MY VERY DEAR FRIEND,
Many are the trials, afflictions, and temptations, which the Lord seeth good to exercise us with, for the purifying and making us white, that he may honor his name in us and through us: but this promise stands sure in the seed, "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." And if our God be with us and for us, what can prevail against the work and design of his love and power towards us?
I am deeply sensible of thy condition, feeling it even in the tender and melting love of my heart towards thee; and this word sprang in me to thee, Look not out, but trust in the Lord, who can make things easier than they seem likely to be; and will certainly carry his through the hardest things which he suffers to befall them.
Oh! the Lord keep all in his pure innocency, out of the earthly, contriving wisdom, which saith, Save thyself, avoid this dreadful brunt, this stroke of the cross; which it is easy to hearken to, if the mind be not kept to that eye and that wisdom, which discovers the tempter, and instructeth the bird to escape his snare.
My dear love is to thee, and to all faithful Friends. The Lord keep you from hearkening to the enemy, and make you faithful to him, in the pure innocency and heavenly wisdom which is of him; for truth triumphs over deceit, and the life of the Lamb on the cross, reigns and triumphs over death: glory to Him who hath overcome in his person, and who teacheth us to overcome, through faith in his power, -- and from the overflowings of the conquering life in our hearts, which first brings down that which is contrary to truth, and then reigns in the truth.
Thy friend in the love which never dies, and in the truth which changes not,
I. P.
Catsgrove, 14th of Tenth Month, 1670