THE

LAST LETTER

OF

ELIAS HICKS;

WRITTEN TO HUGH JUDGE, OF OHIO.* Jericho, 2th mo. 14th, 1830.

DEAR HUGH,

Thy very acceptable letter of the 21st ultimo, was duly received and read with interest, tending to excite renewed sympathetic, and mutual fellow-feeling; and brought to my remembrance the cheering salutation of the blessed Jesus, our holy and perfect pattern and example, to his disciples, viz. "Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." By which he assured his disciples that, by walking in the same pathway of self-denial and the cross which he trod to blessedness, they might also overcome the world; as nothing has ever enabled any rational being, in any age of the world, to overcome the spirit of the world, which lieth in wickedness, but the cross of Christ.

Some may query, what is the cross of Christ? To these I answer, it is the perfect law of God written on the tablet of the heart, and in the heart of every rational creature, in such indelible characters that all the power of mortals cannot erase nor obliterate. Neither is there any power or means given or dispensed to the children of men, but this inward law and light by which the true and saving knowledge of God can be obtained. And by this inward law and ligh, all will be either justified or condemned, and all be made to know God for themselves, and be left without excuse, agreeably to the prophecy of Jeremiah, and the corroborating testimony of Jesus in his last counsel and command to his disciples, not to depart

* This letter was just closed when he was attacked with the paralytic affection which terminated his life, on the 27th of 2d month, 1830.

from Jerusalem until they should receive power from on high; assuring them that they should receive power, when they had received the pouring forth of the spirit upon them, which would qualify them to bear witness of him in Judea, Jerusalem, Samaria and to the uttermost parts of the earth; which was verified in a marvellous manner on the day of Pentecost, when thousands were converted to the Christian faith in one day. By which it is evident, that nothing but this inward light and law, as it is heeded and obeyed, ever did, or ever can make a true and real Christian and child of God. And until the professors of Christianity agree to lay aside all their nonessentials in religion, and rally to this unchangeable foundation and standard of truth, wars and fightings, confusion and error will prevail, and the angelic song cannot be heard in our land, that of “glory to God in the highest and on earth peace and good-will to men.” But when all nations are made willing to make this inward law and light, the rule and standard of all their faith and works, then we shall be brought to know and believe alike, that there is but one Lord, one faith, and but one baptism; one God and Father, that is above all, through all, and in all; and then will all those glorious and consoling prophecies, recorded in the Scriptures of truth be fulfilled. Isaiah ii. 4, "He," the Lord, "shall judge among the nations, and rebuke many people; and they shall beat their swords into ploughshares and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation; neither shall they learn war any more." Isaiah xi. "The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf, and the young lion, and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox, And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth,” that is our earthly tabernacles, "shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.”

These scripture testimonies give a true and correct description of the gospel state, and no rational being can be a real Christian and true disciple of Christ, until he comes to know all these things verified in his own experience, as every man and woman has more or less of all those different animal propensities and passions in their nature; and they predominate and bear rule, and are the source and fountain from whence all wars and every evil work proceed, and will continue as long as man remains in his first nature, and is governed by his animal spirit and propensities, which constitute the natural man, which Paul tells us, "receiveth not the things of the spirit of God, for they are foolishness unto him, neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." This corroborates the declaration of Jesus to Nicodemus, that “except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God;" for "that which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the spirit is spirit." Here Jesus assures us, beyond all doubt, that nothing but spirit can either see or enter into the kingdom of God; and this confirms Paul's doctrine, that "as many as are led by the spirit of God are the sons of God," and "joint heirs with Christ." And Jesus assures us, by his declaration to his disciples, John xiv. 16, 17; "If ye love me, keep my commandments; and I will pray the Father and he shall give you another comforter, that he may abide with you for ever, even the spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive" that is, men and women in their natural state, who have not given up to be led by this spirit of truth, that leads and guides into all truth; "because they see him not, neither do they know him, but ye know him, for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you." And as these give up to be wholly led and guided by him, the new birth is brought forth in them and they witness the truth of another testimony of Paul's, even that of being "created anew in Christ Jesus unto good works," which God had foreordained that all his new-born children should walk in them, and thereby show forth by their fruits and good works, that they were truly the children of God, born of his spirit, and taught of him: agreeably to the 30

testimony of the prophet, that "the children of the Lord, are all taught of the Lord, and in righteousness they are estab lished, and great is the peace of his children." And nothing can make them afraid that man can do unto them; as saith the prophet in his appeal to Jehovah, "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is staid on thee, because he trusteth in thee." Therefore, let every one that loves the truth, for God is truth, "trust in the Lord for ever, for in the Lord Jehovah there is everlasting strength."

I write these things to thee, not as though thou didst not know them, but as a witness to thy experience, as "two are better than one, and a threefold cord is not quickly broken."

I will now draw to a close, with just adding, for thy encouragement, be of good cheer for no new thing has happened to

for it has ever been the lot of the righteous to pass through many trials and tribulations, in their passage to that glorious, everlasting, peaceful, and happy abode, where all sorrow and sighing come to an end-the value of which is above all price; for when we have given all that we have and can give, and suffered all that we can suffer, it is still infinitely below its real value. And if we are favoured to gain an inheritance in that blissful and peaceful abode," where the wicked cease from troubling, and the weary are at rest," we must ascribe it all to the unmerited mercy and loving kindness of our Heavenly Father, who remains to be God over all, blessed for ever.

I will now conclude, and in the fulness of brotherly love to thee and thine, in which my family unite, subscribe thy affectionate friend.

ELIAS HICKS.

Please present my love to all my friends, as way opens.

THE END.

ERRATA.

Page 69, second line from the bottom, for representation, read representative, which, having been added by way of explanation, should have been enclosed in brackets, thus, [or representative of him.] Page 70, eighth line from the top, the words, representation of, should have been omitted.

Page 71, nineteenth line from the top, for faithful, read spiritual. Page 73, eighteenth line from the top, the words, representative of, should have been enclosed in brackets, having been added, as above.