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NUMBER CCCLXVI.

A Letter to the Captives who meet together to worship God in Algiers.

London, the 17th of the 1st Month, 1682.

Dear Friends,

I understand by a letter from a friend, a captive amongst you, dated the 20th of the 10th Month, 1681, that you have a meeting in Algiers of about twenty, I am glad to hear you meet; and it is very well, that you have so much liberty from your Patroons; and my desire is, that the Lord may preserve you all, that do meet in the Name of Jesus, that in your lives, and conversations, and words, you may preach righteousness and holiness, and godliness, and the life of Truth; so that you may answer the Spirit of God, both in the Turks and Moors, and the rest of the captives; that God's city may be set upon the holy hill there, which cannot be hid; but that all may see it with the light wherewith Christ hath enlightened every man that cometh into the world. And that Christ's ensign may be set up in those parts; that with his light in all men, they may all

see it, and flock to it; and Christ the ensign furnisheth all that come to Him, with heavenly armour and spiritual weapons.

Now Christ enlightens every man that cometh into the world, that every one may believe in the Light, and may become a child of the light, and have eternal life, and be saved; and so the Gospel of salvation, the power of God, is to be preached to every creature under heaven. And he that believes, is saved, and hath the salvation; for Christ, by the grace of God, hath tasted death for every man. And the grace of God that brings salvation hath appeared to all men: and therefore all men, if they will have salvation, it must be by believing, receiving, and walking in the grace of God, which brings it. And the Lord pours out of his Spirit upon all flesh; and therefore all men and women must come to this Holy Spirit of God, by which the spirit of enmity may be slain and crucified in them; that in this Holy Spirit of God, they may all be in love and unity; and, with the Spirit of God, they may all come to know the eternal, immortal God, and serve and worship Him in his Holy Spirit of Truth, which He hath poured upon them. And in

this, all will honour God, and glorify Him through Jesus Christ, in his new Covenant of light and grace.

And so, my dear friends, be faithful and valiant for God's Truth upon earth, and do not deny the Name of Jesus, in whom you have salvation; whose Name is above every name under the whole heaven; that ye may all be with his light built upon Him, your Rock and Foundation that stands sure. And now, my dear friends, though you remain as captives, yet if ye be the freemen, of God and Christ who leads the devil into captivity, that led you captive into his prison of death, darkness, and corruption;—if Christ, I say, has led you out of that prison and captivity, into the glorious liberty of the sons of God, stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made you free; and be not entangled with any yoke of bondage, to bring you out of that heavenly, spiritual liberty. For in this you are free, notwithstanding the prisons and captivity of men; and they are but small matters to it: and therefore trust in the arm of the Lord's power, who can lay the mountains low, and remove the hills out of their places, and make

his lambs to skip over all. And therefore mind the Lord and his power, that is over all that which makes you to suffer.

Now your sorrows and afflictions may bring many to call upon the Name of the Lord, when He hath brought you low; for God is merciful and gracious to the righteous; and his mercies endure for ever. And though hunger, and thirst, and cold, many times you are in, and many distresses, yet the Lord is able to support you. And now, may you mind the Lord in your poverty, and prize his mercies; and consider whether you did enough prize his mercies, and liberty and plenty! And ye may read the 107th Psalm throughout; there ye may see how the Lord brought down such as contemned his counsel, and rebelled against his words: well, what can you tell but that this may be the day of the Lord with you, in your captivity, to bring down your hearts and spirits, that with the Spirit of the Lord you may turn to Him, who is a God at hand; and that you may call upon the Lord in truth and righteousness, that all your sufferings, afflictions, and captivity may be sanctified to you. So that you may say:

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"All things shall work together for good, to them that love God." And so, with Job, you may bless God, "who grreth and taketh away," and that you may glorify God in whatsoever condition you may be; that no trouble may move you; and that you may rejoice in afflictions, persecutions, and tribulations in the Lord, through his Spirit that doth uphold you. And as you do walk in the light, grace, spirit, and gospel, you may turn others to it: that you may have unity with them in it; and that they may come out of the spiritual prison of death, darkness, and corruption and captivity, into the liberty of the sons of God in Christ Jesus. Amen.

So with my love to you all in the holy seed Christ Jesus, that reigns over all from everlasting to everlasting, the Lord preserve you all tender vines in Him. Amen.

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G. F.

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