======================================================================== EPISTLE 368 by George Fox ======================================================================== Summary: The sermon emphasizes the importance of living in the love and unity of God's spirit, following Christ as the way to God, and recognizing Christ's offices in the church. Topics: "Persecution", "Church Unity" Scripture References: Matthew 18:20, John 10:28, John 14:6, Acts 20:28, Ephesians 4:3, Colossians 1:18, 2 Timothy 2:19, Hebrews 7:27, 1 John 1:7 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ DESCRIPTION ------------------------------------------------------------------------ George Fox preaches to encourage believers who are facing persecution, reminding them that wherever two or three are gathered in Christ's name, there is a church with Christ as the head. He emphasizes that Christ is the prophet, bishop, shepherd, and priest of his church, offering eternal life and purification through his sacrifice. Fox urges the congregation to walk in the light of Christ, the way to God, and to live in love and unity, supported by God's peace and power through trials and sufferings. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ CONTENT ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 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. ======================================================================== Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/george-fox/epistle-368/ ========================================================================