 | Rogero-Mastir |  |
Look not, said they, to us, 'tis our concern,
That you from th'Light within your duty learn;
So thou report'st. The same concern remains
Upon Friends still, say I: Their Care, their Pains;
Is exercis'd in this, that all may learn,
From Light within their Duty, and discern
The Light's true Voice, which never did oppose
In some, what from the same in others rose.
And, if some said, Look not to us (which yet,
I ne'er saw prov'd in aught that thou hast writ)
It cannot well in other sence be took,
That they would not others so should look
To them, as thereby to neglect or slight
The inward Teachings of the heav'nly Light.
And that, all faithful Friends at this day are
As careful to prevent, as e'er they were.
But that Friends ever deemed it unright,
To look to one another, in the Light,
To help, encourage, comfort any Brother,
Be good Examples one unto another,
To stir the pure Mind up, provoke to Love,
And to good Works, as God thereto doth move;
That ever this by Friends condemned was,
I never heard, nor to believe see cause.
We read, that the Apostles, (chiefly Paul)
On the believing Christians oft did call
To follow them, as they themselves were found
The followers of Christ: Was this unsound
In them? If not, how comes it now to be
Exclaim'd on, as so high a Crime, by thee?
But of this Subject, William, thou hast writ
Before; and I at large have answer'd it.
That you from th'Light within your duty learn;
So thou report'st. The same concern remains
Upon Friends still, say I: Their Care, their Pains;
Is exercis'd in this, that all may learn,
From Light within their Duty, and discern
The Light's true Voice, which never did oppose
In some, what from the same in others rose.
And, if some said, Look not to us (which yet,
I ne'er saw prov'd in aught that thou hast writ)
It cannot well in other sence be took,
That they would not others so should look
To them, as thereby to neglect or slight
The inward Teachings of the heav'nly Light.
And that, all faithful Friends at this day are
As careful to prevent, as e'er they were.
But that Friends ever deemed it unright,
To look to one another, in the Light,
To help, encourage, comfort any Brother,
Be good Examples one unto another,
To stir the pure Mind up, provoke to Love,
And to good Works, as God thereto doth move;
That ever this by Friends condemned was,
I never heard, nor to believe see cause.
We read, that the Apostles, (chiefly Paul)
On the believing Christians oft did call
11
The followers of Christ: Was this unsound
In them? If not, how comes it now to be
Exclaim'd on, as so high a Crime, by thee?
But of this Subject, William, thou hast writ
Before; and I at large have answer'd it.
| Rogero-Mastir | |