Epistle 368

Dear friends, who suffer for your testimony, and to all the rest in your county, I am glad to hear of your faithfulness, and of your standing for the church which Christ is the head of, which is in God, and are become his living members; and therefore wheresoever ye are in prison, or out of prison, where two or three are gathered in his name, there is a church, and Christ the living head in the midst of them [Mat 18:20]; a prophet, to open to his church the things of his kingdom; and a bishop, to oversee his living members, that they be preserved in his light, grace, truth, spirit, and gospel; and he is a shepherd to feed them with heavenly food, who gives life eternal to his sheep [John 10:28], which he hath purchased with his own blood [Acts 20:28]; and a priest who has offered up himself a sacrifice for the sins of the whole world [Heb 7:27], who cleanses, and washes, and purifies his church, his people [Ezek 37:23/Tit 2:14]; a high priest, made higher than the heavens [Heb 7:26]. Heb. vii. And no priest made below the heavens will become Christ's church; and therefore feel and see Christ exercising his prophetical, priestly, and kingly offices, and his ruling in your hearts. And all that will know the right way, or highway, or path to the church in God [1-2 Th 1:1], (2 Thess. i.) must walk in the light [1 Jn 1:7], which is the life in Christ [John 1:4], and that will guide them to Christ, the way to God [John 14:6], the head of the church [Col 1:18], the rock and foundation of God that stands sure [2 Tim 2:19].

And now, dear friends, my desires are, that you may all live in the love of God, and in the unity of his spirit, which is the bond of peace [Eph 4:3], in which you will be all kind and courteous one to another; and so the God of all peace and power support you, and strengthen you, and uphold you, throughout all your trials and sufferings, that he may be glorified in you all, who is over all, from everlasting to everlasting, blessed for ever; from whom ye have blessing and life.

G. F.