusations for we had been there before we did fee thy face therefore let thy Mouth be stopt and draw in thy Venom and Sting and turn to the Light of God in thy Conscience and deal plainly and honestly with thy own Heart that if it be possible thou mayst find Mercy with the Lord for a Day of Blackness is over thee for Rebellion is worse than Witchcraft And if thou findst Mercy with the Lord thou must pass through the Fire and the Sword thou must witness to cut down that which is exalted So in the Plainness and Honesty of our Hearts in the sight of the Lord we have cleared our Consciences and remain Thy Friends in the Truth of our God which is out of all Imaginations Thomas Alice Curwen From Jamaco in Long-Island in New-England the 18th of the 3d Moneth 1676. This for a Priest at Barbadoes the 20th of the 11th Moneth 1676. Friend William Walker THe Day of the Lord's Power is come and the marvellous Light now shines and the Lord is making his People a Willing People according to his Promise and the Call of the Lord is gone forth to call People out of Darkness into his Marvellous Light and the Trumpet of the Lord is Sounded and Sounding that People may be awakened out of Sin and Transgression so I being moved in the true Fear of the living God and in his holy Power which works secretly the Day is come blessed be the Lord God forever that that which is revealed in secret must be declared openly that so all may hear that many may be turned from Darkness to Light and from the Power of Satan to the Power of God for I feeling a necessity to warn you of the Day of your Visitation thou for thy part beekened to a man to drive us away but if I had not Freely Declared as I Freely Received Wo and Misery would be my Portion for the Searcher of all Hearts is known from whom none can be hid And the Day hastens that all Coverings shall be stript off but the Spirit of the Lord and therefore do I write unto thee to mind the Day of thy Visitation for it is safe for every one to try all things and hold fast that which is good So if it be in thy Heart to prove thy Practice by the Scriptures as we are willing to prove ours thou may come to Widow Wickame's the next Sixth day call'd by the men of thy Generation Friday being the 20th of this Moneth for we keep our Doors open and drive none away by Force and Cruelty but the desire of our Hearts is to the Lord That People may so hear that they may know the thing that belongs to their Everlasting Peace before the Day of their Visitation be over For the Spirit of the Lord will not alwayes strive No more but my Unfeigned Love to thee and all the Sons and Daughters of men and the Desire of my Heart is That every one may know Christ who is the Power of God unto Salvation From me Thy Friend Alice Curwen This was given forth to another Priest of Barbadoes called Daniel Dikes on the 8th of the 1st Moneth 1676. Priest Daniel Dikes IF thou hadst been invited to a Feast where thou mightst have filled thy Belly and have drunk Wine at thy pleasure and have had the chiefest Seat and have been called of men Master we do believe thou wouldst have come but thou art so far from being a Master that thou art the Parish Servant who hires thee and thou receivest Wages of them and therefore we tell thee plainly that a mans Servant that is bought with his Money whether black or white is more honourable than thee for in the invisible Light thou art seen with the same Eye as Daniel in his Day saw the Priests their Wives and Children though they went in at the Privy Door but now the Light is broken forth blessed be the Lord God forever and that every Boy and Girle that abides in the Light which is invisible sees your Footsteps Therefore saith the Lord unto the Idol Shepherds that feed not the Block of Christ but their own Bellies I will gather my Sheep and they shall not alwayes he Meat for the Devourer but I will feed them my self and they shall not need to say Know the Lord and his Spirit for ye shall
all know me saith the Lord from the greatest to the least for I will write my Law in their Hearts and put my Fear in their inward Parts saith the Lord God Almighty Therefore Oh Priest I tell thee plainly 't was to a Feast that thou wast invited and the Lord is sending out into the High-wayes and Hedges to call in all and even to compell them that will not come that so his House may be filled that so all may be lest without excuse as he was that had not on his Wedding Garment who was Speechless for the Day is come that that whcih is seen in secret must be declared openly And therefore in the invisible Light we are moved to write unto thee seeing thee in the Light of the Lord Jesus Christ which lighteth every man that cometh into the World which hath long shined in Darkness but now the commanding Power of the Lord is gone forth and he hath commanded Light to shine out of Darkness and it shines in Peoples Hearts and will shine more and more untill the Perfect Day for which a Remnant can bless the Lord and sing Praises to his Name and unto the Lamb for evermore who was slain from the Foundation of the World but is now alive and lives forever and evermore and rules in the Hearts of the Upright And therefore in the invisible Light as I was waiting upon the Lord my Heart was truly opened to write unto thee seeing thee to be one of them that shut the Kingdom of Heaven against men that will neither enter in themselves nor suffer others Therefore saith Christ Jesus Wo unto you ye Whited Walls ye Painted Sepulchres ye Blind Guides and indeed you are so and lead the Blind and a Pit of Darkness is before you Therefore is our Advice unto thee and to all whom it may concern That ye turn to this invisible Light and as you wait in it and abide with it it will preserve your Hearts and Minds to God and ye shall not fall into the Pit And if thou enquire of us What is our Way We tell thee plainly Christ Jesus the Light of the World who said I am the Way the Truth and the Life he that believeth in me out of his Belly shall flow Rivers of Living Water And He even Christ Iesus the Power of God is the Original and not Hebrew Greek and Latin which the Jews set over his Head when they Crucified him as it is in these dayes and as is said before he is our Way and he is the Hope of our Glory and we are not ashamed to confess him before men for if we should not confess him before men but be ashamed of him as too too many are then he will not confess us before his Father in Heaven Therefore Oh Priest we warn thee that thou cease giving thy Meanings to the Scriptures Thou mayst read thy Doom in the Revelations He that Adds or Diminishes God will add unto him the Plagues written in that Book THOMAS ALICE CURWEN An Epistle written to Friends at Thickets and Clifts Meetings at Barbadoes the 20th of the 1st Moneth 1676. TO you Friends of the Thickets and Clifts Meetings and to all whom it may concern in the Love of God that truly opens our Hearts do we write unto you to stir up the pure Mind and to raise up that Love that brought us unto you even the Love of God that first begat us by the Word of his Power that we should be as the first Fruits unto God and this makes us to Cry many a time in the secret of our Hearts both in Meetings and out of Meetings Oh! how great is thy Loving kindness O Lord Oh that the World knew it And in the feeling of it we can truly say as one did Oh! that all the Lord's People were Prophets that they might speak one by one that all might be comforted and that the Lord would enlarge Japhet to dwell in the Tents of Shem then there would be no complaining for want of Power but the Lord would open even the Windows of Heaven and pour out Blessings upon you that ye shall not have room to hold it in but the Overflowings of it you would feel in your own particulars and when you were thus filled you would bless the Lord you would cry unto others to come away taste feel how good the Lord is for his Mercies endure forever to them that fear him and wait upon him And therefore Friends we beseech you think it not hard to keep your Meetings apart for the Blessing of the Lord is as truly witnessed in Meetings apart both in Men and Womens Meetings and though Women be the Weaker yet he hath laid Help upon one that is Mighty Oh! Praises Praises saith our Souls forever for evermore who feel his Power in our Hearts at this time And therefore do we write unto all that may be concerned in it That ye beware of that Spirit that was in the Children of Israel in the days of old for the Lord knows right well before whom we stand who knows the Innocency of our Hearts and Spirits that we judge no mans Person nor hint at no Particular the Lord knows but we have heard some say That it was well in the Beginning when there was not so many Meetings and we say the same But Friends consider we beseech you all for our Spirits are bowed down in a Sence of the Work of the Lord in this Island and therefore ye that have known good dayes in your Infancy rest not there but come to your Growth to a Young mans state and to an Old mans state for according to the manner of men in Twenty Years time we come to our Growth much more in the Work of the Lord can we come to teach others And therefore look not back as the Children of Israel did who fainted in their Minds because of their long Travel but take heed of that Spirit that would not have many Meetings nor to have Truth to spread for the Enemy lies near that would betray the Simplicity Therefore thus saith the Lord in our Hearts this day as he did unto Moses in dayes past Speak unto the Children of Israel that they go forward for this is the Day of the Lord's Appearance spiritually he is bringing out of Aegypt by a strong Arm and blessed is every one that helps on the Work and puts his Shoulder to it So faint not Friends in your Minds nor be not weary for the Work is the Lords and he will carry it on it shall Prosper and God prospers it in this Island Everlasting Praises be unto the Lord our God can our Souls truly say who feel the Work of the Lord to Prosper and therefore we say again Let none faint in the Day of Tryal for that 's a Testimony that their Strength is small And therefore Friends be Bold and Valiant for God's blessed Truth and take no thought but wait
joyfully the spoiling of their Goods who were scoffed and mocked at and said That Bonds and Imprisonments were their portion and it was for their Testimony which they held as thou mayst read at large in the Scriptures of Truth who hast nothing now against us but concerning the Law of our God and there ye go about tocatch us as they of Old did Daniel but oh Priest read what became of these Informers and of those that informed against the three Children thou blind Guide which Christ cryed We against and said They were whited Walls and painted Sepulchres and wore long Robes and loved to be called of men Masters and that they loved the upper most Romes at Feasts and greetings in the Markets and further he said that By your Fruits your are known and so it is this day Wo unto you said he for ye lay heavy Burthens upon the People and ye shut the Kingdom of Heaven against men ye neither enter in your selves nor suffer others Therefore saith Christ Jesus Wo unto you And if thou ask how I know these things I tell thee plainly it is by the invisible Light which shines in my Heart which manifests all things as it is written in the Scriptures of Truth and this Light was in the beginning will be when all visible things shall have an end to which thou shalt be turned to give account of all thy Deeds done in thy Body all thy Life time and of all thy hard Speeches against the Servants of the living God therefore turn to it and let it search thy Heart and believe in it for this is my living Testimony for God that it will deceive no man but it will bring the hidden things of Esau to Light and believing in it and obeying it it will lead out of Sin Therefore Repent pray unto the Lord that he take thee not away in the midst of thy Sins lest thou go down into the Pit out of which there is no Redemption And as for our Names and Place of abode it is in Lancashire in a little Village called Beaklife in the Parish of Alldingham where we were haled to Prison by such a proud Priest as thee because we could not bow in this our day no more than they could do in dayes past but the Lord shortned that Priests dayes and we do witness Christs words fulfilled in this our day where he said That it should come to pass that the Devil should cast some into Prison But blessed be the Lord who has delivered us and we are at this day and time free of all the Goals in the World therefore do we warn thee that thou come not upon thy Neighbours in pretence of a Fine for us for we have to satisfie of our own and according to the Act ye are to fetch it where we live whose Names are here set down Thomas and Alice Curwen And that further We do declare what the Lord hath done for us in the inncency of our Hearts we Bless and Praise the Lord Oh my Soul bless thou the Lord that has witnessed that Scripture of Truth this day fulfilled in my Ears where Christ Jesus said That men should speak all manner of Evil against us for his Names sake and that falsly Rejoyce said he and be exceeding glad for great is your reward in Heaven Oh Praises Praises saith my Soul with many Thousands more that God hath redeemed from Death to Life And to his blessed Name be Everlasting holy Praises and that for evermore saith a Friend in the Truth of God though the least of many Who am known unto men by the Name of Alice Curwen Huntingdonshire For the Priest at Godmanchester the 21st of the 11th Moneth 1677. Friend YEsternight I spoke to thee as thou passedst by thou wentst away laughing like the rest of thy Brethren making merry over God's Witness in thee which is the Grace of God which appears at this day as it did in the Apostles dayes and unto all them that believe in it and obey it it works the same effect everlasting Praises be sounded out unto the Lord our God at this day for his blessed Appearance saith my Soul who is come the second time without Sin to save them that believe Everlasting Holy Praises be sounded out aloud saith my Soul in secret unto the Lord for all his Mercies and that for evermore And truly Priest for I do not know thee by any other Name my Spirit is grieved when I do see any of you or where-ever I do meet with you that you should take upon you the charge of Peoples Souls and to teach them the Way of the Lord and in all my Travels I find no men so light and airy as you Priests are who wear your long Robes and by Christ's words as you may read in the Scriptures and by the Spirit of Truth which God hath manifested in my particular do I see you to be them which Christ cryed Wo against therefore is the Word of the Lord as a Sword in my Mouth against the Mystery of Babylon and the Merchants of her also for the Lambs War is begun and as it is written in the Scripture of Truth The Beast and the false Prophet makes War against the Lamb and his followers but God shall take the Beast and the false Prophet alive and cast them into the Lake that burns with Fire and Brimstone forever and evermore and the Lamb and the Saints shall get the Victory And so my Soul blesses the Lord that I have lived to see this day wherein the Scriptures are fulfilled for it is the Lords day therefore I desire thee in love to thy immortal Soul to prise the day of thy Visitation for I could not be clear till I had eased my Spirit who am a Friend to thy Soul and truly loves all Men and Women also with that Love that God hath loved me withal Who am known by my Name Alice Curwen Huntingdonshire My Dear Friends Thomas Alice Curwen I With many more are glad to hear of the Arrival of John Grove his Ship and we hope you are all safe you are often in my Mind but more your Innocent Lives and Conversation amongst us which shewed clear also your great Labour of Love amongst us which will not be forgotten in the Hearts of the Faithful and I hope will not go without its Reward The Lord God of our Life preserve us in these Times of Troubles which are at this time amongst us of which I do believe you will have a full Account I am straitned for Time at present so cannot enlarge only my dear Love with my Childrens is to you both desiring that we may be all kept in his blessed Fear to our Lives end So my dear Friends Farewel Barbadoes the 7th of the 5th Mon. 1677. Your Loving Friend Elizabeth Griffin Dearly Beloved Thomas Alice Curwen YOur good wills towards me and my Wife when you were with us we cannot forget And truly
with the Lamb as the Scripture declares That the Beast and the False Prophet shall make War with the Lamb but the Lamb shall get the Victory wherein the Redeemed of the Lord sing Praises Praises to the Lord God and the Lamb forever in the Land of the Living for it is the Lamb of God that takes away the Sins of the World and blotteth out the Hand-writing and come to know their Names written in the Book of Life And I am a Witness that the Promise of the Lord is fulfilled where the Lord hath written his Law in our Hearts and put his Spirit into our inward parts wherein we can read in the Book of Life in the great Mystery of Godsiness which is manifest in the Flesh in this our Day Praises to the Lord God and the Lamb forevermore The Priest's Name was Theophilus Ames who continued in Persecuting the Innocent but the Lord shortned his dayes in a little time he was so very Cruel he sent his Bailiffs to take away my Goods who took sixteen Beasts at one time which were worth 50 l. or there-about in the year 1665 about the 29th day of the 8th Moneth and about the 〈◊〉 of the 5th moneth in the year 1667. my self my Wife my Son were taken to Prison for not coming to their worship nor receiving the Sacrament and carryed me to Prison in a Cart who was so ill that I could neither go nor ride on Horse-back who did carry me about twenty Miles and did purpose to keep us in Prison for term of Life but the Lord did deliver us who is a present Help in time of need to the Faithful and Upright in Heart who are kept in his Fear blessed for evermore be his holy and blessed Name which is a strong Tower for the Righteous to flee unto in time of Storm when the Heathen rages and the People imagin vain things and after Priest Ames had cast us into Prison in the year 1667. about the 29th of the 5th moneth the Priest caused to be taken from me eleaven Beasts and one Horse which were worth about 40 l. and when he had taken these Beasts he fell on to plunder the House and took all the Goods that he could get away he took so near that he took Garden-Mittans and the Cole-Rake and when he had done this then the measure of his Wickedness and Iniquity was filled up and then the Lord shortly after shortned his dayes who dyed a Woful and Miserable Death for the Lord laid his Judgments upon him who wa both Blind and Mad before he dyed to the great Admiration and astonishment of all that did see his Death And then another Beast with his Horns began to push and to make War with the Lamb as the Scripture declares and blessed are they who are called to make War in Righteousness and if we put not into the false Prophets Mouthes they will make War against us and he that stands in the Gap makes himself a Prey The Priest's Name is Michael Stanford who is driving on Pharaoh's Charriots as fast as he can until the Lord shorten his dayes for Pharaoh's Heart was hardened when he did persecute the Children of Israel in the dayes of old and this Priest said That his Heart was hardened against us And what became of Pharaoh when his Heart was hardened that he would not let Israel go So all read that can for the Lord God will shorten the dayes of the Wicked for the Elect Seed's sake for it was the full Intent and Purpose of my Heart to continue in this Warfare about Tythes and Contend for the Faith which was once delivered to the Saints and to stand a faithful Witness for the Lord's Testimony against the Beast and the False Prophet whilst I had a being in this Earthly Tabernacle until the Lord laid an Engagement upon me wherein I durst not disobey to go along with my dear Friend my Wife to be her Companion for the Clearing of her Testimony which the Lord had called her to who did bear a faithful Testimony for the Lord and hath laid down her Head in Peace And as for this Persecuting Priest these are his Actions and the Fruits of his Ministry at this time who about the 2d of the first moneth 1674. did take from me my Brewing-pan and also in the year 1674. his Bailiffs took from me three Beasts worth 8 l. and that which he called his Due was but about 6 s. So all People may see and know wheresoever this may come the Fruits of this Persecuting Priest's Ministry Priest Stanford's Tythe-mongers in the year 1673. took from me as followeth viz. Upon the 4th day of the 7th moneth James Chambers came forcibly and broke into a Field of Corn of mine and broke down the Hedge in several places and took the Corn out of the Field before I took and before one part of the Field was reapt contrary to the Law of the Nation And also James Chambers did break into another Corn-Field of mine upon the 11th day of the 7th moneth who broke down the Hedge in several places and did carry the Corn away before I took any And at another time James Chambers Thomas Chamblay and James Geldert went through a Field of Corn before the most of it was reapt contrary to the Law of the Nation And also on another day James Geldert came and broke into a Corn-Field of mine and did break down the Hedge and carryed away the Corn contrary to the Law of the Nation And upon another day James Geldert came and broke into a Field of Corn and broke down the Hedge and took away the Corn contrary to theLaw of the Nation And also John Hawood who rented the Fines caused a Horse to be taken from me for a Fine of 15 s. which was worth 4 l. which was for Conscience sake towards God in Obedience to his holy Command The Bailiffs Names by whom Priest Shaw cansed my Body to be imprisoned and my Goods to be taken away were these viz. Will. Garner John Garner Tho. Marshall James Postelwhete Tho. Poolton Christopher Garner John Poolton Miles Fell James Garner Richard Fell Will. Fell John Sanford The Constables Names viz. John Garner Christopher Chamblay Timothy Mount Leonard Cooper and Luke Benson Bailiff Priest Ames his Bailiffs Names viz. William Struckland Geo. Askew William Garner Tho. Poope Thomas Poolton James Chambers was Priest Ames his Constable to assist the Bailiffs for the Plundering of my House and let the Priest have a House to put the plundered Goods in and this Constable did provide a Horse and a Cart to carry me to Prison Priest Stanford's Bailiffs Names viz. William Struckland George Askew John Garner Richard Fell Luke Benson and also Roger Woodborn who was the Steward of the Court and also Judge there was a Jury appointed but he did not put the Action to the Jury but passed Judgment on it himself but the Lord shortned his dayes that he never tryed more Actions but dyed shortly Oh! that all People would take Warning and Repent lest they provoke the Lord to anger and they perish in his Wrath for the Indignation of the Lord burns like Fire against the Wicked and Ungodly upon the Earth who is a Consuming Fire to the Wicked THOMAS CURWEN THE END
Friends I Could not be clear without the Tender of my true Love unto you both whose Labour of Love Service and daily Travels for the Lord's Truth in this Place will never be forgotten by a Remnant and the Lord's Reward I know is with you to whom belongs all Praise Honour and Glory both now and forever and for evermore Amen saith your Friend Thomas Freatwell Dear Friends Thomas Alice Curwen IN the Unchangeable and Everlasting Love of God do I dearly salute you both I have received a Letter from you which was very acceptable to me in the reading of which I was sweetly consolated and refreshed and your Love to us all I cannot nor I hope shall not forget Oh! the many precious Meetings and Opportunities which we enjoyed when ye were with us the Remembrance of which was precious but the glorious Presence of God which we enjoyed was much more precious Oh! the goodness of the Lord God is Unutterable who continues his Love to us daily and accompanies us with his living Presence at all Times and in all Places as we abide low in his Fear and are found faithful in his Work and Service Oh! my Soul's Desire is That I may be kept low before him forever And my Friends I hope your Prayers to the Almighty will be for the same The Lord's Truth doth prosper mightily and his Power is over this whole Island though the Devil doth Rage in his Instruments mightily even at this present time more than ever before as I think and such Threatning Times against the poor Innocent Lambs as have not been known and only because of the Prosperity of God's blessed Truth in this little Island But we fear not man but are greatly encouraged to go on in the Work of the Lord and be Valiant for God until Death for I am perswaded here is a little Remnant whose Trust is in the Lord that doth not regard any of their Threatnings and Unrighteous Laws which are lately made if they were ten times greater than they are and I believe We shall have the Victory through the Power of the Lord as we abide stedfast in the Unchangeable Truth of our God though many that are not faithful to the Lord God but let their Testimony fall who are the fearful and unbelieving may lose the Crown of Eternal Life And your Love to our Family was very large and I am right sensible of it in the Sence of which I am refreshed at this present and so in the same Love do I dearly salute you And so with my Love to all Friends I remain Your Loving Friend in the Everlasting Truth of God Robert Thorp An Epistle to Swarthmore Meeting DEar Friends at Swarthmore Meeting to whem is my true Love and I have an Honourable Esteem in my Heart for you all who keep to your first Love and retain your Integrity to this day which is a blessed Day indeed of the Breakings-forth of the blessed weighty Truth which we breathed for in the dayes of our Infancy Oh! what shall I say to stir up your pure Minds that ye may travail forward that none may stand still nor none may go backward for this is the Day of God's spiritual Israel's Travel God has made me a living Witness and therefore my dear Friends as one that has been nursed up there can I not at this time contain my self but in a living Sense of the dayes past when we waited together for true Israel's Hope And Oh! how is my Spirit bowed down in the weighty Power of the blessed Appearance of the Breakings-forth of the weighty Truth in the dayes of our Infancy in that Meeting which I so dearly love and truly honour in the Lord though the breakings out at first of the Power of the Living God was very Dreadful and very Terrible yet oh my Friends I cannot but ease my Spirit a little at this time being loaded with the Power of the Lord which causes me to write And oh what shall I say of the blessed heavenly Melody and the spiritual Songs yea the new Song that God hath put into our Mouthes Oh! endless Praises saith my Soul with you my dear Friends with whom I would be glad that I might sit down with you once more that we might sing together of the Mercies of the Lord and of his pure Judgments in this our day as poor David did And oh how am I affected in my Bowels for an Opportunity that we might be comforted together but I do not see my Service over that I may come to my Place of Abode in the oatward for I can truly say that I have not taken up another and I am as a Weaned Child at this time and the Desire of my Heart to God is That these few dayes I have to spend may be in his blessed Truth which is more to me than all the World therefore let none of you question in your Minds my coming home for when I have done the Will of God who am one of the least of the Lord's People I shall be willing to come into the North and sit down with you and wait upon the Lord who hath brought me thus far towards my Native Being and yet my way is shut up that I cannot come Home Oh my Dear Friends breath with me to the Lord for the Prosperity of this great Work which the Lord hath made me Instrumental in though but weak and little yet blessed be the Lord who appears strong and weighty in every needful time though in weak Instruments let his Name be purely Praised and had in Everlasting Reverence from Age to Age and from Generation to Generation saith my Soul which is Immortal and that for evermore So as I began in a Sence of the Love of God and in his weighty Power in that do I dearly salute you and bid you all Farewel and remain as one of God's Flock and that Family where we were begotten to God for which my Soul shall bless the Lord whilst I have a Day to live Huntingdon-shire the 29th of the 11th Moneth 1677. Alice Curwen My Dear and Well-beloved Friends Thomas Alice Curwen MY dear Love is to you both and by this you may know that we received your Letter from Barbadoes the which indeed was very acceptable to us and I was refreshed thereby I carried it to our General-Meeting at Oyster-Bay and it was read in the Men Womens Meeting and I know many were truly glad to hear of your Well-fare and the Prosperity of Truth My Dear Friends you are often in my remembrance and the remembrance of your Savoury Life is very pleasant unto me for I am a Witness with you That the Glory of the Lord often filled his Temple when we were together and the Lord 's Eternal Love is not wanting to his People that wait upon him in the Uprightness of their Hearts for he openeth of his pure Fountain and refresheth his own though many are the Exercises of his
People We are as it were a Song among a wild Generation and those Ranting Spirits are much as they were when ye were here they come in the like manner Ranting Roaring Singing and Dancing in t our Meetings it is the harder to bear because it casts stumbling-blocks in the way of the Simple for some of the World think they are of us and call them Quakers saying Look where they differ among themselves These Ranters were very Wicked at Oyster-Bay the last Meeting when the Meeting was near ended my Husband was taken violent Sick with a Vomiting and Gripes some of them hearing of it were very glad and said to me I should lose my Right Eye and my Right Arm and came near the Door where we were and where my Husband lay sick and cryed Wo Wo Wo to that Damned Story and Jezebel his Wife Friends are prety well over their Spirits in these Parts and generally well at Cravesend Oyster-Bay and Westchester there is much Affiction on Josiah Parnel his Family hath been much afflicted with Sickness My dear Friends I am glad to write to you now not knowing when I may have the like time again I being with Child and wanting but about six Weeks of my Account My dear Husband 's dear Love is to you both So not knowing how the Lord may be pleased to deal with me I dearly salute you and take my leave of you both in that Love which is of the Lords begetting Your True Friend Patience Story New-York in New-England the 10th of the 8th Moneth 1675. Salem in New-England the 22d of the 5th Moneth 1677. My Dear and Well-beloved Friends IN the Blessed Everlasting Truth of our God revealed and made manifest do I at this time dearly salute you My dearly Beloved in the Lord unto whom the Salutation of my Love abounds and with whom I have been well refreshed in that pure and heavenly Unity which makes us near unto the Lord and one to another even in that endless love which cannot be broken which nothing can separate from but it reacheth over Sea Land for it is unlimited neither can any Waters quench it Oh! read me here and feel me here even in that which Tongue cannot express nor Lips declare for truly in this are you dear and near unto me for as the Truth is dear and precious unto me so are they that dwell in it even in this blessed Truth which the Lord God hath been pleased to make a Remnant partakers of in this our Day and Age and hath caused us with them to taste of his heavenly divine Love which floweth from the Fountain of Endless Life in which we can feel one another and truly rejoyce tegether in the Spirit though separated in the outward and may not see one anothers faces any more in the Flesh yet as we dwell in that which is Immortal we shall enjoy one another in the Invisible Life which changeth not where there is Joy and Pleasure for evermore Oh! blessed and magnified be the Name of our God forever who is not wanting unto them that put their Trust in him but he supports and preserves in all Conditions and Tryals whatsoever And dear Friends for so you are to me in the Truth that changeth not for you are as an Epistle written in my Heart never to be blotted out and the Remembrance of you is a refreshing to me when I call to mind the blessed Society and Fellowship we enjoyed when we were together in which the Lord God of Heaven preserve and keep us forever unto the end of our dayes so shall we reap a good Harvest if we faint not and come to lay down our Heads in Peace and be at rest with the Lord when Time shall be no more Dear Hearts I have much to write unto you but being in haste time will not permit I being also but ill in Body I am willing to give you an Account concerning Margaret Brewster whom you know who came lately from Barbadoes in the Lord's Service to Boston where she performed it I being also with her in her Service and in her Sufferings except Whipping as also was Lydia Wright and Barbary Bowers and John Eston's Son also a Prisoner with us a Moneth And Dear Hearts I have met with many Tryals since I saw your Faces but the Lord hath hitherto preserved me through it all blessed be his Name forever I cannot now give you an account concerning my Mother and Brothers who were taken Captives by the Cruel Indians some Moneths but the Lord hath delivered them and they are here now with me So dear Friends being in great Haste I must take my leave of you committing you to the Care and Keeping of the Lord in which Everlasting Love I bid you Farewel my dear Friends Farewel who am Your True and Real Friend Mary Milles. Friends here in general their Love is to you I received your Letter with Gladness of Heart and desire to hear from you again From Flushen in Long-Island in New-England the 15th of the 7th Moneth 1677. Dear and Inwardly beloved Friends Thomas Alice Curwen YOu are both dear and near unto me as my own Life for I can truly say that I have been often Refreshed in remembrance of you feeling you in that dear Love and Life which proceeds from him who is our Life and length of our dayes in whom we live and have our Being who is our Strength in time of need when Tryals come and Exercises come we find him a God at hand and not afar off blessed and praised be his holy Name forever saith my Soul for his unspeakable Love by which he hath gathered us near unto himself and near one to another by the Arm of his endless Power which reaches over Sea and Land and reaches to his own wherein we have true Fellowship one with another in the Spirit of Truth where the World knows us not for therein doth his Worship stand and such doth the Lord seek to worship him that worship him in the Spirit and in the Truth blessed be his holy Name who is God over all blessed be his holy Name forever and for evermore who hath filled our Hearts with his living Presence which doth engage us more and more to follow him and to lean upon him for his Judgments are pure and he delights to abound in Mercy And so in that Everlasting Love which our Heavenly Father hath loved us from the beginning I do dearly salute you both for you have often been in my Remembrance since we have been seperated as outwardly and have been often with you in that blessed Truth wherein our Unity stands which endures forever which will live over all and out-last all the invented Worships which the Devil hath begot many into but their Day is almost over for they are all in Confusion and all in Heaps but blessed be the holy and sacred Name of the Lord forever who has preserved a Remnant to stand in their