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And such as come to be fathers in the Truth, are to train up their families in the Truth, and to exercise that wisdom, and that knowledge and understanding, which are beyond the outward. Therefore they should train them up, not in the eye-service of men, but in serving the Lord in righteousness and diligence, in their services that they may be partakers of the heavenly life, and come to be heirs of salvation, and children of the promise, and sons and daughters of Sion, to whom Christ is elect and precious; and through Him their conversations may be brought up into heavenly things, and their minds and affections be set on things above, that God may be glorified throughout all your families, who is blessed for ever.

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Now is the time for you to stand; therefore put on the whole armour of God, from

the crown of the head unto the soles of your feet, that yon may stand in the possession of life. And yon that have been public men, and formerly did travel abroad, mind to keep up your testimony, both in the city and in the country, that you may encourage Friends to keep up their meetings as usual : so that none faint in the time of trial; but that all may be encouraged, both small and great, to stand faithful to the Lord God, and bis power and truth; that their heads may not sink in the storms, but may be kept up above the waves. So, go into your meeting places as at other times. And keep up your public testimony, and visit Friends thereabouts, now in this time of storm; for there is your crown, in the universal Power and Spirit of God. So let your minds, and souls, and hearts, be kept above all outward and visible things.

Few travel now in the country: it may be veil to visit friends there, lest any should faint. Stir up one another in that which is good, and to faithfulness in the Truth, this day. And let your minds be kept above all visible things; for God took care for man in the beginning, and set him above the works of his hands,

And therefore mind the heavenly treasure, that willnever fade away.

It is hard for me to give forth in writing what is before me, because of my bodily weakness; but I was desirous in some measure to ease my mind, desiring that you may stand fast, and faithful to Truth. Of my travels and weakness it is likely you have heard, and of my afflictions, both by them that are without and also by them that are within, which are hard to be uttered and spoken. My love is to all faithful Friends.

Friends,

NUMBER CCXC I.

To all Women's Meetings.

G. F.

1672.

Keep your women's meetings in the power of God, and take your possession of that which you are heirs of, and keep the Gospel order. For man and woman were helps meet in the image of God, and in righteousness and holiness, in the dominion before they fell; but after the fall, in the transgression, the man

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was to rule over his wife; but in the restoration by Christ, into the image of God, and his righteousness and holiness again, in that they are helps meet, man and woman, as they were efore he fall.

Sara obeye Ab aham,

and called him lord. Abraham did also obey the voice of his wife Sarah, in casting out the bondwoman and her son. Dorcas, a woman, was a disciple. So there was a woman disciple, as well as men disciples; and mind the women that accompanied her. And women are to take up the cross daily, and follow Christ daily, as well as the men; and so to be taught of Him their Prophet, and fed of Him their Shepherd, and counselled of Him their Counsellor, and sanctified by Him who offered Himself once for all. And there were elder women in the Truth as well as elder men in the Truth; so they have an office as well as the men, for they have a stewardship, and must give an account of their stewardship to the Lord, as well as the men.

Deborah was a judge; Miriam and Huldah were prophetesses; old Anna was a prophetess, and a preacher of Christ, to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem. Mary Magdalen, and the other Mary, were

the first preachers of Christ's resurrection to the disciples, and the Disciples could not believe their message and testimony that they had from Jesus, as some now a days cannot; but they received the command, and being sent preached it. So is every woman and man to do, that sees Him risen, and has the command and message; daughters shall prophesy as well as sons. So they are to be obedient that have the Spirit poured upon them. Women are to prophesy; and prophecy is not to be quenched. They that have the testimony of Jesus are commanded to keep it, whether men or women. Priscilla and Aquila were both exhorters and expounders, or instructers to Apollos. So in the church there were women instructers, and prophetesses, and daughters prophetesses in the church; for Philip had four virgins that were prophetesses; and there were women disciples in the church, and women elders in the church, as well as men. So women are to keep in the government of Christ, and to be obeyers of Christ; and women are to keep the comely order of the Gospel, as well as men ; and to see that all that have received Christ Jesus, do walk in Christ Jesus; and to see that all that have received the Gospel, do

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