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The Epistle to the Reader.
Courteous Reader,
It having pleased God to raise up in me a true Soul towards Him, and also to give me an understanding, to understand those things which are just and true; by which means he hath taught me, To do unto all Men as I would be done unto; therefore it hath caused Me to write these few Lines unto thee, as also this following, not that I have done it out of envy unto this People, but out of love; for it may please God, that by these meanes, they being publickly reproved, may cause them to Relinguish some of their grand Errors, and not at any time publish them any more, or peradventure quite disdain them in the Radix of the same; but however, I hope that thou, who ever thou art, that art inclinable unto that way, when thou hast read over this ensuing, and doth understand those things which is here discovered to thee, that thou will have a care of running into those grand Errors, and that thou will endeavour to over-turn them, as not fit to be spoke amongst any that believe that there is a God; and if there be no punishment after this Life, then what need Men care what they do whilst they live in this life, or what care should they take for an Immortal Beeing hereafter; but I hope that thou, who ever thou art, of what Sect, Forme, or Dispensation so ever, that thou will have a care of this, and flee from it, as thou would flee Death, or the most destructive Dragon, or deadly Poyson; for this is as Poyson to the Soul, And Leadeth To Eternal Death.
For if thou believe that what thou doth in this life, is also punished in the same; and that there shall be no further account given of it, then are the Ranters, and Heathens in the best condition; for there is nothing that doth trouble them, for they believe that there is no God, and so no punishment after this life, and therefore no matter of Conscience unto them what they do; and if ever thou come to believe as some of the Quakers do, then thou dost believe as the Heathen do; but my desire is, that thou and all others may fear the Lord, and walk uprightly before him, and fear to offend him, knowing that he hath power to punish after this life, and to cast the Soul into Eternal Flames, Where there shall be weeping and gnashing of Teeth.
XR1215 Whereas I have given thee an account of their Courts, it is but to let thee understand, that all Sects, Formes, or other Dispensations, if thou please to call them so, (or by what Name so ever) after they have raised to themselves a considerable number of People, then they go about to set up themselves, and make to themselves Laws, whereby they may Govern, and bear Rule one over another; for these People called the Quakers were the only People that did speak against this, and said, That man ought to fear God, and to walk justly before him, and be taught of him; but now they have a Rule or a Light to walk by, (a rather a Law) and if any do not observe this, then he is cast out from amongst them, as not being one of the Flock of God.
Lastly, I have given thee an account of the way, and manner, how thou mayest attain to be a Quaker, and profit by it, in which thou must only understand, that it is to discover to thee, that under any Sect, or Forme, the most have an outward shew; and if they want any of those outside appearances, then they shall not be looked upon as any that hath any part in God, but as those that God hath cast off; but if they have all those things, then shall they be highly esteemed of by those of the same Sect; and by these meanes, there are many who go amongst them only for profit, and by that meanes advance themselves, and their Estates; and many times this is done by pretence of having a great measure of the Spirit, when they have nothing but deceit in them and seek only to deceive.
As for the rest, which thou shalt finde written, which hath not been spoken of, I shall leave to thy own genius to make constructions of it, hoping that thou wilt take it in the best Sence; and if there should be any Errors, either through my weakness, or want of Correction, if thou do the like to them, then shalt thou ever ingage thy Servant,
Nathaniel Smith Student in Physick.
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