An Epistle from the Women Friends in London to the Women Friends in the Country, also elsewhere, about the Service of a Women’s Meeting. (1674.)
Dear Friends and Sisters in the eternal relation of one God and Father, we with one heart greet you and in the blessed love and life in his Son Christ Jesus our Saviour, (as in our measures we partake of, we in all sincerity of mind salute you; who are heirs with us of the same fulness of grace, mercy, truth, and holiness, by which the Lord alone is acceptably served and magnified; who over all is worthy: -and in holy reverence and fear, be at this time ascribed all dominion, power, and strength, and obedience, to Him that sitteth upon the throne, and to the Lamb for ever more. Amen!
And again, dear Sisters, we salute you, as called of God to partake with us of the heavenly inheritance of the saints in light, and to be fellow helpers with us in the blessed work of the Lord and [in] the dispensation of kindness and good will in love and mercy unto all, -according to our proportion of faith in the heavenly manifestation of that power and eternal life, which is in his Son -by which we have been gathered, not only to the number of God’s elect ones, through obedience to His Spirit; but also by his arm of power we were gathered to be a meeting, to the praise of his grace, distinct (as we may say in some respects,) yet in perfect unity with our brethren. We being in that humility and subjection of spirit to the {Page 344} Lord, and therein preferring them [our brethren,] [it] shuts out all usurpation and the spirit of it; so that we in a sincere mind, are workers together with them in the same faith only distinct as to the place, and in those particular things which most properly appertain to us as women;-still eyeing the universal Head, in whom male and female are one; where no division can be admitted of so that the body is held entire in Christ Jesus our Head. We, as members by virtue of this our Head, do reach forth this unto you; we having been as a kind of first-fruits unto God, in this service of a women’s meeting.
Dear Sisters, we are stirred in spirit, through the love of God, for your information and encouragement as to what our services are, and to stir up you also unto diligence to yours; knowing how the Lord hath been with us therein from the beginning to this moment; with His power assisting, and instructing with His counsel, and with wisdom furnishing us, as our various services have required continually to our souls satisfaction, -and confirmation in our daily travail. [These services] have been and are; -to visit the sick and the prisoners that suffer for the testimony of Jesus; to see they are supplied with things needful; -and relieving the poor, making provision for the needy, aged, and weak, that are incapable of work; -a due consideration for the widows, and care taken of the fatherless children and poor orphans, (according to their capacities) for their education and bringing up in good nurture and in the fear of the Lord and putting them out to trades in the wholesome order of the creation. Also, the elder women exhorting the younger, in all sobriety, modesty in {Page 345} apparel, and subjection to Truth: and if any should be led aside by the temptations of Satan any way, endeavouring to reclaim such; -and to stop tatlers and false reports, and all such things as tend to division amongst us; following those things which make for peace, reconciliation, and union. Also admonishing such maids and widows as may be in danger through the snare of the enemy, either to marry with unbelievers, or to go to the priest to be married or otherwise, [and so] to bring a reproach or scandal upon Truth or Friends. And that maid servants that profess Truth and want places, be orderly disposed of and settled in their services; and likewise, that the savoury life and good order of Truth, be minded between mistresses and their maids.
For these things, we have a care upon us; and that we may answer our duty herein, we meet every Second day, to communicate each to the other, from our several places, the several necessities and other services; that none may stand idle, but every one, as a true member in the true order of the church may in their places be diligent; for our services still increase many ways; but chiefly our work is, to help the helpless in all cases, according to our abilities.
Although more especially our provision is set apart for the supply of the household of faith and family of God, yet we cannot be limited: but as the universal bounty of the Lord maketh his sun to rise on the good and bad, and sendeth rain on the just and unjust; so the same bounty, according to its measure in us, oftentimes finds the same obiect of charity, which cannot (as we find freedom ) send empty away. But as on the Lord we wait, and our {Page 346} eye is single unto Him, from whom we daily receive our living supply for these our services, -the Lord hath been and is with us, as oft as we meet to gether, -answering abundantly with what his work calleth for. And his arm of power is over us, which at First gathered us; and in it, is our preservation to this day: -to which power we commend you, dear sisters; -and the Lord of all grace, power, and peace, be with you and us, in all our services, to his glory and dominion, whose right it alone is to reign in righteousness for ever. Farewell.
From our Quarterly Meeting.
[Signed by very many women Friends, amongst whom are, Ann Travers, Ruth Crouch, Ann Whitehead, Patience Camfield, &c.]
London, the 4th of 11th month 1674.
[Source: Letters, &c., of Early Friends; Illustrative of the History of the Society, From Nearly it’s Origin, to about the Period of George Fox’s Decease; with Documents Respecting It’s Early Discipline, also Epistles of Counsel and Exhortation, &c. London: Harvey And Dayton, Gracechurch Street, 1841 pages 343-346]
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